Must DOs For Healthy Skin

We have all been there – that morning you wake up and you have broken out skin. It is the WORST! They say as you get older your skin should be clearer, but I am 26 and still have random break outs! As women, it is so important to take care of ourselves, especially our health and hygiene! I am excited to introduce you to Sonia, who has written a few MUST DOS For Healthy Skin! Take it away, Sonia…

Hello, my name is Sonia and I am a thirty-something blogger who loves to write about sports, health, DIY projects, hair and makeup, jewelry and food from India! I also write for a medical spa practice in greater Chicago, where I get most of my health knowledge from some of the greatest, well rounded dermatologists. I am a fun-loving, vegetarian that will try anything once. I like to play golf, dance, meet new people and listen to upbeat music.

Anyone that is committed to skincare knows that every brand has a different approach to keeping your skin healthy. Some of these products work, some don’t. Why is this? If a product works for one person, why won’t it work for everyone? With all the different products and 3 or 5 step skin care systems, people have lost sight of what is really important for healthy skin.

You can buy all the skincare products that you want, but before you address problem skin, you can focus on preventing bad skin by following some healthy habits.

Well Balanced Diet

Eating the right foods, means that you are getting all the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs to maintain healthy function.

• Carbohydrates: 45% – 65% of calories or 225 to 325 grams per day
• Protein: 10% – 35% of calories or 50 – 170 grams per day
• Fat: 25% – 35% of calories or 44 – 78 grams per day
• Water: 64oz to 80oz per day
• Antioxidants like beta-carotene, vitamin C, E and A

Stress

The first thing that most people neglect when addressing skincare is stress. Believe it or not, stress affects the health of your skin. When you are stressed, your skin’s protective layer is weakened allowing foreign bodies to penetrate the deep layers causing blemishes, rashes and even psoriasis.  Meditation, exercise and time for yourself can relieve stress.

Get Enough Rest

Skin issues can also come from lack of sleep as well, getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep will allow your skin to rejuvenate and rest.

Now even if you are maintaining a well-balanced diet and living a healthy lifestyle there are several products on the market that can aid in achieving luminous skin. Now there are so many different skin care systems, so let’s clear up some of the confusion. If you have limited time, here are 4 skincare must dos that will maintain healthy skin.

Cleanser

We all know that it’s important to wash your face twice a day, but what you use to clean your skin is crucial. The purpose of a cleanser is to wash away the dirt, debris, makeup and oil build up that accumulates overnight and during the day. Couple of things to stay away from when looking for a cleanser is to avoid chemicals like Parabens (parahydroxybenzoates or Alkyl Hydroxy Benzoate) and by products of gasoline distillation like petrolatum and mineral oil is bad news for your skin. Ingredients like Kaolin and Mentone Gel are special types of clay that cleanses deep to remove dirt and grime.

Exfoliate

The biggest reason why exfoliating is so important is because the process whisks away dead skin to prevent clogging the pores and polishes what remains. Look for exfoliating particles like jojoba beads or finely grounded natural ingredients like seeds or shells that won’t cause tiny scratches on your skin. There are also excellent homemade exfoliating treatments using baking soda, granulated sugar, coffee grounds or grounded oatmeal.

Sunscreen

The purpose of sunscreen is to protect your skin from ultraviolet rays. These UV rays damage the Keratinocytes in the epidermis where skin cancer generally forms, as well as accelerating the aging process. Most people are aware that it is important to have sunscreen when you’re at the beach, but what about when you are driving or running errands during the sunny afternoon hours? For daily protection SPF 15 is sufficient, but it is important to remember that most sunscreens only last up to 3 hours. It is recommend that you look for a daily moisturizer that has sun protection system.

Moisturizer

Everyone knows that dry skin is bad for us, but why? Well when the cells are dry they become inelastic causing cracks in the skin leading to inflammation and a great deal of other cellular issues that disrupt the skin’s integrity. In this state, your skin is much more susceptible to allergic or irritant reactions that can cause infections. Moisturizer helps with the replenishing of these lipids (ois) and water. Humectants help lock the moisture in your skin, look for ingredients like urea, glycerin, alpha hydroxy acids and dimethicone when shopping for moisturizer. Shea butter is also great for your skin as it has Vitamin A and E, as well as, it replenishes lost moisture.

It’s very important to understand one thing about skin care products, because our bodies are different you may have different reactions to certain mixtures of ingredients. If you have any questions or doubts about your skincare regimen, contact your local dermatologist or aesthetician.

Don’t forget to share –

Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day!

March 26, 2014 by Danielle Davis | 5 Comments