Clear, glowing skin is a feature women have sought as far back as 3000BC. The Egyptians, Greek, and Romans believed “perfect skin” should be pale (white), with rosy cheeks. Women went as far as applying crocodile dung to achieve paleness! So you see, the idea of bleaching creams did not start now.
We however, should not subscribe to this standard. Clear, healthy and hydrated is perfect. Your skin doesn’t have to be pale. Beauty comes in all colors. To achieve healthy glowing skin, all you need is a simple but effective routine. But before we spill the secret, we have to address those bad habits you probably observe on a daily basis that contribute to acne, dryness, pigmentation and what not.
-KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM YOUR FACE
You may have heard this a thousand times, but it’s a very important step. We shake, touch people, exchange money and other items, sneeze in our hands even. The skin on your face is highly sensitive so when it comes in contact with your dirty hands, it reacts badly compared to other parts of your body.
- INADEQUATE SLEEP /STRESS
Stress causes breakouts. To avoid this, it is advised that you sleep for at least eight hours a day to ensure sufficient rest. You could also figure out your stressors and deal with them adequately.
- CHANGE YOUR PILLOWCASE OFTEN
This piece of material should be changed more often than your sheets because when it’s dirty, all your attempts at achieving clear skin will go to waste as a result of those long hours you spend lying on a dirty pillowcase.
- SLEEPING WITH MAKEUP/ A DIRTY FACE
Sleeping with makeup blocks your pores, interrupts the healing process that happens while you sleep, speeds up ageing, damages skin cells, dries the skin out, and encourages pigmentation. In addition, you stain your pillows with makeup. It’s not worth it sis, wash your face.
NOW, THESE ARE THE HABITS YOU SHOULD PRACTICE
- GOOD NUTRITION
Our skin can be affected from inner and outer causes. That is why it is important to treat it from both fronts. Fruits and vegetables eaten regularly can improve the appearance of your skin. Eat fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A, C and E. Some of these foods include; tomatoes, sweet potatoes, avocados, pepper, green tea, and coconut oil. Add these to a healthy diet and watch your skin improve.
- ADEQUATE HYDRATION
Staying properly hydrated is necessary for your overall health. Not only does water play an important role in your digestion and circulation, but it’s also vital for your skin’s health and beauty. Water helps you from the inside out.
It keeps the skin hydrated, tightens pores, slows ageing and improves the appearance of your skin.
- BUY A SATIN/SILK PILLOWCASE
Satin pillowcases help keep your skin supple and allow your pores to breathe. Cotton pillowcases, on the other hand, draw the moisture from your skin as you sleep. Any moisturizer/cream you may have applied during your night time routine will be absorbed during your sleep. Satin is soft to the touch and allows your face to glide against the pillowcase. More abrasive fabrics, such as cotton and wool, can cause creases, lines and wrinkles to develop around your eyes, forehead and mouth.
- EXERCISE
By increasing blood flow, exercise helps nourish skin cells and keep them vital. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to working cells throughout the body, including the skin. A simple walk or jog daily will work wonders.
AND NOW, YOUR FOUR (4) SIMPLE STEPS TO HEALTHY, GLOWING SKIN
At 2018, the global skin care industry was valued at about $300 billion! It is a huge community that you can get lost in, throw away a lot of money at every product that springs up on the internet, and still see little to no results.
The good news is, we are here to prevent that. If you’re new to the world of skin care there are four basic products that you need to achieve clear and healthy skin.
- Cleanser
Using regular bar soap can damage the outer protective layer of the skin. This leads to accentuated wrinkles and pores, and can cause acne and inflammation, which makes breakouts worse.
Next time you want to wash your face, put down the bar soap and reach for a facial cleanser instead. We advice you to use a cleanser that is free of sodium laureth sulfate. Never heard of it before? Well reach for your bottle of shampoo, toothpaste, shower gel, detergent or soap pack and read the ingredients list. It is the cleaning chemical responsible for the foaming up of these products.
SLS has been found to dry out skin and lead to more acne for people with sensitive skin. SLS is pardonable when used on the rest of your body, but please spare your face if you want to look your best.
You can purchase SLS free products with a simple Google search, online stores, and even local stores around you.
