Basic skin care
Following the basics of good hygiene is important for everyone. We can cut down on many skin problems by just taking the time to care for our skin. If you take care of the skin that you have now, you won’t have to worry as much about trying to “fix” the problems as you get older.
Sun
I remember being in high school and one of my friends had very pale skin. She didn’t sit outside and bake like the rest of us did. But that friend today at 40 years of age, looks extremely youthful. Her skin has far less wrinkles than anyone else that I know our age. The key to having great skin is to minimize the amount of sun it receives. You don’t have to completely cover your skin, but if you wear a light sunscreen (at least SPF 15) to help prevent the amount of UVA rays it receives daily then you will be farther off in the long run. Skin cancer is a real disease and some doctors report that the amount of times that you are burned greatly increases your risks of contracting the cancer. If you want a nice sun-kissed look, go for the long term of tanning by wearing sunscreen and only exposing for a minimum amount of time in the sun each day.
AVOID TANNING SALONS AT ALL COSTS!!! They are cancer in a building just waiting to happen.
Here are some tips to follow to have great looking skin:
- Get enough sleep. Getting enough sleep each night is the biggest cure all for dark circles and healthy looking skin.
- Eat a variety of whole fresh foods. The adage is true….you are what you eat!
- Exercise each day. A good workout doesn’t just burn calories, it also helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to your skin.
- Stay hydrated. Drinking 6-8 glasses of water each day is imperative to hydrating your skin from the inside out.
- Exfoliate your skin. Use a face scrub with round beads to slough off dead skin cells, and glowing skin will emerge underneath. Don’t just do your face, focus on your neck and back—where that sometimes irritating oil lies. A very simple natural exfoliate is made by mixing coconut oil and brown sugar. Try using this on your feet—-it will be way better than the expensive store bought stuff. Do this only 1-2 times per week. Overdoing it will stimulate your oil cells and cause more breakouts.
- Go all natural. Try leaving your face open to the oxygen your skin needs. Wear a minimal amount of makeup– mascara and a lip gloss. Keep it simple. This is especially true if you are going through a lot of acne. Let the sun naturally heal your face. Let the oxygen get to your pores to help dry and heal them.
- Keep your face cleaning routine simple. Wash, tone, and moisturize–if needed. Don’t overload your skin with tons of products. It will be more prone to rashes and breakouts. You may not be able to avoid all forms of acne but you can help from getting serious breakouts by maintaining a good health regiment for your skin.
Everyday skin routine.
In the morning, if you don’t shower, make sure to wash your face with warm water and a washcloth. You can splash on some cool water to help “wake up” your face in the morning. Keep your skin all natural and go about your day.
In the evening, if you wear makeup, remove all makeup BEFORE you go to bed. Wash your face with warm water and a light face cleansing bar. Massage your face as you are cleaning it, to improve circulation.
Rinse, and blot dry your face. Apply a toner with a cotton ball to tighten your pores. You can then apply a facial moisturizer to work your skin while you sleep.
If you want to do an exfoliate and a deeper pore cleaning routine, limit this to 1-2 times per week. Overdoing it, will lead to rashes and it producing too much oil.
If you are planning on going out to a special place and you want your face to look the freshest—avoid doing any type of mask or exfoliate the day before and the day of otherwise you are going to be prone to pimples appearing. Do this type of skin care about 4 days in advance. That will allow any blemishes that may form to disappear before you go out.
Natural recipes
I have tried numerous products that are on the market and nothing beats a natural homemade one. Try one of these and see if you notice how much better it makes your skin feel plus it will help your wallet by costing far less than name brand items!
Natural face wash
Add a few drops of castile soap onto a warm washcloth Wash your face as usual. Will not strip your skin of its natural oils or add ones to it.
Natural moisturizer
Pure coconut oil is all that is needed for moisturizing the face. It is naturally full of collagen supporting lauric acid and is easily absorbed by the skin. Even for oily and acne prone skin, coconut oil’s natural anti-bacterial properties make it a great option.
Natural sugar scrub
½ cup raw, white, or brown sugar
¼ cup coconut or olive oil
Mix together and store in an airtight container
Apply to wet skin and massage, it will leave your skin feeling like silk
If you have very oily skin, you can use baking soda mixed with a little water to help remove black heads and impurities.
Natural toner
Diluted apple cider vinegar toner helps keep oil at bay. A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water stored in the fridge works great.
You can also put disposable make up pads into a container, add some witch hazel and a few drops of tea tree oil for a natural antibacterial toner.
