Here are 7 Tips to Improve Your Skin

In a recent article I wrote on avoiding fashion blunders I talked about how first impressions are hard to change. Before you even open your mouth people are making judgments about you based on your appearance. The first clues that people notice are things like your sense of fashion, weight, posture, haircut, and the condition of your skin.

While many people will strive to keep their weight in check and their fashion up to date… they tend to slack when it comes to maintaining healthy looking skin. When most people think of healthy skin they immediately think of eliminating acme or wrinkles. But it is just as important to prevent the stress of day to day activity from leaving you blemished, baggy eyed, and just generally worn out looking.

Here are 7 Tips to Improve Your Skin

1. Design a daily regimen that is right for your skin. You need to invest in products that are right for you. If you have oily skin you’ll need to control your oil gland’s production without over drying your skin. It’s best to cleanse your skin every morning and before bed, and following it up with oil free moisturizer and an alcohol free astringent. If your skin is on the drier side skip the astringent and use heavy moisturizer to replace the skin’s missing natural oils. If you’re unsure of your skin type have your skin accessed at a local skin care counter.

2. Take proper precaution against the sun. As cool as a tan looks you need to still be wearing sun block of at least SPF 15. The sun’s ultra violet rays will dry out your skin and make you look like you’re prematurely aging. While I’m a strong advocate of looking tan… I also think you should get tan the smart way, by gradually maintaining it with the right amount of exposure mixed with ample protection.

3. Exfoliate at least once a week. Find an inexpensive exfoliating solution and get in the habit of using it weekly. I recommend using a chemical exfoliating peel with key ingredients such as alpha hydroxyl acid or glycolic acid, which allow you to evenly remove the top layer of skin without damaging your skin’s surface. You may feel girly doing this but you’ll definitely notice a brighter layer of skin underneath.

4. Drink lots of water. You’ve heard it before… you should be drinking at least 8 cups a day. You should increase that number in dry weather, or you’re pushing your body with excessive activity. Water will hydrate your skin and give it that healthy glow.

5. Increase Your Vitamin C intake. Vitamin C gets a good reputation for its immune system boosts…but it’s also responsible for increasing Collagen production and Elastin levels which stretches your skin to provide you with smaller looking pores and decreased wrinkle development. To increase vitamin C you can take supplements, eat more foods high in it, or apply a facial serum packed with it.

6. Avoid oily foods. If you have a problem with oily skin or acme you’ve probably heard this before. But you need to really follow it if you’re serious about clearing up your skin. Oily foods can cause reactive breakouts.

7. Reduce your daily stress. Use breathing exercise or meditation to reduce stress which is known to bring about early wrinkling, parched skin, and unwanted breakouts. Think about how often you’ve been able to tell someone was stress out just by the bags under their eyes.