Your 6 Step Guide to Better Skin

Skincare is having a moment right now. This is great for anyone looking to get healthy skin, but it’s also brought on an overwhelming amount of products.

It can be hard to find the right routine when some people rave about their 12-step routine and others swear they only drink water and use a gentle cleanser. Perfect skin feels just out of reach for many, but it doesn’t have to be.

Everyone’s skin is different, but following these six steps can lead you to glowing skin.

#1 Eat a balanced diet

If you aren’t living a healthy lifestyle, your skin might not be its best even when you’re using all the right products. Food might not make a noticeable difference in your skin, but eating healthy, whole foods could make some improvements.

Most people will be able to eat whatever they want without having to worry about breakouts or puffiness, but those who have food sensitivities they aren’t aware of could be affected by foods like gluten and dairy.

It’s also possible that many of the foods that make you feel tired and sluggish can be doing the same, like oily or sugary foods. Many people also think that staying hydrated throughout the day keeps their skin clear and supple.

#2 Sunscreen everyday

If there’s one product you include in your skincare regimen, let it be sunscreen. It shouldn’t only be saved for sunny beach days, either. You should be applying sunscreen on a daily basis, no matter the weather.

People understandably try to stay away from applying sunscreen on their face because they’re used to think, oily formulas. Luckily, there are many lightweight sunscreens for the face that aren’t noticeable and can even be worn along with makeup.

Sunscreen is essential not just for skin quality, but for your health to prevent skin cancer. More minor than skin cancer, sun damage can speed up the aging process.  

#3 Use retinoids

Retinoids, or vitamin A, are useful for a few different skin care concerns, and you can find the right one for any skin type. The main use of a retinoid it to reverse the signs of aging. Retinoids are also regularly prescribed to treat acne, but you can find plenty of over-the-counter options.

Using retinoids helps to increase skin cell turnover and promotes collagen growth. By doing this, it fits wrinkles, dark spots, and acne scars. Even if you don’t have major skin concerns, retinoids are still important to include in your regimen.

At first, retinoids can dry out the skin and cause redness, but even out after time. They can also cause the skin to be more sensitive to UV rays.

#4 Keep skin hydrated

Many people assume that their skin type isn’t right to be using a moisturizer, but there’s something out there for everyone. Even people with oily, acne prone skin need to use a moisturizer.

The right moisturizer will ease discomfort from dryness and sensitivity and can even prevent oily skin from overproducing sebum. Your moisturizer should melt into your skin, not feel like a separate layer. Sensitive skin will welcome heavier creams and balms, but the combination and oily skin will feel more comfortable with a water-based gel.

Different seasons might require you to change what moisturizers you use and you can also find different day and night products that work for you.

#5 Exfoliate regularly  

To exfoliate the face, there are two different ways you can go, chemical or physical exfoliation. With a physical exfoliator, you use a scrub or a rough washcloth to manually buff away dead skin cells. Chemical exfoliators break down the bonds between your skin and the dead cells to make it easy to wipe them away.

How often you exfoliate depends on how your skin reacts to exfoliants, so you should pay extra attention to what your skin is telling you to prevent over-exfoliation. Exfoliating is essential to get rid of old, dull cells to help reveal fresh, bright skin.

Proper exfoliation can also give you a better canvas to apply your other products on since you won’t have an added layer of dead skin blocking in.

#6 Cosmetic procedures

If you’re interested in taking it a step further from store-bought products and treatments, you could look into cosmetic procedures that can improve your skin.

For skin with deep acne scars, wrinkles, and dark spots, cosmetic procedures are more effective than any treatment you could do at home. Chemical peels, laser treatments, and dermal fillers, like Volbella, give results you wouldn’t be able to get from anything else.