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I don’t know about you, but for me the change of seasons brings changes to air quality and humidity- and that means changes to my skin, too! As summer comes to an end I can already feel my skin getting drier by the day and that calls for some quick action before it gets worse! These 5 easy tips to improve your skin are super easy and best of all, you can start today!
Hydrate, Hydrate, HYDRATE!
It’s not just for during workouts at the gym- your skin needs water, and lots of it, to be in its best shape! Try to get at least 64 ounces a day.
I used to not like water. I know it sounds weird, but I just didn’t drink much of anything. A cup or two of coffee in the morning, a sip of water here and there throughout the day, maybe half a glass with dinner, and that was it. Well, that’s just not good! It’s not that I was drinking pop or coffee or alcohol throughout the day, it’s that I was not drinking much of anything throughout the day. Once I got started on water and began drinking it regularly, my body began to crave water- of all things! Now it’s like I can’t get enough. My goal is at least 32 ounces before lunch, another 32 ounces by dinner and 32 ounces between dinner and bedtime. If I work out in the morning I might drink twice that amount. I just can’t get enough, and my skin thanks me. As soon as I stop my water routine I start to notice my skin getting dry and irritated. So, drink up!
Moisturize
A moisturizer with a sunscreen is a necessity no matter how old you are and no matter what your daily sun exposure is. Even if you “aren’t going to be in the sun,” you’re going to be in the sun! It’s up there and you can’t avoid it, even when it’s cloudy. Even if you are indoors if you are in a room with windows you’re being exposed to the sun. The good news is there is a moisturizer for every skin type, and better yet, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune! I *love* Neutrogena’s Daily Defense Moisturizer. It has an SPF of 30 and is less than $10 on Amazon. I order every couple months and will be sticking with this brand for the foreseeable future. Does anyone else break out when they change their moisturizer? I do every.single.time! It’s super annoying.
Boost Your Air Quality
Air quality is a huge component to improving your skin. Depending on how populated and industrial your city is, there may not be much you can do to improve your outdoor air quality, but you can control your indoor air quality! Stay out of smokey areas (easier in the US now that smoking indoors isn’t allowed anywhere) and make use of fans to remove smoke and cooking grease from your kitchen air.
If your furnace has a humidifier, make sure it is working during the winter months, and be sure to change your furnace filter regularly. If you need extra humidity consider adding a room-sized humidifier to your bedroom for overnight use. We have this little guy in our bedroom for the winter months. Our room is maybe 14x14ish and it works great. We’ve had fancier ones, but water & the components are not a great mix and we tend to fry them, so a $25 unit that does what it is supposed to do is perfect for us clumsies.
Get More Zzzzzz’s
I know it’s difficult to find time to sleep more, but getting a full night’s sleep is essential for your overall health AND it benefits your skin, too. Being sleep deprived causes stress- even if you think it doesn’t, it does. Stress releases adrenaline and cortisol, which can contribute to breakouts. Try to go to bed a little earlier to work in some extra minutes- and try (and I KNOW it is SO HARD) not to pick up your phone *at all* while you are in bed! I find that once I look at my phone I am wide awake, but if I don’t look at it at all I am able to fall asleep much faster. The only problem is I lay in bed thinking of things I need to look up on my phone. If I look, I am then wide awake and if I don’t look, I forget what I wanted to look up the next day. <gah> Solutions, anyone? I’d tell my husband, but the man is able to fall asleep within 15 seconds of hitting the pillow, lucky guy!
Don’t “Over Wash” Your Face
Overwashing and scrubbing your face can do more harm than good. Use a gentle cleanser at the end of the day to remove makeup, pollens and other skin irritants and then moisturize. What is your favorite cleanser? I will admit that I am a soap and water girl, but now that I am over 30 40, maybe I should start using a cleanser… Sometimes a simple routine is better than a regimen!
Bonus #1: Drink Green Tea
If your skin is red and blotchy, try drinking green tea. It has the same hydration qualities as water, but it’s also an anti-inflammatory! Iced is best, as hot tea can make redness worse. Common inflammatory foods? Dairy, sugar and gluten.
Bonus #2: Reduce Dairy Intake
If you have acne, cut back on dairy. I know. Cheese. And lattes. And cheese. And lattes. But give it a try- it may offer you some relief!
Do you have any skin care tips that work like a dream for your skin? We would love to hear about them in the comments!
You may also enjoy these related posts:
Beauty Buys That Won’t Break the Bank
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The 7 Habits of Truly Happy Women
7 Easy Steps to Simplify Your Crazy Life
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Have a great week!
Allison
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