How To Have Great Skin: Habits, Tips, And Tricks

Good skin health starts with a solid skin care regimen – including cleansing, gently exfoliating, and moisturizing. Let’s take a look at some tips and tricks on how to support the health of your skin.

Cleansing: Wash Your Face With The Right Cleanser

A good cleanser can help keep your skin free of dirt, excess oil, bacteria, pollutants, and dead skin cell debris – and allows it to breathe. Clean skin equals healthy skin.

When you wash your face, you want to make sure you’re using the right cleanser. Pick the wrong cleanser, and you could actually be making your skin worse.

When choosing a cleanser, take your skin type into account (and never use that bar of body soap on your face). Here are some things to look for when choosing the right cleanser.

Lactic acid – A gentle exfoliating acid such as lactic acid can help keep pores clear and breakouts at bay.
Antioxidants – These free-radical fighters can help with environmental damage done to the skin.
Fruit enzymes – Natural enzymes that can help slough away dead and dull skin from the surface.
Hyaluronic acid – This “moisture molecule” binds to water to help skin retain moisture.

If you suffer badly from breakouts, you might think you need a stronger cleanser. But a cleansing product that’s too strong can irritate your skin, potentially making those blemishes worse. Think gentle products, even for problematic skin.

Speak to your dermatologist for more comprehensive information on how to cleanse skin that is prone to extreme breakouts.

Exfoliate: How Might Exfoliating Help Dry Skin, Breakouts, And More?

After you wash your face, the next best step is to consider a good exfoliant. Exfoliating products help remove dead skin cells that are “stuck” to your skin’s surface. These dead skin cells can leave your complexion looking flaky and dull, and they can prematurely “age” you.

Physical Exfoliators vs Chemical Exfoliators

Now don’t be alarmed by the word chemical. This type of exfoliator is actually very gentle compared to products that rely on rough, gritty particles (physical exfoliators) to slough away dead skin.

Chemical exfoliators gently dissolve dead skin cells by loosening the bonds between the skin cells.¹ These exfoliators work by using either alpha hydroxy acids (lactic or glycolic acid) or retinol (Vitamin A). When using retinol, look for the encapsulated product over a cream or serum. Encapsulated retinol will work to fight environmental aging factors without drying or damaging the skin protective barrier.

Physical exfoliators can be beneficial to an anti-aging skin care regimen as well. Just be gentle – over scrubbing can have a reverse effect on the skin and cause irritation.

Use light pressure and rub in circular motions on damp skin. Look for a scrub that is specially-formulated with crystal technology and nourishing ingredients such as aloe vera and vitamin E.

How Chemical Exfoliators Help You Achieve Great Skin

It makes sense that a good exfoliator is a great idea for dry, flaky skin. But most types of skin can actually benefit from the use of an exfoliating product.

For dry skin, the acids in chemical exfoliators can remove an excess of dry, dead skin cells.
For oily skin, they can help to clear pores of oil and debris so blemishes can’t thrive.
For skin showing signs of aging, these exfoliators can work to support healthy cell turnover. Dry, flaky skin cells can worsen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Even sensitive skin can benefit from this turnover of skin cells, but you should choose lower ingredient strengths and use them less frequently to avoid irritation. Those with conditions like eczema or rosacea should hold off using these exfoliants on flareup zones. Check with your dermatologist first.

Bonus: If you exfoliate before moisturizing, it also allows your moisturizer to be better absorbed into the skin.

Moisturize: Can Moisturizer Benefit Your Overall Complexion?

Let’s talk about moisturizer. Some people still believe that they don’t need to moisturize. Perhaps they have very oily or blemish-prone skin, and they’re worried about making things worse.

But here’s the thing: even oily skin needs hydration.

It may have a fair amount of oil (sebum) already, but oil doesn’t equal hydration. So, if you have oily skin, you’ll want to find an oil-free moisturizer that doesn’t clog pores.

All skin needs water. A good moisturizing cream or lotion can help add water back into the skin and help to trap and hold that moisture in.

When skin dries out, it can encourage the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. But it doesn’t end there – the skin barrier may also become compromised. This means your skin might not be able to effectively protect you from irritants and bacteria.²

Tips And Tricks: Combating Imperfections With Sunscreen And Makeup

Alongside a daily skin care regime, here are a few other tips and tricks you can add to your “beautiful skin” arsenal.

Wear Sunscreen: Seriously, wear sunscreen every single day. Sun damage caused by sun exposure is one of the most aging of all factors in your environment. UV rays can dry out and damage the skin permanently.

If you’re serious about having a younger-looking skin tone and a healthier complexion, sunscreen is an absolute must. Look for a non-chemical facial sunscreen that is formulated with minerals and has an SPF of 45 or more. Be sure to apply it each morning.

Utilize Specialty Products: Sometimes your skin is just having a hard time. And it can take time, and a good dermatologist, to help these skin problems settle. Or perhaps you’re battling dark under-eye circles or dark spots on the skin.

If you have certain skincare concerns you might try using specially-formulated skin care products such as a wrinkle filler, dark spot corrector, or an under-eye cream.

Glowing Skin: How To Have Great Skin Every Day

Choosing the right skin care products for you is the first step towards great skin. It can take some trial and error, but understanding what makes your skin look and feel great is essential. You can also talk to a dermatologist if you need some help in this area.

So…

Ensure you have a great cleanser, exfoliant, and moisturizer in your beauty kit (following your cleanser you might also like to apply a gentle toner with a cotton pad.)
Always wear sunscreen
Finally, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. Hydration makes a huge difference to the look and feel of your skin.

Learn More:
What Is Crepey Skin And Why Does It Happen
What Type of Skin Do I Have?
How Does Caffeine Help Your Skin Health?

Disclosure: The Beverly Hills MD team creates these articles as a way to provide you with the latest information on health and nutrition. Unfortunately, we cannot make specific product recommendations for our website visitors, such as “Beverly Hills MD Dark Spot Corrector” or “BHMD Thick and Full Brow Enhancing Serum” Please consult with your healthcare provider to determine the best products for you.

Sources
1.https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/exfoliation
2.https://www.allure.com/story/what-happens-when-you-dont-moisturize

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