Beauty, Lookbook

8 essential skin care secrets you need for glowy skin year round

It's never too late to get your glo' on.

What’s the first thing you notice when you meet someone? Chances are, you can’t help but notice their skin. It’s unavoidable and pretty in your face, literally. People have all different types of issues with their skin, and nobody seems completely satisfied with it.

People are constantly trying new skincare remedies, whether it be home made face masks and scrubs, or even salon exfoliant treatments. Everyone wants to know how to achieve clear, beautiful skin while still being affordable.

Here are some of my secrets that I am trying to incorporate more of in my life which I thought I’d share. They’re not breaking news or anything, we have all heard these techniques from various sources. And yet if you’re like most people, you find it hard to stay in the habit of keeping up with these small and yet effective routines.

Here are 8 ways to maintain glowing skin:

1. For Pete’s sake, wash your face!


Day and night. Night and day. Who knows how much dirt and filth we have taking abode in our pores. What happens when you get out of the habit of washing your face each night? According to dermatologists, the build up of dirt on your pores results in more acne breakouts, causing one to look dirty, oily, and/or greasy. Als we go about our day, we may not even realize it but bacteria and dirt are coming on to our skin, so it’s our job to cleanse them away.

2. Always use sunscreen.


Make sure to use SPF 30 or higher though – we have to protect our skin from all those sun rays. Why? To prevent skin cancer and any other unwanted issues. Always apply it before going outside, even on cloudy days! This small habit can also help slow down the development of wrinkled, premature aging skin.

3. Break a sweat.


But make sure your skin is makeup free when you work out and wash your face after. All that makeup clogged into your pores could break out your skin more than you know it. Dermatologist Ellen Marmur states that  exercising helps flush out cellular debris out of our system and it’s almost like you are cleansing your skin from the inside.

4. Get enough sleep.


Each person differs in how many hours they need. However, Dr. Michael Brues found that those who get less than 6 hours of sleep usually find that it does affect their appearance. He found that people who sleep less than 6 hours tend to have more fine lines and drier skin as well. Getting our beauty sleep allows our skin to repair itself while we’re snoozing. It’s important to change our pillow cases often as well!

5. Exfoliate!!!


At least once a week, scrub off those dead skin cells with an exfoliator that suits you. This simple action can make a world of a difference in your skin care routine. Some benefits are that it causes you to have smoother skin, helps prevent breakouts, and it allows your skin care products to work better. However, don’t over-exfoliate because that can cause dry or irritated skin. If you want more fresh and healthy looking skin, then exfoliation is the way to go.

6. Moisturize. Always.


Our skin gets dehydrated too so it’s important to apply moisturizer, especially after exfoliating or taking a bath. Skin experts suggest that you apply your moisturizer in an upward direction, massaging it in circular motions gently. Dr. Craig Kraffert highly recommends that when shopping for a moisturizing lotion, you make sure it includes the ingredients which are called humectants. It’s also important to ensure that you’re using one which is suitable for your skin type.

7. Treat yourself and splurge on a face mask.


If you don’t want to bother going to a salon and spending a lot of money on a facial, then face masks are for you! LUSH has some really awesome ones. You can also find some DIY masks online. If you’re feeling fancy, throw on some cucumber slices. Not only is it good for your skin, but it’s also really relaxing and a good way to pause and enjoy some me-time. According to one website, “Masks are incredible at providing deep cleansing, which helps in the improvement of the appearance of your pores.”

8. Don’t pop your pimples!


A friend of mine in college used to advise me to pop any zits that came up but that can lead to acne scars, which you’ll have to spend the rest of your life covering up with concealer. Instead, use acne medications and over the counter creams to reduce acne as they come. Dermatologist Zakiya Rice tells us that a pimple usually lasts from around 3 to 7 days. However, when we try to mess around with it can “linger for weeks and lead to permanent scarring.” So as tempting as it may be, don’t do it!

I hope I can practice what I preach. I know the struggle is real for all of us, but hey, there are bigger issues in the world we should be worrying about. So in the grand scheme of things, these tips are easy peasy. Where there’s a will there’s a way. There are tons of other cheesy quotes I can use but I think you get the point. Good luck in following these steps- you got this.