Best-Kept Secrets for Achieving Radiant and Healthy Skin
We all want that natural glow. While skincare ads promise instant results, achieving truly healthy skin takes time and consistency. But there are a few little-known tricks that can get you there faster. Let's uncover the insider info on how to get your best skin ever.
Don't Underestimate the Power of Sleep
You've heard it before, but it bears repeating: sleep is essential for skin health! When we sleep, our body ramps up collagen production and repairs damage from the day. Skimping on sleep causes a spike in cortisol which exacerbates inflammation, breakouts, and premature aging.
Aim for 7-9 hours per night so your skin rejuvenates fully. Sleeping on your back also prevents sleep lines that can become etched into the skin over time. Get your beauty rest and wake up glowing!
Double Cleanse for Clear and Calm Skin
Here's a trick straight from the pages of a celebrity facialist's playbook: double cleansing. This two-step process begins with an oil cleanser to melt away makeup, sunscreen, and sebum. Follow with a water-based cleanser to purify pores without stripping the skin.
Double cleansing also lightly exfoliates, revealing soft and smooth skin. It removes pollution and impurities that a single cleanse leaves behind, warding off breakouts. Just a few nights per week of double cleansing makes a dramatic difference.
DIY Chemical Exfoliation Over Scrubs
Skip the harsh scrubs and make your own AHA/BHA chemical exfoliant instead. All you need is witch hazel, a few drops of salicylic acid and lactic acid, and optionally a dash of aloe vera gel or hyaluronic acid serum. This gentle but powerful blend dissolves dead skin cells and keeps pores clear.
Use your DIY exfoliant 2-3 times a week after cleansing. It's much gentler than gritty scrubs which can cause microtears. Say goodbye to dullness and clogged pores!
Hydrate With Humectants to Plump Skin
Moisturizing is key, but which ingredients truly hydrate skin? Humectants! These moisture-magnet molecules draw water into the epidermis and hydrate better than oils. Look for glycerin, hyaluronic acid, honey, propylene glycol, and urea in your moisturizers.
Layering a humectant hydrating serum under your moisturizer gives skin an extra dose of hydration. For an added boost, apply hydrating products to damp skin which helps seal in moisture. Dewy, plump skin awaits!
Don't Forget Your Neck and Décolletage
The skin on our neck and chest is delicate and often neglected in skincare routines. But it's one of the first places to show signs of sun damage and aging. Give this area extra TLC with daily SPF, hydrating serums, and anti-aging actives like retinol and antioxidants.
And never forget behind your ears! This spot is prone to sun exposure and overlooking it can make your face seem not quite polished. Show your neck and décolletage some love so they age as gracefully as your face.
Eat the Rainbow for Healthy Skin From Within
Fruits and veggies in a variety of vibrant colors provide antioxidants and phytonutrients that fight inflammation, increase collagen, and protect from oxidative damage - from the inside out. Aim to "eat the rainbow" of produce each day.
Tomatoes, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, kale, grapes, blueberries, oranges...the options are delicious and endless. Pair these healing plants with healthy fats and proteins for the ultimate skin-boosting diet.
The path to flawless skin doesn't happen overnight with the latest product. But applying these nourishing, gentle, and consistent habits leverages your body's own healing and renewal capabilities. Patience and self-care are part of the process too. Give your skin a little extra TLC and let the glow begin!