Treat yourself to beautiful, dewy skin all year long.
It’s fairly simple to maintain healthy skin during the summer time, but when winter weather slips in it gets a little bit more challenging. As temperatures drop, it becomes almost impossible to keep your skin bright and moisturized. Harsh outdoor temperatures can suck out the skin’s moisture. Once you step into a heated room, the indoor heat can dry it out even further. It might seem like there’s no winning, but rest assured, it’s possible to take control and prevent seasonal changes from wreaking havoc on your skin. All you need to do is switch up your skincare routine!
Skincare Routine from an Expert
Switching up your skincare routine is one thing, but knowing what to change is the real question! Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Certified Dermatologist, Dr. Fayne Frey, spends her time educating consumers with science-based facts as well as debunking widespread skincare myths. When we asked her about the best ways to get beautiful, healthy skin, she had some awesome, honest advice to share with us:
There is no magic potion to achieving youthful skin. There is no single ingredient or formulation. Science has NEVER found a single compound that can reverse or slow the aging process. This is not my opinion but rather a medical fact. With that being said, I will give you the honest, the most unsexy answer that nobody wants to hear. Short of being born from parents who have great skin, short of winning the genetic lottery, the only way to optimize skin appearance is to optimize skin health. The skin is an organ. As such, what is good for the body is likely going to be good for the skin.”
10 Ways to Get Beautiful Skin
1. Hydration
Water keeps your skin hydrated, youthful, and dewy. Staying hydrated is crucial for overall health, especially the health of your skin! Water aids in digestion, circulation, and absorption, and experts prove that proper hydration lends to a radiant, younger-looking complexion. Make sure you’re drinking at least eight, 8-ounce glasses of water a day!
If you’re having trouble in the hydration department, here are some effortless tips that’ll help you include more H20 in your diet. Check out 12 Easy Ways to Increase Your Water Intake.
2. Remove Makeup
A face full of makeup can take hours to apply but only a few minutes to remove. Every so often, however, many of us make the mistake of forgetting to cover this basic skin care regime. Neglecting to remove makeup before bed disrupts the natural function of your skin, leading to an entire menu of skin-related issues ranging from clogged pores and acne break outs, to splotches and redness. When you sleep in your makeup, your skin becomes dull. Make it a habit to regularly wipe every last bit of make up before you hit the pillow, and you’ll notice a difference in your skin overnight! We love PONDS Fresh Towelettes for face and eyes.
3. Exfoliate
You hear this recommendation constantly, but do you truly know what it means? Exfoliation refers to the removal of surface dry skin cells, and experts consider it the most effective skin process. It reduces bacteria, destroys acne causing layers of cell buildup, and cleans pores. Sloughing off dead skin will give you beautifully smooth skin and a radiant glow all year. You should exfoliate twice a day, once in the morning and once at night.
4. Wear Sunscreen Daily
After exfoliating your skin in the morning, you should apply sunscreen to your face, arms, and any other part of your body that may be exposed to the sun at any point throughout the day. Using a mineral sunscreen containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, with an SPF of 30 or higher, will protect your skin from the damaging UV rays emitted by the sun. In addition to wearing sunscreen, you should also wear protective clothing and sunglasses!
5. Moisturize
Dry, flaky skin is no fun. You can take matters into your own hands and ensure supple, touchable skin by moisturizing. However, make sure you reach for the right products! Avoid any oil-based moisturizers which can clog your pores and trigger breakouts. After exfoliating at night, apply a layer of moisturizer to your skin (instead of sunscreen.) Be sure not to overdo it though, as applying too much moisturizer, too often, can also result in clogged pores.
Avocados are chock-full of hydrating properties and incredible nutrients your skin will simply drink up. Check out this DIY Avocado Facial Cleanser for a moisturizing, exfoliating face soap you can make at home!
6. Eye Cream
Eyes are very sensitive and dry out easily. The skin around the eye is super thin and delicate, making it very susceptible to the dehydrating effects of winter cold. Reaching for products that use ingredients from the sea, like sea silk or seaweed extract, can improve the elasticity and collagen synthesis around your eyes. Make sure you’re using a good eye cream every morning and night to keep your skin beautiful.
BleautyBliss Eye Cream works great on puffiness, dark circles, and smile lines.
7. Exercise
Sure- physical activity keeps your body healthy, energy levels up, and your immune system in check. However, its incredible benefits don’t stop there. Exercise improves circulation and can promote clear, radiant skin. How? It increases blood flow and nourishes skin cells by carrying oxygen and vital nutrients to active cells throughout the body. Exercise also flushes out free radicals and other waste products, so you can enjoy soft, healthy skin in any type of weather!
8. Eat Nutritious Foods
When harsh weather makes its uninvited, unappreciated appearance, why not eat your way towards nourished, radiant skin? Dr. Frey recommends adhering to a nutritious diet in order to maintain skin health. We asked her if there were any specific foods that she recommends to her patients, and this was her response:
There is no double blinded study that proves any one food can enhance skin appearance. With that being said, there is plenty of research that touts the benefits of a healthy, well-balanced diet. This is what I recommend: fruits, veggies, lean protein, and healthy carbs.”
There’s an entire scrumptious spectrum of fruits, veggies and other whole foods that are known for their skin benefits. Vegetables are especially beneficial as they supply essential nutrients, and contain a host of cleansing properties. Dark, leafy green vegetables in particular are excellent for your skin. Foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, like salmon and nuts, will also provide you with a healthy glow!
9. Warm Showers
Frigid weather might tempt you to run a hot and steamy bath or scorching shower, but these temperatures can dry out your skin and promote skin issues like inflammation. Instead, opt for warm showers for smooth, beautiful skin during wintry months. Warm water opens your pores, and banishes redness, itching, and cracking, especially if you moisturize afterwards. When you start showering, keep the water warm and wash your face. Before you get out, rinse with cool water to close your pores. Your skin will glow!
10. Laughter
The last recommendation that Dr. Frey gave us was too cute not to share! She said that laughter can lead to healthier skin. We’ve all heard the phrase, “laughter is the best medicine,” and in this case, it actually could be! She followed her recommendation by saying,
“I don’t have science proving this one, but I believe it to be true anecdotally!”
We spent a little bit of time looking into this recommendation and found that when we laugh, our body releases endorphins (also known as “feel good chemicals.”) Now, we know that stress can have a negative impact on skin health, so anything that can fight stress, can technically improve it, right? Your body will release less stress hormones when you feel happy, so Dr. Frey may actually be on to something here!
If you can incorporate these tips into your daily skincare routine, you will have beautiful, glowing skin no matter what time of year it is!
Dr. Fayne Frey had one final piece of advice for us, that we thought was the perfect way to wrap this article up. She said:
On a daily basis I see fabulous, accomplished women of all ages in my office. Almost all of them, somehow, feel inadequate about themselves physically. Truth is, the only skincare products that have been repeatedly shown to be of benefit to skin, are moisturizers and sunscreen. Women shouldn’t define themselves by their appearance. Kindness matters. Rectitude matters. Health matters. You ARE enough!”