- Toner
After cleaning your face with a facial cleanser, it should be followed with a toner. A face toner is a quick, absorbing liquid that helps to remove excess dirt, traces of oil and makeup, correct and balance the pH of your skin, and helps control acne.
Most toners contain alcohol. We advise you steer clear of this lot. A great choice would be rose water bought from a store, or homemade. Cucumber mixed with aloe vera gel is another excellent alternative.
You could also search for more alternatives, but they should be the moisturizing variety and not dry out your skin like the alcohol containing products.
- Moisturizer
A good moisturizer is important for a glowing and healthy skin. It slows ageing, boosts skin rejuvenation, provides an extra layer of protection against harsh weather and acne.
After using a cleanser and toner, you definitely want to replenish lost moisture with a facial moisturizer. Facial moisturizers are all over the beauty market, so you could do some research, and find out which will best suit your skin, budget and weather conditions. We however, recommend products with at least 1% salicylic acid.
Salicylic acid dives deep into congested skin to relieve clogged pores and blackheads while reducing bacterial growth (bacterial growth is what causes those tiny rashes that we can’t exactly classify as pimples) bacterial growth is prevalent in hot countries, so you want this is your regimen.
- SUNSCREEN
Did you know that black skin comes with a built-in sunscreen? Every melanin popping brother/sister has a sun protection factor of sixteen (SPF16) in their skin. God really does know how to plan lol.
This however does not mean you don’t need extra protection. Sun, especially in hot countries like ours, shows no mercy. You may be thinking the sun doesn’t do much damage to your skin, but you’re mistaking. It takes 30 years for sun damage to appear, so the damage you did in your 20s will start showing up in the form of wrinkles during your 50s.
Sun protection is not very popular among Nigerians, but we strongly advise that you incorporate this into your regimen. A high SPF, say 30 and above is recommended by skin care specialists.
Sunscreen can be expensive sometimes, but worry not! There are inexpensive sun protectors that we all own. These include umbrellas, sunglasses, baseball hats, and so on. What's more? You can turn these pieces to fashion statements!
Use these whenever you go out under the sun, and your skin will thank you.
So what are you waiting for? Kick start your skin care journey with these effective tips we’ve given you, and begin to develop silk soft, healthy radiant skin.
LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW
- Which of the bad habits we mentioned are you guilty of?
- What is your current skin care routine?
- Are you a ‘rub-soap-and-water-and-call-it-a-day’ person or an Instagram skin care products junkie?
- What skin care product do you regret buying?
- Did you find our tips helpful or impractical?
- Recommend your favorite skin care products/practices to us and other readers!
Share this post to your friends if it was helpful to you.
BY: LARISSA ACHUGWO
NOW, THESE ARE THE HABITS YOU SHOULD PRACTICE
- GOOD NUTRITION
Our skin can be affected from inner and outer causes. That is why it is important to treat it from both fronts. Fruits and vegetables eaten regularly can improve the appearance of your skin. Eat fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A, C and E. Some of these foods include; tomatoes, sweet potatoes, avocados, pepper, green tea, and coconut oil. Add these to a healthy diet and watch your skin improve.
- ADEQUATE HYDRATION
Staying properly hydrated is necessary for your overall health. Not only does water play an important role in your digestion and circulation, but it’s also vital for your skin’s health and beauty. Water helps you from the inside out.
It keeps the skin hydrated, tightens pores, slows ageing and improves the appearance of your skin.
- BUY A SATIN/SILK PILLOWCASE
Satin pillowcases help keep your skin supple and allow your pores to breathe. Cotton pillowcases, on the other hand, draw the moisture from your skin as you sleep. Any moisturizer/cream you may have applied during your night time routine will be absorbed during your sleep. Satin is soft to the touch and allows your face to glide against the pillowcase. More abrasive fabrics, such as cotton and wool, can cause creases, lines and wrinkles to develop around your eyes, forehead and mouth.
By increasing blood flow, exercise helps nourish skin cells and keep them vital. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to working cells throughout the body, including the skin. A simple walk or jog daily will work wonders.
