I make it no secret that I struggled with my skin for most of my twenties. With PCOS, acne is one of the major symptoms. Truth be told, I, like many women in their twenties, didn’t take care of my skin like I should have and that contributed to the fact that I never got a break from the breakouts.
It wasn’t until I hit the big 3-0 that I got serious and found a skin care line that worked for me and actually helped to clear my face up. But don’t be fooled, a skin care routine is just PART of what is needed for perfect, glowing skin. Keep reading for 5 habits that people with great skin have.
Habit 1: Drinking Water
Drinking water is major, and no, just that glass you have before bed doesn’t count. Water needs to be the main drink you consume on a daily basis. Now, the amount you need largely depends on your body weight, so I won’t give amounts you should consume here, but drinking at least 8 glasses daily will have you feeling better and your skin looking healthier.
Water hydrates your skin from within. Often I have clients ask what they can do for their dry skin, or they say that their skin is usually oily or normal, but lately it seems dull, or dry. If you’re not getting enough water in your body, your skin can appear dry when in reality it’s dehydrated.
Once you up your water intake, you’ll notice that your skin starts to look healthier again. You may have a little glow. You may even notice that your fine lines are not as noticeable. That in itself is motivation to go fill that glass with water.
Habit 2: Removing Makeup AND Cleansing
Yes. These are TWO different steps in your skin care routine. If you’re a makeup wearer, the first thing you should do is use a makeup remover (or cleanser) to take all of your makeup off. Use something gentle around your eyes since the skin is much thinner there.
Once you remove your makeup, use a gentle cleanser to CLEAN your skin. This step will remove any left over makeup plus any dirt or oil that’s clogging your pores. If you’re not currently doing this 2 step process, try it! You’ll love how clean and refreshed your skin feels.
Habit 3: Hands Free
Let’s be honest, there’s not too many of us that actually use the phone for talking anymore, right? Except when we absolutely have to 😉 Between texting, social media, games, and more we spend a lot of times TOUCHING the surface of our phones. Unless you’re a chronic hand washer, your screen could be full of bacteria at any given moment. Answer the phone and put it up to your face and that bacteria is now on your cheek.
My advise is to clean your screen often, and use handsfree when possible. Let’s face it, we can’t avoid talking on the phone sometimes, but when possible do what you can to reduce the chances of breakouts caused by it.
Habit 4: Moisturize
Do you moisturize? If not, you should be! Moisturizers help to keep your skin glowing, youthful, and nourished. As we age, our skin loses moisture and elasticity resulting in dull skin and fine lines.
Start now and find a moisturizer that is formulated for your skin (yes, even if you have oily skin, there’s one for you). At minimum, use it before bed. Your skin regenerates overnight and will soak up the nourishment of whatever you have on your skin. Just make sure you cleanse your skin again in the morning to remove any dead skin cells or left over product.
Habit 5: Weekly Masks
If you’re not doing a skin care mask at least weekly, you’re not optimizing your skin’s potential. What kind of mask you use will depend on your skin type, but I recommend an exfoliating mask to start for anyone. An exfoliating mask will help to remove dead skin cells, dry patches, and help to clean out your pores. The result is smaller looking pores, clearer skin, and makeup that lays smoother than before. My favorite Exfoliating Mask can be found here.
There’s a ton of masks on the market these days, so its important to do your research to ensure you’re getting a quality product that will give you results.
The best thing to do for your skin is to visit an Esthetician at least monthly to have a facial and find out what your skin needs specifically.
Amanda Smearman 