As the title states, I wanted to share my tips to help you take care of your skin and hopefully improve your overall complexion. I have sensitive, combination skin and I have the occasional hormonal breakout. We all have skin that reacts differently with different skin concerns due to our genetics, lifestyle, and environment. I would highly recommend catching up with your General Practitioner, Dermatologist, Aesthetician or Naturopath when you want to make some lifestyle or medication changes for your skin.
1. Drink water – I know it’s been said each and every time by celebs, influencers, beauty brands, and health professionals but I’ve gotta put this one in. You should be drinking 33 mL per kilogram per day. For example, if you weigh 55 kilograms you would need to drink at least 1.8L per day. I would recommend you drink 2-3 litres of water per day. IF YOU’RE READING THIS DRINK SOME WATER.
2. DON’T pick at your skin with unclean hands. – The skin on our face is much like the petals of a flower. Skin is fragile and if you break it, it needs time to heal and also it will be exposed to bacteria. If you can afford it, get extractions and facials once a month. Otherwise, get them whenever you can if it’s once every three months or once per year. Don’t pick at your skin without careful preparation! Use clean fingers or gloved hands to pop a pimple when it’s ripe and has come up to the surface of the skin. Try and release as much of the infection as possible. Then apply a drying spot treatment, such as a drying lotion. You may also apply a hydrocortisone cream ONLY when prescribed by your doctor. You could also try a small amount of tea free oil if you prefer a more natural remedy.
3. Take your makeup off… Every. Damn. Night. – Don’t even think about hitting the sheets without taking that makeup off. It is so important to take all of the makeup and dirt and pollution off your face after a long day. Use a makeup remover and then follow it up with a face cleanser to remove the dirt, oil, makeup, and other pollutants.
I’m currently using Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser and Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. I use Magnitone London WipeOut! MicroFibre Cleansing Cloth soaked in warm water to gently remove my makeup. It’s so easy and gentle and you can get most of your makeup off with just warm water so it’s much less irritating for your skin. I like to take a ‘less is more’ approach when my skin is feeling sensitive or I’m breaking out.
4. Eye cream needs to be applied twice daily. – Indeed, you read that right. Every day, twice a day. Otherwise, it’s not going to make much of an impact. It also takes a long time for eye skincare to show visible results, so give an eye treatment at least 3 months to take effect. I am currently alternating my treatments between the Eve Lom Eye Cream and the Nuxe ‘Nuxellence’ Anti-Ageing Eye Contour Cream. A cheaper alternative for eye cream is the Simple Kind To Eyes Eye Balm.
5. Think about changing the way you sleep. – The best method of sleeping for better skin is by sleeping on your back. That way, your face doesn’t get wrinkled by your pillow and there’s less friction and buildup of oil from your skin being in contact with the pillow. Easier said than done for me! I have slept on my side my entire life and only recently started sleeping on my back and noticed zero pillow marks. Another key tip is to get more sleep. Get as much sleep during the night as you possibly can. Optimally, this is 7-9 hours a night.
6. Consider what you’re putting into your body. – Drink more green tea as this has anti- aging and anti-inflammatory properties. Reduce or eliminate the consumption of dairy if you have acne, but make sure you are consuming adequate Calcium. Watch for food triggers that may seem to aggravate acne. Ensure you have ample Zinc, vitamin C, and Selenium in your diet. Eat healthy fats, such as fatty fish, avocados, and nuts. Try to incorporate more leafy greens and colourful vegetables into your meals. Coming from someone who isn’t the biggest fan of vegetables, you can find some cool vegan or vegetarian recipes online! Take inspiration from foodie photos on Instagram. Try different cuisines, for example, try a Mexican salad or Poke bowls.
