Thoughtful Tips For Rejuvenated Skin

So many factors can make our skin look dry and dull. Dehydration, lack of moisture, and dryness all play roles. Makeup can mask some of these complications, but it doesn’t necessarily make you look vibrant. Besides, you might want to leave the house some days without makeup masking your true beauty.

When we look good, we feel good. In light of this, we’re sharing thoughtful tips for fresh, rejuvenated-looking skin that don’t require anything extreme or costly - but make a huge difference.

Be Gentle With Skin

It’s pretty simple, actually. If we want skin to feel as soft as a newborn baby, we need to treat it with the same care as we would a newborn. Avoid harsh soaps and scrubs; these products will only work to dry out your skin and create unwanted cracks, redness, and flaky skin. Instead, start morning skin-care by using a gentle cleanser to remove any excess oil or dirt. Next, apply a cleansing oil and then some sunscreen. These products will work to protect the top layer of your skin and give you that glowing look. Keep an eye on the ingredients as well - even some ‘gentle’ cleaners can have harmful ingredients in them, such as sulfates and parabens, which can remove too much of the skin’s protective surface barrier, increase skin irritation, and increase the risk of cancer.

Stay Clear of Hot Water

Washing your skin with hot water? Think again. Hot water may be good for dishes and clothes, but not for skin. Hot water can strip away natural oils and can enhance inflammation. We don’t want our skin to look too oily, but the truth is that our skin needs the natural oils it produces.

Therefore, use lukewarm water when washing your face. Add a moisturizing cleanser with natural oils such as shea butter or almond oil for extra measure if you’re on the drier side.

Try Out a New Treatment

If the products we use at home aren’t helping, don’t get discouraged. While we don’t subscribe to the idea of needing professional treatments, they’re often a great boost here and there - and are also a great way to try something new with a little support from someone trained in the matter. For example, a noninvasive skin rejuvenation treatment will decongest clogged pores and can actually make your at-home products more effective. There’s nothing wrong with having a professional work on our skin once in a while - the trick is to keep it at once in a while and not rely on it, buying into the idea that it’s something we need to be beautiful or worthy.

Apply a Face Mask

Another more affordable option that makes a huge difference is a weekly face mask. Choose a day when you have enough downtime so that you don’t have to rush through the process—you want to give the mask enough time to work. Depending on your skin type, you can use a mask up to three times a week.

Make sure you choose a mask that includes:

• Hyaluronic acid

• A natural oil (such as shea butter, almond oil, or coconut oil)

• Antioxidants

• Vitamin C (fades hyperpigmentation and dark spots and evens out your skin tone)

But more than any treatment or strategy, remember that our skin is not meant to be perfect and it’s only media and marketing that has spread this misnomer. Our skin is a living, breathing organism and the largest organ on our body. Gratitude, care, and acceptance of our unique skin is the number one thing we can do to make ourselves beautiful.