We should take care of our skin because it is the first thing that others notice about us. Having great skin can also boost your self-esteem. So, here are some natural skin care practices you should adopt.
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Importance of having great skin
Aside from protecting our bodies from harmful elements, our skin also regulates body temperature and acts as a sense organ. Moreover, our skin also serves as an indicator of the quality of our lives.
Our skin is a reflection of how healthy we are overall. It reveals whether we are stressed, dehydrated, or otherwise not taking good care of our bodies.
Equally important, our skin is the first thing that people notice about us. As a result, having great skin boosts our self-esteem. And it certainly enhances our confidence in facing and interacting with others.
Despite the abundance of skincare products available, living a healthy lifestyle is still your best option for great skin. And developing natural skin care habits such as the following:
Wash your face
Washing your face twice a day removes excess oil and dirt from your skin.
So make it a habit to wash your face once in the morning after you wake up. And once in the evening before you go to bed.
Moisturize
Another good habit to develop is to always moisturize your skin. This is significant for two reasons.
First, moisturizers help to balance your skin’s natural oil production. That is, it lessens the chances of having extreme dryness or oiliness of the skin. Dry skin irritates the skin and makes it itchy. Oily skin on the other hand can lead to clogged pores and acne.
Second, moisturizing your skin help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This is because moisturizers plump the skin, making lines and wrinkles less visible.
Exfoliate
As we age, the skin slows down its renewal and shedding process. As such it is important that you exfoliate regularly.
Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells to allow the new skin cells underneath to emerge. This can be done through the use of chemical or physical exfoliants such as AHAs, BHAs, scrubs, washcloths, or brushes.
Developing the habit of exfoliating provides you with the following benefits:
- Unclogs pores,
- Prevents acne,
- Allows your other skincare products to penetrate deeper into the skin,
- Evens out your skin tone,
- Increases skin rejuvenation,
- Helps to stimulate collagen synthesis.
Wear sunscreen
Applying sunscreen is another skincare habit that should be developed. Unfortunately, it is one process that is often neglected.
The reasons for not wearing sunscreen include the common belief that the sun cannot cause damage on a cloudy day. Others say they don’t get sunburned easily, or that their skin will not get damaged because they have dark skin.
The fact is, however, that your skin must be protected from the sun’s harmful rays. Especially if you’re going to be outside for an extended period of time. Regardless of the weather, color, or skin condition.
In addition to lowering the risk of skin cancer, sunscreen can help prevent skin damage such as wrinkles, age spots, and uneven skin tone.
Use gentle products
In using products for cleansing and exfoliating, it is important to choose products with natural ingredients. And those that are gentle on the skin.
This is to ensure that the products you use do not strip your skin’s natural oil and cause damage.
Vitamins C and E
Vitamins C and E are powerful antioxidants that help the skin by reducing the production of free radicals, which cause skin damage.
Develop the habit of eating healthily in order to reap the benefits of vitamins C and E. Consume foods high in these antioxidants, such as broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Include also citrus fruits, pineapple, kiwi, avocado, peanuts, and almonds.
Incorporating vitamins C and E into your diet can help reduce age spots, fight sun damage, and soothe skin inflammation.
Furthermore, these antioxidants will hydrate and increase moisture retention in your skin, assisting in the revitalization of dull skin.
Get your minerals
Another advantage of eating healthy is the presence of essential minerals that are good for your skin, such as zinc and selenium.
Zinc protects the skin from photodamage by absorbing the sun’s harmful rays and limiting the penetration of radiation into the skin.
Selenium, on the other hand, protects the skin from excess free radical production, again caused by the sun’s UV rays.
Foods rich in zinc and selenium include meat, fish, shellfish, nuts, legumes, whole grains, and dairy products.
Limit sugar intake
To have great skin, you should also limit your sugar intake. The following are the effects of too much sugar on your skin:
- Skin aging prematurely due to the breakdown of proteins such as collagen and elastin, which give the skin its firmness and elasticity.
- Raises blood sugar levels, which aggravates pre-existing skin conditions such as psoriasis, rosacea, or eczema.
- Breakouts of acne.
Reduce your sugar intake by avoiding carbonated beverages, including artificially flavored fruit juices. Lower as well your consumption of processed foods such as white bread, cakes, hotdogs, ice cream, and the like.
Drink up
Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated. Water is the preferred fluid because it is very effective at flushing toxins from your body.
It not only keeps you refreshed and hydrated, but it also helps to maintain the elasticity of your skin.
Also, drinking the recommended fluids will help your skin look younger, with fewer wrinkles, soft lines, and scars.
Regular exercise
Raising your heartbeat through exercise is another way you can have great skin.
By increasing your heart rate, you also increase the blood flow which carries oxygen. And essential nutrients to your body, including your skin.
Aside from increased oxygen and nutrient supply increased blood flow improves skin detoxification. This is done by transporting waste products and free radicals away from the skin.
Furthermore, regular exercise helps reverse the signs of aging and keeps you looking younger for a longer period of time.
Finally, because regular exercise helps reduce stress, it requires less attention to keep your body healthy. As a result, more essential nutrients will be delivered to your skin making it look better.
Get enough sleep
Another habit to develop for great skin is getting enough sleep. When you get enough sleep, you allow growth hormones to be released. These, in turn, stimulate collagen production.
The increase in collagen production allows your skin to become more resilient.
In addition, getting the recommended amount of sleep also reduces premature aging signs. Such as loss of firmness, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Manage stress
Stress is a human condition that has an impact on not only your mental health but also your physical health, including your skin.
The effects of stress on your skin include:
- An increase in cortisol causes overproduction of sebum in the skin, resulting in acne breakouts.
- A negative impact on the immune system, making the skin more sensitive and reactive, resulting in redness, hives, or rashes; and
- Aggravating pre-existing skin inflammatory conditions.
Thus, it is important that you develop habits that will assist you in managing your stress.
In addition to exercising, you can try meditation or breathing exercises. You can also try journaling, reading, or engaging in other relaxing activities.
Summary
To summarize, our skin is essential because it shields our bodies from the elements. It also serves as a sense organ and aids in the regulation of body temperature.
More importantly, because it is the first thing that others notice about us, our skin is an indicator of the quality of our lives.
It is therefore important that we develop habits that will provide us with naturally beautiful skin. And these habits are:
- Wash your face,
- Moisturize,
- Exfoliate,
- Wear sunscreen,
- Use gentle products,
- Vitamins C and E,
- Get your minerals,
- Limit sugar intake,
- Drink up,
- Regular exercise,
- Get enough sleep, and
- Manage your stress.
Please share your thoughts or ideas about Natural Skincare Habits You Should Develop For Great Skin in the comments below. And if you liked this article, you might be interested as well in these articles:
9 Simple Skincare Habits Women Should Develop Today
Healthy Eating For Great Skin
7 Reasons To Develop A Walking Habit Today
Why Good Habits Beat Motivation
How To Define Yourself By Your Habits
Building Good Habits For Your To Be
How To Break 9 Bad Habits That Keep You Down
What Are Simple Exercise Habits Women Should Develop Today
Outside reference/s:
The Importance of Moisturizing
7 Benefits of Exfoliation You Didn’t Know You Were Getting
Antioxidants in Skin Care: How Do They Work and Which Ones Are the Best?
Role of Micronutrients in Skin Health and Function
What Does Sugar Do to Your Skin?
How Stress Affects Your Skin
