3 things you need to start doing today for glowing skin

Skin is a marker of health and beauty. People are very aware of and sensitive to, the appearance of their skin. Although there are several skin conditions that are completely natural, because of our beliefs about skin, can cause self-consciousness. This self-consciousness may cause us to withdraw socially. Our physical appearance influences not only how we treat ourselves but also how we are treated and judged by others.

As someone that suffered from hormonal acne in my late 20s into my early 30s, I understand the feelings associated with one’s appearance. After trying every home remedy I could find on the internet to no avail, I sought the help of a professional. Learning how to properly care for my skin from the inside out has changed my skin in so many ways. With the help of my dermatologist, these three things are my non-negotiables to keep my skin glowing all year long.

1 Remove dead skin cells and regenerate new skin cells 1-3x/week.

The two things needed for this step are exfoliation and the use of tretinoin cream. When building your regimen, you will switch between exfoliating and the use of a retinoid cream. Alternating each practice will minimize or avoid over-irritating the skin.

Exfoliation

The benefits of exfoliating are unclogging pores, reducing acne, improving skin texture, and improving moisture absorption. Exfoliating removes the dead skin cells to encourage the regeneration of new skin cells. The regeneration of new skin cells will give us the youthful appearance we are all searching for. How often should you be exfoliating? Skin type: sensitive – 1x/week, normal/combination – 1-2x/week, and oily 2-3x/week.

Exfoliating too much can cause irritation, redness, and rough, dehydrated, flaky skin. This is the result of the skin losing its ability to absorb or retain moisture. If you notice your skin being extra oily, more acne, or extremely dry cut back or stop the exfoliation to repair any damage caused. The use of a rich emollient can restore the skin’s ability to absorb and retain moisture.

Tretinoin cream

Tretinoin is a retinoid cream to treat skin conditions such as fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and rough skin. To get a high % cream you will need to consult with a dermatologist whether in person or online. There are some face creams sold at drugstores with lowers percentages of tretinoin. Consistency is key to achieving results.

Tretinoin is compounds of vitamin A that is applied topically to the skin to reduce the effects of aging and acne. Though tretinoin is like retinol, it has a higher concentration. How does it work? It increases cell production, unclogs pores, increases collagen production, and helps with acne. Alternate with exfoliation to avoid irritation. Be consistent (same day(s) each week) and be sure the skin is completely dry before applying.

When starting with a retinoid cream you can get some dry flaky patches due to the new cell growth sloughing off the old dead cells. As tempting as it is to scrub or pick this off, DO NOT! Stick with the routine to ensure you reap the benefits. Start with 1x/week working your way up to 2-3x/week. Always apply sunscreen the following day and wait 10-20 minutes after applying before applying moisturizers.

2 Restore pH

The skin’s pH level plays an important role in the condition of the skin. Maintaining the correct pH can eliminate acne, reduce fine lines, and regulate oil production. The pH level can be affected by dietary choices for products used. To have a good pH you want to be right in the middle of the chart, 5 being right in the middle, 1 being too acidic, and 10 being too alkaline

Starting from the inside, add vitamin C rich foods to your diet. Change your diet to balance that pH level. If you have an excess of oil you are leaning too far on the acidic side of the scale and too far to the alkaline side if dry. Consumption of alkaline foods will bring acidity down and acidic foods will bring the alkaline down to balance that pH out.

Wash with a gentle cleanser daily. Whether or not you wear makeup this step is necessary and should be done daily. Throughout the day your face gets covered in bacteria, pollutants, dirt, viruses, dead skin cells, and dirt. Daily facial washes remove these impurities. This important step will help you maintain healthy skin and a more youthful look.

What gentle cleansers do dermatologists recommend? Cetaphil – it is so gentle and does not have active ingredients. (no active ingredients = does not treat acne or aging) CeraVe – it is gentle, hydrating, and restores the skin’s natural barrier. Both products are easily found at drugstores for a reasonable price point and were developed by dermatologists.

Micellar water and toners remove traces of cleanser, makeup, dirt, and oil. The addition of toner to your routine can balance pH, reduce inflammation, tighten pores, and help with excess oil production. Apply a small amount to a cotton round or using presoaked cotton rounds simply swipe over the face, neck, and decolletage (the area between chest and neck).

Dermatologists recommend finding an alcohol-free toner to avoid drying out the skin and stripping its natural oils. The best all-natural toners are rose water and witch hazel. Both protect from UV damage, restore pH, and retain the skin’s natural collagen. Witch hazel also contains tannins which is an astringent, making it ideal for acne-prone or oily skin. Rose water is better for normal to sensitive skin due to its gentleness.

3 Hydrate/protect

Hydration refers to water. Water gives the skin strength and elasticity. If the outermost layer of the skin does not contain enough water the skin will lose elasticity and dry out. Drinking at least half your body weight in ounces helps keep the body hydrated. Adding a humidifier to your home or office can add moisture back into dry air keeping the skin hydrated.

Moisturizers are creams, lotions, and oils that help retain or add moisture to the skin. While they both hydrate the skin, they do so in different ways. Creams and lotion will draw moisture in whereas oils will retain moisture by creating a barrier to prevent moisture loss. This barrier does not add water to the skin, but rather holds the water in the outer layer of the skin. Retaining that moisture will keep skin hydrated and refreshed as we age. The number one benefit of having properly hydrated skin is the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles.

Which one should you reach for? That depends on the needs of your skin. If you are needing immediate moisture and deep hydration due to dryness reach for those creams. If you already have a decent amount of moisture that you want to retain reach for that oil.

Protection daily creates a barrier between your skin and the climate. UVA rays are the most damaging to the skin as they penetrate deep into the layers causing some skin cancers and premature aging. UVB rays cause damage to the outermost layers of the skin and are the cause of most skin cancers. The best protection against those killer rays is to stay out of the sun or tanning beds. Who wants to do that though? Not very many people, so apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen all year long. Reapply every 2 hours if sweating, swimming, or during prolonged exposure.

My thoughts

It is never too early or too late to implement these tips into your skincare routine. Build your skincare routine today and watch your skin transform over the next 3-6 months for the better. These non-negotiables can be utilized by teens to the elderly. We can not completely prevent the aging process and should not but keeping our skin at its peak performance for as long as possible will keep it looking and feeling its best at all ages.

~ Tina