Written by Senior Skincare Specialist Kim Van Zyl
The moment we open social media we see models flaunting their beautiful and glowing skin. There are two truths behind this though… The images are either carefully filtered or (our preference), they have great skincare habits that lead to their natural radiance. So, what are the top skincare habits of people with great skin?
Table of contents
- HOW TO GET YOUR GLOW BACK
- THE EFFECT HEALTHY DIETS HAVE ON SKIN
- WHY YOUR SKIN NEEDS WATER
- THE BEAUTY OF BEAUTY SLEEP
- HOW EXERCISE AFFECTS SKIN RADIANCE
- TOP BEAUTY HACKS FOR CLEAR, RADIANT SKIN
- PERSONALISING YOUR SKINCARE
How to get your glow back
Great skin is essential to looking fresh and fabulous, and can only really be attributed to two things. A healthy, balanced lifestyle, and a personalised skincare routine. You see, the skin is not merely a sheet that keeps our organs inside. The skin itself is a living organ that reflects the quality of your lifestyle and general health. Considering this, it becomes easy to see why skimping on good skincare or letting unhealthy habits creep in will have an effect on the appearance of your skin. The good news? It is never too late for any of us to make a change towards healthier, glowing skin.
The road to flawless beauty starts with these 5 skincare habits, let’s cover each of them and how incorporating these habits will help you return to radiance.
Follow a healthy diet
It’s true what they say… You really are what you eat! A healthy, balanced diet provides the body with essential nutrition, and help the body fight off free radicals. Why does your skin want this? Free radicals are responsible for breaking down your skin’s collagen, resulting in unflattering skin blemishes like wrinkling, dark spots, fine lines and loose, saggy skin. Below are some examples of foods to consider for optimal skin health:
- Foods rich in Omega 3’s, as Omega-3 fatty acids are necessary to help keep skin thick, supple, and moisturized.
- Avocados are a good source of Vitamin E and are high in healthy fats. Vitamin E helps protect your skin from oxidative damage.
- Sweet potatoes have beta carotene, which helps keep your skin healthy by acting as a natural sunblock.
- Broccoli is full of vitamins and minerals essential for skin health, including zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
- Green tea may help protect your skin from damage and aging.
Always stay hydrated
The most overlooked habit of them all! Drinking at least 2 liters of water a day is the easiest lifestyle change you can make to help get that sought-after skin glow back. Water will help flush out toxins and replenish the skin tissues, and in turn aid in increasing your skin’s elasticity.
Get your beauty sleep
When we sleep the body produces HGH (the human growth hormone) which kick-starts cell division that is essential to skin renewal and repair. During sleep your skin cells rebuild collagen and repair damage from UV exposure, fighting back wrinkles and age spots. Lack of sleep, on the other hand, increases levels of cortisol, your stress hormone, and puts your skin at a higher risk of breakouts/skin inflammation. So take this top skincare habit to heart, and schedule good sleep.
Make sure you move
We are all very well aware of the benefits of exercise on our general well-being, but did you know that exercise is extremely beneficial to the skin too? Exercise increases blood circulation, ensuring that the nutrients and oxygen in the blood are better delivered to your skin cells, resulting in skin that is well-nourished. Moreover, the efficient blood flow due to exercise also aids in detoxification which results in a smoother, clearer complexion.
Step up your skincare regimen
A good skincare routine will always be a requirement for having great skin. To see the best results from a daily skincare regimen (no matter what your skin type), you should ensure to always include these four simple skincare steps:
- Cleanse
- Treat
- Moist
- Protect
Cleanse:
Face cleansing should be the first step in any skincare routine, as it clears away impurities and excess oil that can clog pores and lead to dull skin. But be gentle. The best skin cleansing formulas will gently cleanse your skin without stripping it of healthy oils. A good cleanser for the face will be pH-balanced and gentle to maintain the skin’s barrier without stripping your skin from its natural oils.
Treat:
To treat your skin you need to use an active ingredient (or serum) that is tailored to your skin concerns. Serums can both treat and protect, delivering concentrated amounts of powerful ingredients that can address a number of complexion issues, from wrinkles and pigmentation to sensitivity and skin texture, and everything in between.
Moist:
Next, comes your face moisturiser, designed to keep your skin soft and hydrated as well as aid in strengthening your skin barrier.
Protect:
The final step in an effective skincare routine is sunscreen! If only one new skincare regime habit is formed, let this be the one. In addition to preventing skin cancer, wearing sunscreen can also prevent premature aging. UVA rays from the sun don’t cause sunburns, but they do penetrate deep into the skin to cause wrinkles and fine lines. If you want to keep your skin smooth and youthful for as long as possible, then a broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB protection) sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher may just be the very best anti-aging product you can use.
Top beauty hacks for clear, radiant skin
Besides these 5 skincare habits (which might take some time for us to master), there are also a few beauty tips and tricks that can immediately rocket your skin to radiance. Let’s talk about my top 4 beauty hacks any of us can start with today.
Sleep on clean pillowcases
Having clean pillowcases plays a significant part in having and maintaining clean and clear skin. Pillowcases should be changed or washed every 3 – 6 days. Think about this; each night, any dirt or makeup that hasn’t been properly removed will make its way onto a pillowcase and remain there until it is washed. This debris is in direct contact with your skin for as long as you are asleep.
Clean your make-up brushes
Make-up brushes and sponges hold onto oils, minerals, and moisture – a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. So, make sure to clean your make-up tools at least twice a month (using mild shampoo or a facial cleanser) – and once a week if used for liquid make-up. Not only will your skin be cleaner and clearer, but your brushes will last longer, and your make-up application will be flawless as well.
Avoid touching your face
This one is surprisingly difficult as we tend to touch our faces a lot. Not touching your face will minimize the spread of infections, but it will also prevent blemishes and breakouts. Ideally, only ever touch your skin with clean hands.
Clean your phone!
Get in the habit of cleaning your phone daily, as touchscreens contain considerable amounts of microbes that will ultimately end up on your face.
Personalising your skincare
From forming new skincare habits to simply keeping things clean, there is so much we can do to achieve optimal skin health. Some habits might take longer to form than others, and some of them you might already have in place. At Dr Nerina Wilkinson + Associates, our goal is to continuously inspire you to feel confident in your own skin, so if you need a little extra hand in regaining your confidence, get in touch and we will work together to design a bespoke skincare regime to help achieve your ultimate skincare goals.
Email us at skinclinic@drnwilkinson.co.za to start your bespoke journey to confidence today.
Written by Senior Skincare Specialist Kim Van Zyl
