Just like anything in life, skincare also starts with building healthy habits. There are some skin issues that even the most expensive product can’t tackle. If you like fast food and wonder why you got those pimples, slathering that cream on your face isn’t going to solve anything.
That’s because it is important to incorporate some healthy skincare habits into your lifestyle. To help you with your search for glowy skin, we have listed the Top 10 healthy skincare habits you should adopt starting today.
#1. Healthy skincare habit: Moisturize your skin daily
I feel like this is an obvious one, but there are some people out there in 2021 who are non-moisturizing believers. Your skin is the largest and the most exposed organ of all. No wonder it is being constantly affected by the outer world. As a result, skin loses its moisture and gets dry which is a big threat to your skin. Applying a moisturizer daily will help the skin regain lost hydration.
Moisturizing helps the skin create a skin barrier that protects the skin from environmental pollutants like dirt, bacteria. The end result is nourished skin, a soft and radiant complexion. As a general rule, moisturizers with an SPF would be the best option for any type of skin.
#2. Healthy skincare habit: Improve your gut health
Do you know the saying “You are what you eat”? Well, now it is more like “Your skin is what you eat”.
If your skin is suffering from constant acne breakouts or inflammation, your gut might be the issue.
Prebiotics, technically plant fibers, are known to have the best effect on gut health. Generally, there are “bad” and “good” bacteria for gut health. They make sure that the “good”, meaning, healthy bacteria can grow in the gut.
So, eating a balanced diet that includes prebiotics will improve your skin health. Prebiotics are found in fruits (apples, bananas) and vegetables such as garlic, artichokes, onions, asparagus, and so on.
Perhaps the most known prebiotic is yogurt. In addition, fermented milk products like kefir, cottage cheese are great sources of prebiotics. Other bacteria-fermented foods are sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, and miso.
Taking care of gut health might not be the first thing to come to mind when talking about skincare. However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore it as a healthy skincare habit.
#3. Healthy skincare habit: Drink enough water
Just like hydrating skin, it is also important to hydrate the body. Drinking enough water is one of the basic habits for maintaining healthy skin. It flushes out the toxins, boosts digestion, and promotes weight loss. This healthy skincare habit isn’t only for beautiful skin, it is also important for general health.
Make sure to drink 8 glasses of water a day. If you think it is too much, let me tell you first that it isn’t. But if you are not used to it, you can start with 4 or 5 glasses a day and then gradually get to 8 glasses a day. Setting a reminder every 1 hour or so really helps. (speaking from experience here)
Also, tea, coffee, juice, and liquids other than pure water don’t count. If you don’t like the taste of the water you drink, adding a lemon slice can improve the flavor.
#4. Healthy skincare habit: Apply sunscreen every day
Harmful UV rays affect the skin all year round, so you need to apply sunscreen EVERY DAY. By exposing your skin to the sun constantly (especially in summer), you risk skin hyperpigmentation, premature aging, and worst of all, skin cancer.
So, applying sunscreen daily works against photoaging. You can think of it as your daily anti-aging routine. American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) recommends using at least an SPF 30 every day. Choose a sunscreen with moisturizing properties that fit your skin type. This should serve as the real primer before applying your makeup.
More about choosing the right moisturizer: Choosing The Right Moisturizer For Your Skin
#5. Healthy skincare habit: Always go to bed with a clean face
Every evening. Even if you are dog-tired. Otherwise, your skin won’t recover itself from all that daily wear and tear.
Your skin doesn’t need all those creams and sunscreens that you put on at night. All the accumulated residue; dirt, bacteria, sebum can only make it worse for your skin. When not cleansed probably, they lead to new acne breakouts and skin inflammation.
Choose a gentle cleanser that will get rid of all the residue. I do double cleansing – meaning I put on cleansing oil that will soak up all the dirt and break down makeup really well. Following this, I will clean my face with my go-to miracle cleanser – CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser which is the greatest product for normal to dry skin.