AND NOW, YOUR FOUR (4) SIMPLE STEPS TO HEALTHY, GLOWING SKIN
(SKIN CARE ROUTINE FOR BEGINNERS)
At 2018, the global skin care industry was valued at about $300 billion! It is a huge community that you can get lost in, throw away a lot of money at every product that springs up on the internet, and still see little to no results.
The good news is, we are here to prevent that. If you’re new to the world of skin care there are four basic products that you need to achieve clear and healthy skin.
- Cleanser
Using regular bar soap can damage the outer protective layer of the skin. This leads to accentuated wrinkles and pores, and can cause acne and inflammation, which makes breakouts worse.
Next time you want to wash your face, put down the bar soap and reach for a facial cleanser instead. We advice you to use a cleanser that is free of sodium laureth sulfate. Never heard of it before? Well reach for your bottle of shampoo, toothpaste, shower gel, detergent or soap pack and read the ingredients list. It is the cleaning chemical responsible for the foaming up of these products.
SLS has been found to dry out skin and lead to more acne for people with sensitive skin. SLS is pardonable when used on the rest of your body, but please spare your face if you want to look your best.
You can purchase SLS free products with a simple Google search, online stores, and even local stores around you.
- Toner
After cleaning your face with a facial cleanser, it should be followed with a toner. A face toner is a quick, absorbing liquid that helps to remove excess dirt, traces of oil and makeup, correct and balance the pH of your skin, and helps control acne.
Most toners contain alcohol. We advise you steer clear of this lot. A great choice would be rose water bought from a store, or homemade. Cucumber mixed with aloe vera gel is another excellent alternative.
You could also search for more alternatives, but they should be the moisturizing variety and not dry out your skin like the alcohol containing products.
- Moisturizer
A good moisturizer is important for a glowing and healthy skin. It slows ageing, boosts skin rejuvenation, provides an extra layer of protection against harsh weather and acne.
Salicylic acid dives deep into congested skin to relieve clogged pores and blackheads while reducing bacterial growth (bacterial growth is what causes those tiny rashes that we can’t exactly classify as pimples) bacterial growth is prevalent in hot countries, so you want this is your regimen.
- SUNSCREEN
Did you know that black skin comes with a built-in sunscreen? Every melanin popping brother/sister has a sun protection factor of sixteen (SPF16) in their skin. God really does know how to plan lol.
This however does not mean you don’t need extra protection. Sun, especially in hot countries like ours, shows no mercy. You may be thinking the sun doesn’t do much damage to your skin, but you’re mistaking. It takes 30 years for sun damage to appear, so the damage you did in your 20s will start showing up in the form of wrinkles during your 50s.
Sunscreen can be expensive sometimes, but worry not! There are inexpensive sun protectors that we all own. These include umbrellas, sunglasses, baseball hats, and so on. What's more? You can turn these pieces to fashion statements!
Use these whenever you go out under the sun, and your skin will thank you.
LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW
- Which of the bad habits we mentioned are you guilty of?
- What is your current skin care routine?
- Are you a ‘rub-soap-and-water-and-call-it-a-day’ person or an Instagram skin care products junkie?
- What skin care product do you regret buying?
- Did you find our tips helpful or impractical?
- Recommend your favorite skin care products/practices to us and other readers!
Share this post to your friends if it was helpful to you.
BY: LARISSA ACHUGWO
I personally have no skin care routine,this has been really helpful!
ReplyDeleteI hope this will help you get one.Good luck!
DeleteReally insightful. Thanks for sharing this idea. I can't wait to practice them
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome love.
DeleteThis is very informative and beautiful... Well done sweetie
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading Janet <3
DeleteThanks Larissa!!
ReplyDeleteSometimes just we need someone to remind us.
Washing heavy makeover off is both tiring and tough so I get to sleep with it sometimes.
Please ensure you always wash no matter how tired you are. I know it can be annoying sometimes, but the consequences of sleeping with makeup are not worth those extra five minutes of sleep/rest. And you're welcome!
DeleteQuite informative,I never knew that I am supposed to keep my hands off my face,now I know,Thanks a lot!!!
ReplyDeleteHere's to better skin sweetie!!
DeleteThanks sweetie for this lessons!
ReplyDeleteyou're most welcome!
Delete