by Mia Barnes
You may remember talking about the various layers of the skin in biology class, but how does that apply to taking care of your own face in your beauty routine? Taking care of your skin means going deeper, and taking care of all the layers beneath. Depending upon which source you consult, most people consider the human skin to have between seven and eight layers. Although certain skincare practices Are purely surface level, there is so much more that you can do to take care of the whole of your skin. Here are a few things that you can do to make sure that you’re taking care of the different layers of your skin.
Use Chemical Exfoliators
Although chemical exfoliators might sound a bit harsher than physical exfoliators, the truth is actually the opposite. Most products can only penetrate the uppermost layers of the epidermis, as the skin’s natural barriers are designed to keep harsh and abrasive particles out. When you use scrubs and washes with beads, you can cause breakage and damage that ultimately harms the skin. Instead, go for a chemical exfoliator.
Always Moisturize
Speaking of protecting your skin’s natural barriers, moisturizing is always important, no matter what skin type you have. By using a moisturizer at the end of your skincare routine, you can offer a bit of extra protection by locking in moisture and preventing transepidermal water loss from taking place.
Avoid Alcohol In Your Skincare Products
Although it can sometimes feel satisfying to use products that contain alcohol — think of that clean, refreshing feeling that many toners and witch hazel products can leave on your skin — alcohol can actually throw your skin’s layers completely out of balance. Specifically, alcohol can strip your skin of the natural oils that it needs for protection and hydration, drying out the epidermis and causing damage to your skin over time with repeated use.
Try a Deep Mask
Just because you don’t want to cause deep damage doesn’t mean you can never go deep with your skincare treatments. In fact, there are plenty of times that going a little beneath the surface is important. In the case of things like blackheads, using masks and products that are intended to go deeper into the epidermis can help fish out excess debris and sebum that you can’t get from traditional products. Ingredients like clay and activated charcoal can be fantastic for this.
Head to a Professional
At the end of the day, the only person that is specifically qualified to go deeper into your skin on a consistent and regular basis is a skincare professional. Whether you schedule regular visits to the dermatologist to plan out your skincare regimen or you book a bi-monthly facial with your favorite aesthetician, putting your face in the hands of a professional is a great way to cover all your bases.
Taking Care of Your Skin, Top to Bottom
There are so many ways that you can take care of your skin from the top to the bottom. By avoiding harsh products and chemicals, moisturizing regularly and going to a professional when you can, you can make sure that your skin is always at its best, even in the places you can’t see.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
Cover Photo by nappy from PexelsÂ
by Mia Barnes
Skin care has become so much more popular in recent years, and for good reason! Skin care is about so much more than looking beautiful — although it can certainly do that too. Caring for your skin is about caring for the inside of your body as well as the outside, just like any other health and wellness routine.
There are so many ways that you can take care of your skin, and just the same, there are plenty of bad habits that might be impacting your skin. While of course everybody is different, there are a few universal skin care tips that are worth trying out no matter who you are. If you’re curious about the kinds of habits that can affect your skin, here are just a few of them.
Not Drinking Enough Water
Staying hydrated is one of the most important ways to keep your skin healthy, and therefore not drinking enough water can have its consequences on your skin. Whether it comes as a result of dehydration or drinking sugary sodas and coffees, lacking water can contribute to dryness and breakouts.
Eating Processed Food
Similar to sugary drinks, processed foods filled with artificial sweeteners, processed sugar, white flours and complex fats can cause breakouts, excess sebum and oil that you’re likely in the market to avoid. Of course, everything is okay in moderation, but it’s best to keep processed food to a minimum.
Using Physical Exfoliators
This is a bad habit that can often be in good faith — while using scrubs, brushes and loofahs can sometimes feel good in the moment, it can actually cause abrasion and break down the moisture barrier that your skin needs protection.
Extra Hot Showers
Super hot showers, much like physical exfoliators, can feel good in the moment, but they are often much too harsh, especially if you have sensitive skin. Instead, try to take warm showers so you can relax and take care of your face.
Going to Sleep In Your Makeup
It can be tempting to crash at the end of the day without doing your evening skin care routine — especially if you’re extra tired. But going to sleep in your makeup is actually a bad habit that can cause breakouts, irritation and excess sebum and oil. Try to at least cleanse with micellar water before you hit the hay.
Drinking Alcohol
Alcohol is another habit that can affect your skin. Specifically, if you struggle with rosacea, hyperpigmentation, redness or dryness, drinking regularly can often trigger those skin issues. Try cutting back on alcohol or even going completely sober to see how your skin reacts.
Changing Products too Frequently
It can be fun to change up your skin care routine whenever you catch wind of a fun new product you’re itching to try — but let’s not forget that skin care routines are important for a reason. When you find products that work for your skin, you should keep them in your rotation.
Smoking Cigarettes
Smoking cigarettes is bad for your health, but it’s also bad for your complexion. If you smoke cigarettes, try to cut back or quit, as they can cause premature aging, spots, hyperpigmentation and breakouts.
Skipping the SPF
Speaking of premature aging and spots, skipping out on sunscreen is one of the most common bad skin habits. Make sure that even during the colder months you keep applying an SPF of at least 30 before you leave the house in the morning — you’ll thank yourself in a few years.
Popping and Picking
Although pimple popping videos can sometimes be satisfying to watch and even satisfying to reenact, it can actually be a very bad idea to pop and pick when you have breakouts. Not only can it get bacteria underneath the surface of your skin, but it can also lead to scarring and spots.
Bad Skin Habits to Kick
Taking care of your skin is truly about going from the inside out. From the food that you eat to the way that you hydrate yourself, and even the temperature of your showers, there are so many places that you can improve your habits in order to take better care of your skin. Do you have a tendency towards any of these habits?
Cover photo by Shiny Diamond from PexelsÂ
Interior photo by Maria Orlova from Pexels
