“Beauty is only skin deep” because it’s what on the “inside” that counts. Although one’s character is certainly more important, the skin still matters. It is still your first layer of defense against the external elements. Known as the biggest organ of the body, the skin functions as a barrier that protects your body from bacteria and other environmental hazards. It can also give you important clues concerning your health.
How to Take Better Care of Your Skin?
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Your skin does a lot for your health, which is why it deserves some TLC. Whether you choose to invest in a good whitening body scrub or visit your aesthetician regularly, prioritizing skincare is one way to say “Thank you!” to your skin. Fortunately, you don’t have to practice an intensive skincare routine to care for the biggest organ in your body. A few healthy habits can go a long way for your skin.
1. Protect Yourself from The Sun
One of the easiest and most important ways to care for your skin is to protect it from the sun’s rays. Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause age spots, sunburn, wrinkles and other skin problems. It also increases your risk of skin cancer.
For the best sun protection:
- Seek shade. Refrain from going out between 10 AM to 4 PM, aka the time when the sun’s rays are the most dangerous.
- Use sunscreen. Protect your skin from the sun by using an SPF 15 (or more). When applying sunscreen, be generous. Don’t hesitate to slather a lot on your skin. Also, reapply sunscreen every two hours. Do so more often if you’re sweating or swimming.
- Wear protective clothing. Wear long pants, wide-brimmed hats and long-sleeved shirts.
2. Keep Your Stress Levels in Check
Stress takes a toll on all parts of your body, including your skin. A study from Stanford University seconds the motion. The study found that during exam time, students who experienced more stress experienced more acne breakouts than those who felt less pressure. This is because stress increases your body’s production of the stress hormone cortisol.
Higher levels of cortisol cause the skin to become oilier, as well as decrease its acne-fighting abilities. So, if you’re constantly stressed, you’re stressing your skin out with you.
Instead of stressing yourself and your skin, practice stress-management techniques like deep breathing, meditation and yoga. Apart from helping yourself unload, these techniques can also prevent skin conditions like rosacea, acne and psoriasis.
3. Treat Your Skin Gently
Daily shaving and cleansing can take a toll on your skin. To keep your skincare gentle:
- Avoid using strong soaps. Strong skincare products like detergents and soaps strip your skin of oil. Instead, clean your skin with mild cleansers.
- Limit bath time. While a long hot shower or bath is comforting, it can also remove oil from your skin. Apart from limiting your bath time, use warm instead of hot water.
- Pat dry. After bathing or washing, gently blot or pat your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture stays on your skin.
- Shave carefully. To lubricate and protect your skin, apply shaving gel, lotion or gel before you shave. For a better shave, use a sharp and clean razor.
4. Eat a Healthy Diet
There are many skincare products and food supplements that claim to fight the signs of aging. But these products can only go skin deep. Instead of just depending on skincare products, start with your diet. After all, what you eat is as important as the products you apply to your skin. Your diet can drastically improve your skin’s health.
Say goodbye to your favorite chips, cupcakes or expensive Starbucks drink for some time. Replace junk food with skin-healthy food like:
- Mangoes contain antioxidants, which help protect important components of the skin like your collagen levels.
- Olive oil. Using olive oil is often associated with lowering your risk for facial photoaging, which refers to collective skin damage that includes dark spots, discoloration and wrinkles.
- Tomatoes help prevent skin cancer, especially the development of skin tumors due to UV light exposure.
- Kale is one of the best sources of zeaxanthin and lutein, properties that protect the skin from UV ray damage.
- Green tea. A cup of tea can also nourish your skin. Green tea has a compound called polyphenols, which rejuvenates the skin’s dying skin cells.
5. Avoid Smoking
Smoking makes your skin look older by worsening the appearance of your wrinkles. Smoking decreases the blood flow because it narrows your tiny blood vessels. As a result, you look paler and tired. So, apart from saving your lungs, not smoking will also improve your skin.
Your skin does a lot of hard work for you. Take care of your skin by eating well, managing your stress, and practicing healthier habits.
