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The extremes of harsh weather, air conditioning and central heating can leave our skin feeling dry and vulnerable. Thankfully, however, there are several ways to protect your skin day-to-day. Why not set aside some ‘me time’ to give your skin some well-deserved TLC? Read on to discover five easy ways to guard your skin against the elements.
Create a DIY face mask
Start your skin rejuvenation session by mixing a tablespoon of ground porridge oats with two tablespoons of natural yogurt, a teaspoon of honey (preferably raw honey) and a drop of lavender essential oil. Apply to the face and leave for 10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. What could be easier?
Treat parched skin
We’ve already established that harsh weather and the effects of central heating or air conditioning can leave your skin feeling dry. This is especially true for people who have acne outbreaks or bad eczema. The barrier of our skin weakens as we grow older, taking longer to repair any damage and allowing irritants to penetrate and, in some cases, cause rough patches.
Using soap too can also lead to dryness, so always cleanse with a natural soap-free product. Even if you have problem skin, you can safely and gently use natural essential oil products to restore your youthful glow, while also being able to enjoy the pleasant aroma of the oils.
Many people are turning to Korean skincare products to improve their skincare regime while travelling. Not only are these products often highly recommended for tackling various skin complaints, but they’re also often streamlined and compact in size, making them ideal for travelling with.
Proper foot care is also equally important, especially if you spend long hours on your feet. The F.O.X Nails USA Footlogix collection offers targeted solutions for cracked heels, dehydrated skin, and overall foot hydration, helping to restore comfort and maintain healthy-looking feet all year round.
Combat blemishes, blotches and acne
Acne is commonly thought of as just a teenage problem, but did you know that a third of women still suffer from spots and acne outbreaks into their thirties and even longer? Some of us may have experienced acne and blemished during our teen years, while others experience it for the first time in adult life. As is the case for teens, adult acne can be caused by hormonal changes, although this could be caused by different factors at different stages of life. For example, adult acne may be owing to menstruation, pregnancy and other life changes that occur later on in life.
Certain cosmetics and personal products used on the face can also trigger acne and spots, as can stressful situations like studying for exams, managing relationship issues or using certain medications, regardless of your age.
However, grains and sugars are often thought to be for blame for acne. Eliminating grains, sugars, potatoes and corn can help to clear acne, creating an environment that doesn’t allow bacteria and inflammation to flourish.
You should always bear in mind that you need to check out the labels on your beauty products in the same way as you would with your food labels. Beauty products can be crammed with chemicals and, sadly, the industry itself isn’t that tightly regulated. Many of the synthetic chemicals included in skin care products are actually skin irritants, skin penetrators and endocrine disruptors, with some ingredients even believed to be carcinogenic.
Limit exposure to toxins
While the sun can pose a big risk to our skin and we should always cover up in sunscreen when exposed to UV rays,, it’s not the only culprit when it comes to skin damage.
As we age, our metabolism changes and the liver can become overwhelmed with toxins. If the liver cannot rid the body of these toxins, age spots (often known as liver spots) can begin to develop. Oxidation within the body and a lack of antioxidants in your diet can also play an important role in the development of age spots. For this reason, age spots can be owing to dietary and nutritional deficiencies.
Preventing & treating wrinkles
Achieving smooth, blemish-free skin isn’t just about taking care of the appearance of our skin from the outside. If we really want to take care of our skin on a long-term basis, we need to appreciate that such care often comes from inside, too. Our skin comprises of two layers and wrinkles can originate in either layer. The protein known as collagen (an important amino acid) is responsible for supporting the extracellular space of connective tissues within our bodies, including our skin. Boosting our collagen levels can help to improve the appearance and health of our skin so be sure to avoid smoking, reduce inflammation, eat plenty of nutrients, get as much fresh air as possible, limit stress and, wherever possible, reduce exposure to air pollution.
Softened water is kinder to skin
One aspect of skincare that we often overlook, is the matter of the water we use to wash and shower in every day. Many people are under the impression that water naturally hydrates the skin, but this is where we would be wrong (in the UK, at least), as not all tap water is the same.
The main concern here is the hardness of our water. If you live in a hard water area, this can mean that your water is somewhat more aggressive, with the potential to strip natural oils from your skin. It can also leave behind a layer of residue, or in other words scum, that covers your skin pores and can be difficult to rinse off, contributing to dry skin and eczema. One potential solution to this is to soften your water with a water softener. This will remove the calcium and magnesium that can cause hardened water and provide softer, kinder water that can help to alleviate dry skin and eczema.
What are your top tips for a sound skincare routine? Share your ideas by commenting below.
This is a sponsored post.