3 Healthy Skin Habits that are (almost) Effortless

Falling asleep in my make-up. Not getting enough sleep. Touching my face all day. I'm guilty of each of these negative skincare habits. Anyone else? Well, this short and sweet blog post is for you! Here are three skincare tips that are easy to incorporate into your daily life but still deliver some major benefits to our skin. 

Before I get into the tips, I have to mention water. We can use lots of lotions and potions but a vital part of great skin is staying hydrated. Drinking water helps our bodies to flush out toxins resulting in healthier skin. It also helps to maintain the skin's elasticity and can reduce puffiness, slow the signs of again and decrease the size of our pores. This is one thing that I get right - I drink about a gallon of water most days. Here's what helps me to do this - a water bottle! It has to be a color that I love and must have a straw. If these conditions are met, I'm carrying that bottle everywhere and guzzling water all day :).

Tip #1: Exfoliate

In an ideal world, we are cleansing our skin daily and exfoliating once or twice each week. Exfoliating takes the cleanse to the next level. It prevents the buildup of dead skin, makeup, and pollution that we're exposed to on a daily basis.  With all of that gunk gone, our skin is radiant and can more easily soak in the benefits of products like toners and moisturizers. There are several ways that you can exfoliate. Try using a soap bar with a gentle exfoliating ingredient like ground flax seeds or one of our herb-infused sugar scrubs.

Tip #2: Moisturize

Moisturizing the skin and sealing in moisture, are invaluable steps that don't have to take very long. Water comes into play here as well because it's excellent moisturizer! It just doesn't sit on the skin for very long. So, applying a sealer to damp skin is often ideal. One way to do this is to blot your skin with a towel after showering versus wiping all of the water away. Then, use lotion, an oil or a body butter to add to and seal in the moisture.

The key here is finding a moisturizer that works for your unique skin and adjusting as needed. You might love that moisturizer you've been using since the late 90s but is it still loving you? For some people, a light moisturizer is ideal, e.g. a water-based moisturizer or a light oil. For others, a heavier moisturizer might be warranted, e.g. a body butter. Whichever is right for you, keep in mind that our skin needs change as the seasons change so you will most likely need to switch things up throughout the year. 

Tip #3: Protect

Our skin protects us from injury and the elements, helps to regulate our body temperature, prevents loss of moisture, detects infections, is a major sensory organ, and does so much more. It makes sense, then, that we return the favor by protecting it from sun damage. Most of us do this religiously in the summer months but not so much in the winter.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, UV rays can damage our skin year-round. UVA rays can penetrate clouds, fog, and even glass so be sure to add your sunscreen on cloudy days and even if you're indoors but exposed to light through windows. For those in areas with snow, you need to be extra careful as snow reflects UV rays. This means the rays hit you twice! Daily sunscreen application and protective clothing and/or hats can go a long way toward saving our skin from wrinkles or a leathery texture, and maintaining elasticity. 

Friend - our skin is amazing. It's our silent helper, working hard every day, and only crying out for attention when it's absolutely necessary. With the busy lives that most of us lead, it can be easy to slip into negative skincare habits but it's never too late to turn things around. Investing in your skin by drinking your water, exfoliating weekly, moisturizing daily, and protecting it consistently says, "thank you for all that you do." 

What do you do to take good care of your skin? Share below so that we can learn from each other!