Having clear and healthy skin requires a good and consistent skincare routine. A few people are lucky enough to attain such clear skin without using many skincare products. But, for the rest of us who aren’t following a healthy lifestyle, using effective products is the best thing we could do to achieve radiant skin.
Using skincare products daily is very important to help protect your skin from environmental factors such as the sun, smoke, pollution, and chemicals, and also to help reverse some of the damage that may already be there.
So, what’s a good skincare routine?
Use Gentle Cleansers
Commuters usually come in contact with heavy pollutants like car smoke, dust, and other things that can clog the pores of our skin. The only way to unclog them is by cleansing our faces every morning and night. However, we need to be careful with whatever we use as a cleanser because some products might give us more harm than good.
There are various cleansers for different kinds of skin: dry, oily, and combination. People with dry skin often go with hydrating cleansers to compensate for their lack of moisture. As for those who have oily or combination skin types, there are cleansers for oily skin that are very gentle and will not strip away the skin’s natural oil.
Moisturize Even for Oily Skin
There is a myth that moisturizing is only for people who have dry skin. It is wrong. Even if you have oily skin, you still need to use a moisturizer. To have clear and healthy-looking skin, you need to maintain moisture, a.k.a. Natural oil. After cleansing, your skin’s pH level is in a state of imbalance, and the oil was stripped off. So to prevent the skin from producing more oil that might cause breakouts, using water-based moisturizers is a good thing to do.
Apply Serums and Treatments To Prevent And Treat Photoaging
This skincare step is for those who like to put extra moisture and benefit on their skin. When you apply serums like those with vitamin C and other minerals, they can help acne marks fade away. But, you need to remember that a week of using serum will not produce benefits right away. Patience and consistency are a virtue of achieving better skin. We recommend that you apply antioxidants to protect your skin, and use products rich in Vitamin A such as retinol, to help build collagen.
Do Not Forget to Use a Sunscreen
One of the essential products for your face and body is sunscreen. The UV rays that the sun produces can damage your skin and make it age faster. Therefore, whenever you go out, even for less than an hour, use sunscreen beforehand. However, this product should not be applied just once. Make sure to reapply after a few hours, wear protective clothing like hats, or if possible, avoid going out in the sun.
Aside from the topical treatments and laser procedures that are either recommended by dermatologists or by someone you know, there are other essential things that you need to do. It’s not always what you put outside, but also your daily routine, which contributes to having healthy skin.
Have a Good Night Sleep
Your skincare routine is a waste when you don’t sleep for at least 7 hours a day. Sleeping makes our skin feel rested and will help it absorb the products we put on the surface. It is why having a separate skincare routine at night will help your skin do its task to repair itself through the help of the products you use.
Eat Healthily
Another non-topical factor that must be considered to achieve healthy skin is to eat healthy food daily and have a balanced diet. You don’t need to avoid altogether the comfort food you like. You need to eat more greens so you will not just feel good outside but also inside. It does not contribute directly to how fast your skin can recover from breakouts but eating healthy will affect your overall lifestyle and mental health.
There are many factors to consider to achieve clear and healthy skin, which may be overwhelming for you. First, however, you need to be patient at all times. Results do not show up after only a week or two of using skincare products. In addition, you must consult a dermatologist about the products that you will apply to your face, especially when you have a severe case of acne or other skin conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it also helps to consider using cloth masks, especially if you have sensitive or easily irritated skin.
