If you think your skin is perfectly clean you might not want to look at it under a microscope! Even after washing, your skin has lots of bacteria and dead skin cells, which is why good skin hygiene is a must to keep your skin looking youthful and smooth. Here are six skin hygiene hacks for a truly healthy complexion from skin care experts around the world.
- Exfoliate and Tone
According to Rohit Murgai, Category Expert at VLCC Healthcare Pvt Limited, regular exfoliation is a must. Exfoliation uses mild abrasion to remove dead skin cells and other build-ups gently, but more aggressively than regular soap and water. Dead skin cells not only clog pores and lead to breakouts but can also make your skin look dull and aging.
Exfoliation products are available in your local drug stores, but you can also opt for professional treatments to refresh your complexions, such as photo facials, skin resurfacing and acne reduction treatments.
Rohit also advises that toners should become a part of your daily skin regime, especially in the summer months. “Use a toner after washing your face on sticky hot summer days to remove residue from cleaners and anything left behind such as makeup and dead skin.” Although you wash your skin using soap, the actual soap itself can leave a residue behind, which can cling to sweat on hot, sticky days. Toner helps to tighten skin and reduce the size of pores, creating a smoother look to your skin.
- Hydrate, Detoxify and Protect
Your overall health can affect the appearance of your skin. A healthy diet, along with detoxification, can help keep your skin glowing. “Opt for regular detox of the body to maintain healthy skin,” advises Shikhee Agarwal, Head Training, The Body Shop India. One of the easiest ways to detox for skin health is drinking plenty of water. You can add some fresh ingredients such as lemon, cucumber, berries, and other fruits to help the process. Ingredients such as cider vinegar can also help purify and detoxify for that glow.
“One of the best things I have ever done for my health (and beauty and happiness!) was buy a juicer. I use it all the time and throw in kale, Swiss chard, cucumber, cilantro, parsley, green apple, and lemon,” says Gala Darling, Eponymous blog.
Drinking water also helps you remain hydrated, another important factor in skin care according to Shikhee. “Keep skin hydrated and always use an SPF sunscreen,” says Shikhee. We are all familiar with including SPF in our daily skin regime but using foundations and facial lotions that include SPF can really help keep your skin looking youthful while protecting you from the harmful rays of the sun.
- Clean that Phone and Makeup Brush
Part of a healthy skin regime means paying attention to things that touch your face every day. Your hands are one thing to consider, but what about that cell phone? “Our mobile phones can contain countless amounts of bacteria and germs,” says Malvina Fraser, Marks & Spencers’ Worldwide Ambassador. “The best way to combat this is to pop some anti-bacterial wipes in your handbag and wipe down your phone every couple of hours to get rid of the dirt.”
You are also constantly applying makeup brushes to your face, which is then covered in tiny bacteria even after you wash! Malvana advises cleaning brushes once a week. “Washing them once a week with baby shampoo will make a real difference to your skin. Soak the brushes in lukewarm water to kill the germs and set them aside to dry off naturally.”
- Build Up Collagen
According to Dr. Abhijit Desai, the collagen which is naturally present in our bodies is the most important ingredient for younger looking skin. “To address wrinkles, fine lines, skin laxity and loss of volume, enlarged pores and uneven skin tone, a 4D non-invasive laser facelift done in combination with topical agents like prescribed creams will help stimulate collagen and reduce signs of aging,” says Dr. Desai.
Other effective wrinkle reduction methods include Venus Concept’s wrinkle reduction treatments, which enhance the natural production of collagen and elastin fibers. These non-invasive treatments provide healthy, youthful skin.
- Less Stress, More Sleep
According to Heidi Kong, Dermatologist, NIH, getting enough sleep and reducing stress are musts if you want to have good skin. You know what happens after those late nights out. You look in the mirror to see those dreaded dark bags under your eyes. This is just one sign you are not getting enough sleep. Experts recommend nine hours for teens and seven to eight hours sleep a night for adults.
Stress produces a hormone called cortisol, which can increase the production of sebum, clogging pores and leading to acne and breakouts. If you do get breakouts, be careful about popping them. “If you really must pop a zit, follow with a swipe of witch hazel on a cotton pad to kill bacteria, then ice it for 10 minutes. The inflammation and redness will go down much faster,” says Kathryn Romeyn, Lifestyle Journalist. Serious acne can be treated using Venus Concept’s Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology treatments to safely and effectively reduce acne and inflammation.
You can also suffer from rashes such as eczema, psoriasis or rosacea which tend to flare up during times of stress. Signs of premature ageing can also be triggered when high amounts of cortisol are present including fine lines, wrinkles and age spots. These signs of ageing can be treated using Venus Concept’s wrinkle reduction treatments which use advanced radio frequency technology for tighter, smoother skin.
- Makeup Removal
Makeup removal is also an important beauty step not to be missed. Julie Gutierrez, the YouTube vlogger, suggests using coconut oil as an effective addition to your regime. “After I douse a cotton pad with my regular makeup remover, I add a bit of coconut oil and apply it to my closed eye. It helps break up the makeup, so it slides off with more ease.”
Using these beauty hacks as part of your skin hygiene regime will help you maintain healthy, glowing skin.
For more information about skin care, call Venus Concept on (888) 568-1044 or contact us here.
Author Bio: Rebecca Hill is the community manager of Venus Concept, who spends a lot on skin care products after having a troubled teenhood full of acne.
Headshot: https://imgur.com/a/0NxAQ7U