Another reason to always cleanse your skin before bed is to create a good canvas for nighttime products. Because our skin isn’t disturbed at night time by environmental factors, your night cream (or antioxidants like retinol, for example) will be absorbed better.
So, cleanse your face before bed religiously, your skin will thank you for it.
#6. Healthy skincare habit: Make sure to get enough sleep
Beauty sleep is a real thing, y’all. This is also one of the fundamental healthy skincare habits.
I know sleeping 8 hours is almost a luxury for most of us, but it is one of the essential skin habits that can be slowly developed. Sleeping in a dark room makes sure that the body is engaged in “repair and restoration” work. When you don’t give your body enough time to restore itself, skin complications are bound to happen.
Studies show that people who don’t get enough sleep are more prone to skin-related diseases like eczema, early skin aging.
Therefore, try to schedule your sleep for healthy skin.
#7. Healthy skincare habit: Eat a balanced diet
The gut health we mentioned above is directly related to the diet you eat. It is obvious that nutritious foods are good for your skin and health overall. Your diet comes from your eating habits. So, better eating habits = better skin.
If you are struggling with acne, then cutting down on sugar can really help. Eating skin-friendly foods like seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as foods packed with antioxidants, vitamins will affect your skin positively.
Vitamin A and vitamin C in particular, have proven to be great allies to healthy skin. Adopting a nutritious diet is definitely a lifestyle, however, this lifestyle can be built upon healthy skin habits.
#8. Healthy skincare habit: Take beauty supplements
Aging is no fun. Especially because as we age, the most essential proteins of the skin – collagen and elastin begin to break down. So, it is important to take action towards repairing the lost collagen of the skin.
Certain anti-aging products will definitely help with the appearance of the skin. With that said, tackling the issue from within can be even more effective. This is exactly where supplements for skin come in!
What do skin supplements do? Put simply, skin supplements rejuvenate the skin by improving the overall health of skin cells.
The most effective supplements for glowy skin are fish oil, vitamins (A, B, C K, E), Zinc, Selenium, CoQ10.. the list goes on. Vitamin A is especially important because it promotes collagen production in the skin. Essential Vitamin B types like biotin are popular for promoting skin cell growth, as well as healthy nails and hair. When it comes to hydration and moisture retention, vitamin E is a go-to antioxidant.
For more on vitamins, check out: Best Vitamins for Healthy Skin
#9. Healthy skincare habit: Don’t forget to exfoliate your skin regularly
When you exfoliate your skin, you get rid of dead skin cells. Dead skin cells clogging pores is the number one reason for acne breakouts. It is important, however, to choose exfoliators that won’t strip off your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin.
As a rule, you should exfoliate 2-3 times a week as over-exfoliating can leave your skin too dry or irritated. It is also crucial to use chemical exfoliants as they won’t be too harsh on your skin. Try to avoid physical exfoliants (aka scrubs) that can be harsh on the skin.
Exfoliation truly stands at the heart of all healthy skin habits when it is done correctly.
Read: How to Choose the Best Chemical Exfoliant for Your Skin
#10. Healthy skincare habit: Try to manage your stress level
Notice how your skin flares up as soon as you have an exam or an important event coming up? Well, that’s because your stress levels and skin are related. When you are stressed out, your body sends out emergency responses to help you cope. After repetitive responses like this, skin aging and acne breakouts become inevitable.
Studies show that skin aging and stress have a correlation. Too much also disrupts the immune system, making it harder for your body to cope.
While it is not easy to cope with stress, there are some minor things you can do to ease it. Breathing exercises or 20-minute workouts a day can certainly help you out. Meditation, and aromatherapy are among those as well.
Some people develop their own stress management techniques. Try to find your own way of stress management and apply it to your daily life. After all, healthy, glowy skin comes from within. Or, from effectively founded skincare habits.
The final take
Skincare doesn’t involve expensive products or fancy procedures. At the end of the day, beautiful skin is a direct result of a healthy, balanced lifestyle. The healthy skincare habits mentioned above may seem too simple, but they undoubtedly work because science says so.
So, we hope you stick to these skin habits and eventually get the desired skin results.
