Beautiful skin is something we all want, right? But how to get it, and how to keep it? There is so much advice, some of it conflicting, some of it confusing… and there are so many products! But never fear. I can help! After years of my own research and several dermatologist visits, I’ve got an insider scoop and loads of pro-tips to share with you. Here are 10 tips for a lifetime of beautiful skin.
1. Start young
You’re never too young to start taking care of your skin. It’s true! I started using sunblock and teaching good skin care habits the day my daughters were born. Now they both have beautiful skin, a lesser risk of skin cancer, and habits to last a lifetime!
2. Wear sunblock every day
Ask any dermatologist the number one thing they would recommend for healthy, beautiful skin, and they will tell you: wear sunblock! The UVA and UVB rays from the sun are deadly serious. They can also cause wrinkles, dark spots, and other signs of premature skin aging. Wear sunblock every day! You can still get a healthy-looking tan by using bronzer, or just tanning a little through your sunblock.
3. Don’t smoke
Smoking isn’t just terrible for the inside of your body. It will also wreak havoc on your skin! If you want beautiful skin, don’t smoke. If you do smoke already, quit! Beautiful skin is yet another reason to keep on quitting.
4. Don’t pick!
You might be sorely tempted to squeeze that pimple, but don’t do it! Many of us have a tendency for hyper-pigmentation after a scab from picking a pimple falls off — in other words, a scar! Scars do not make for beautiful skin. Also, picking a pimple will make them spread, and become more pimples… so don’t pick!
5. Sleep
I can’t stress enough how important sleep is for beautiful skin. Why do you think your eight hours of sleep is called your “beauty sleep”?
6. Don’t fake tan, either
If you read the second tip and thought you would get a deeper tan by just using a tanning bed, don’t do it! You’ll get the same sun damage and the same risk of skin cancer. In fact, some studies have shown that using a tanning bed sis worse for your skin than the sun!
7. Avoid products with SLS
What is SLS, and why should you avoid it in your skin care products? SLS stands for sodium laureth sulfate, or sodium lauryl ether sulfate, both used in beauty products to make nice lather. The problem is, most of us have horrible reactions to these ingredients, especially over time. They can dry your skin, or give it a harsh, dry appearance. Yikes! Check the label of your beauty products, and avoid SLS.
8. Experiment with products
What works for your bestie may not work for you. So if she swears by a moisturizer, and it makes your skin feel greasy, skip it and try something else! We’re all different, so our skin is all different. Experiment with different products to make your own skin care regimen until you find one that’s tailored to your needs and perfect for you!
9. Drink tea!
Aside from the fact that tea tastes wonderful, and can be very calming, it’s also loaded with antioxidants, which can help your body and your skin fight the aging effects of free radicals. So drink tea, especially freshly-brewed tea without artificial sweeteners (which can add unnecessary calories).
10. Look to older generations
If your mother, grandmother, and aunties have beautiful skin, then chances are, you will too! A lot of our skin’s traits are inherited from our older generations. The older ladies in our families will also know exactly how to handle issues that arise, and what conditions you’re at risk for. Ask them for advice, but beware of any old wives’ tales of myths (butter as a moisturizer? Umm, no).
See? Beautiful skin doesn’t have to be a mystery! Now that you have these tips to follow, or to add to your own established routine, you’ll have beautiful skin every day (or at least most days). Which of these tips surprised you? Which do you think you’ll stick to? Or do you have another tip for beautiful skin to share?
