We all like to feel good and for a lot of us, that means looking good too. When we look in the mirror and notice that our complexion if fresh, we are looking at our slimmest best and are dressed well, we often develop confidence, want to be seen and are happy to go about our business in a cheery way. However when we look bad, we feel bad, our mood falls and we can find ourselves spiraling into negativity.
One sure way of continuing to look good is to take care of our bodies and our skin. A good, healthy, fresh looking complexion can make a big difference in how we look and taking care of our skin is extremely important but what skincare activities should we be doing daily?
For those wanting to learn more about their skin and how to keep good care of it, TameYourSkin can be a great resource.
Diet
We have all heard of the expression 'You are what you eat' and eating the wrong type of foods not only has a negative impact on our bodies, it has a negative impact on our skin too. Our skin is our largest organ and as such needs a great deal of nourishment. Everyone should be looking to optimize their diet on a daily basis, taking in plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and avoiding processed foods where possible. An adequate daily intake of water is essential to keep your skin hydrated. If you are short of water, your skin can look dry. Food is the fuel for our bodies and we use it to obtain our energy, to repair our cells and to keep all of our organs working efficiently.
Exercise
Daily exercise is recommended. Exercise releases endorphins which reduce the feeling of pain in our bodies and increase the feeling of happiness. In addition to the management of weight and the increase in our overall fitness, if we are happy, we look better, our skin glows and we look less wrinkled and tired. Endorphins have a very positive effect on our bodies. Remember exercise need not be too onerous, even a brisk walk in the fresh air can leave you feeling good.
Sleep
Nightly sleep is essential, you should not be surviving on a few hours of interrupted sleep per night. Sleep should be peaceful and over the correct amount of time. An adult would normally need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night with children needing even more. Our bodies repair during sleep and it is a great way to keep your skin looking healthy and fresh.
In addition, the following 6 step routine would be recommended for the face and neck area,
Remove Any Makeup
The first step of any outline should be to remove makeup. Heavy or waterproof makeups can be more awkward to remove and it is essential that you use a product delicate enough for your skin but effective enough to take the makeup off.
Cleanse
Your next step would be to cleanse your skin using a cleansing product. Now that the makeup is removed, your skin should be bare and easy to clean with some of the cleansers on a cotton pad. Cleansing is really important but does remember that you get what you pay for in a cleanser, very cheap products tend to have more of the harsh ingredients and if your skin is prone to breakouts, then you have to be careful with your choice of product. Again, you are choosing a product with ingredients which are effective enough to cleanse but not harsh enough to cause irritation or dryness. Your face skin is very delicate and should be treated as such. Cleansing should extend to the neck area too.
Tone
Toner is something that a lot of people miss, they don't use it because they don't know what it is, they don't know how to use it and they don't then see the benefit of it. A toner should be used after a cleanser to catch all of the bits that the cleanser has missed. A toner also removes dead skin cells, clearing your pores and allowing the PH balance of the skin to be restored. It can also act as a protective layer for the skin.
Use a serum
A serum can be used ahead of a moisturizer. A serum acts like a multi-nutrient for the skin. A good serum will provide the skin with all of the nutrients necessary for health.
Moisturize
The next step would be to use a quality moisturizer. Everyone has a different skin type and a different preference, so your moisturizer should reflect what is going to work for you. Make sure you attend to all of the corners of your face and neck. It may be that you will require a different type of moisturizer for the delicate area around the eyes.
Apply Sunscreen
Applying sunscreen offers protection for your face and neck against harmful rays which are present even when there is no direct sunlight. It may be the case that you have chosen a moisturizer or makeup with sunscreen protection added but if not, it should be added to your skincare routine. Sun damage can cause premature wrinkling of the skin, dry skin, skin condition flare-ups, and cancers.
A skincare routine is very important to keep your skin healthy. You can apply techniques to the rest of your body as well. Face masks and exfoliation techniques can be added to a skin routine at regular intervals.
The products that you use will be very much down to your own preferences. Natural ingredients are becoming more common in skincare products and are becoming more popular. The ingredients will be clearly stated on the label, have a read and make sure that if you do have any type of skin condition that the ingredients will suit. People who have certain skin conditions may require very specific types of products for their skincare regime. With the choice and variety of products available, there should be skin care products to suit everyone.