Start the Year with Clear, Beautiful Skin

January 2020

Sponsored by Derma E

Out with the old, in with the new! For many people ringing in the new year means hitting the gym, new diets, and new financial goals. While skincare often gets overlooked. Instead of sticking to the same redundant routine for the new year, why not try something new? Make this year your best skin year yet with these simple tips and tricks!

Choose the Right Clean Beauty Products for Your Skin

Are you still using the same acne skin wash you used in high school even though you have dry, aging skin now? Do you have excessively dry skin but are using a cleanser meant for oily skin? It’s easy to stick to “what you know” when it comes to skincare, but often we outgrow products and what worked for our skin 5 years ago, may no longer fit our skincare needs. If you’re using the same products you’ve been using for years and your skin doesn’t seem to be improving, chances are that you need to switch up your products. If you are using products with parabens and sulfates, it may be time to switch to more natural skin solutions. Don’t forget that sulfates can dry out the skin, while parabens can cause allergic reactions, and may cause premature aging.

As we age, it takes longer for dead skin cells to leave the surface of our skin, which can result in dead skin buildup. Using natural exfoliates with Dead Sea Salt can help to buff away dead skin, revealing smooth, healthy-looking skin. A good rule of thumb to determining your skin type is checking your T-Zone. Your T-Zone includes your forehead, nose, and chin area. If your T-Zone is oily midday, that indicates your skin is most-likely oilier than it is dry and will likely do well with products made for more oily skin types. If in addition to oil, you also suffer from acne breakouts, try using a cleansing wash with Salicylic Acid and Tea Tree Oil. Salicylic Acid helps to exfoliate skin and prevent clogged pores and Tea Tree Oil has antibacterial properties that help to treat and prevent acne breakouts. If your skin is oily but doesn’t experience breakouts, gel cleansers and cleansing pastes with ingredients like Vitamin C and Glycolic Acid also help to effectively balance oily skin.

If midday your skin is more on the dry side, you most likely have dry skin. As we age, our skin tends to get drier, and it is important to have products that can add hydration to dry, thirsty skin. Unfortunately, all hydrators are not created equal. Some emollients, like mineral oil, can block skin from getting the hydration it needs. Be sure to avoid chemical hydrators and opt for natural hydrating creams, serums, and cleansers. Gentle hydrating cleansers with vegan Hyaluronic Acid can help to hydrate the skin while reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Moisturizers and creams with Hyaluronic Acid work well for dry skin due to the intense moisture it provides.

Consume More Water, Fruits and Vegetables

Water helps aid in hydration. Hydrated skin looks healthier and more radiant. You’ve probably heard this a million times and for good reason! The more water you drink or consume in fruits and vegetables like watermelons, cucumbers, and celery, the better your skin will look. A good rule of thumb is to drink at least half of your water weight in ounces a day. If you need more flavor, add sliced cucumbers, lemon, strawberries, or mint to your water. Adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet also helps aid in healthier-looking skin and increased hydration. Avocados are packed with Vitamin E, which can help with the look of wrinkles, acne, and scars. Walnuts contain essential fatty acids. Fruits like papaya, strawberries, blueberries, and oranges contain Vitamin C which helps to brighten skin.

Check for Expired Products

When was the last time you paid attention to the expiration dates on your beauty products? With cabinets full of cleansers, serums, moisturizers, makeup, and hair products, it’s so easy to lose track of when you purchased any of the 5 or 500 products you have floating around your bathroom. Using expired products can be counterproductive to your skin care routine. Do you really want to use a five-year-old foundation on your freshly washed face? Using expired products can cause clogged pores, breakouts, and skin irritations. Do your skin a favor and make a day of getting rid of any expired products you have lingering around your home. Check the dates on all your products and recycle the ones you can.

Clean Your Makeup Brushes

How often have you done your makeup, not had time to wash your brushes after, and reused those same dirty brushes the next day? Most of us are guilty of double-dipping on dirty brushes. While once or twice won’t do irreparable damage to your skin, repeat offenses can cause serious breakouts and irritations. Dirty makeup brushes carry bacteria that can be harmful to skin. The longer you go without cleaning your brushes, the more bacteria buildup. If you’re in a hurry, use a makeup brush cleansing spray for quick fixes, and then do a deep wash when you have time. Clean makeup brushes allow for a much smoother, cleaner makeup application.

Give Yourself a Facial

Have you ever given yourself a facial? Basic facials consist of the follow steps:

1. Wash
2. Exfoliate
3. Extract
4. Massage
5. Mask
6. Tone
7. Moisturize

Most estheticians recommend monthly facials and sometimes more frequently depending on your skin’s needs. With busy daily schedules it’s easy to skip half of those steps and end up with lackluster skin. Schedule a day this month where you can commit to either going to get a professional facial or doing one yourself. Paying a little extra care to your skin each month will result in clearer, healthier-looking skin.

What’s your 2020 beauty routine?