Tips N' Tricks From Skin Care Pros: Skin Care 101

So as some of you guys may know, I have had to battle acne and other skin problems throughout my life. My skin has only recently began to settle down. Over the course of my life, I've researched extensively and experimented excessively with solutions to all my skincare woes. Since many of you guys have been asking me for tips and what-nots, I've decided to compile a list of some of the most helpful skincare tips I've stumbled upon. But first, let's make sure you understand what your skin type really is:

Nutrition + Health Tips

1) Salmon is full of Omega-3 fatty acids and selenium that keeps your skin youthful and bright. Try to eat salmon or other Omega-3 fatty acid rich fish (e.g. mackerel, trout, tuna, etc.) at least once or twice a week. The Omega-3 fatty acids also keeps your hair shiny and your nails healthy.

2) Avocados are full of Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants that keep your skin soft and healthy. The antioxidants also fight free radicals that can lead to premature aging and cancer.

3) Sleep is an absolute necessity to maintaining good health overall, including your skin! If you don't get into sleep, you are much more likely to get dark circles around your eyes, to rely on caffeine (which is not a good thing regardless), and to develop hormonal spikes that can cause you to crave salty, fatty foods (which is bad for your skin and your body in general). Most people should be getting between 7-8 hours of sleep every day, although it depends on your age and the fact that some people simply need more or less sleep than others.

4) Exercise regularly! It can be daily, every other day, or whatever. Exercise is actually a vital part of a good skincare routine. Sweating opens up your pores and helps "wash out" dirt and other stuff in your pores. Just make sure you shower as soon as possible afterwards!

5) Water keeps your skin hydrated and flushes out toxins from your skin. Depending on your weight and height, most people should be drinking 6-8 glasses of water everyday.

6) De-stressing yourself is more important than you think. According to many scientific studies, stress can lead to many poor decisions due to changes in hormones. This can lead to binge eating, not eating, etc. Take some time to do something for yourself -- I like to go out shopping and buy something for myself once every two weeks (I get paid once every two weeks) to help "reward' myself for working hard.

7) Use sunscreen/SPF daily. This not only prevents your skin from premature aging but also dramatically lowers the risk of developing sun-induced freckles, uneven skin tones, and most importantly, skin cancer.

8) Don't smoke (at all) or drink (too much). Any smoking at all is a big no-no when it comes to skincare. It not only dries out your skin, but also tobacco makes you age a lot quicker and develop wrinkles a lot more prominently at a younger age. Drinking in moderation, however, can be beneficial. Red wines contain antioxidants that can help fight free radicals and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. However, MODERATION is the keyword here. One glass a day is a good amount.

9) Limit processed foods. Many processed white flour and sugar products have high-glycemic indexes, which cause insulin spikes that can trigger acne-causing hormones to be released into your bloodstream. Try to limit eating white flour, candy, etc. and try eating more whole wheat/whole grain, veggies, fruits, lean meats to balance your diet.

10) Limit salt consumption. Everyone biologically need salt to survive, but too much salt can not only lead to puffy skin, patchy but also an increased risk of heart disease and a number of other chronic diseases.


Beauty Tips

1) Do NOT over-wash your face. Especially if you have oily/acne-prone skin. This may sound counterintuitive, but over-washing your face can actually make your skin produce more oil, exacerbating acne. At most, wash your face once in the morning and once before bed (or after you sweat from working out or whatever). Also, pick a gentle cleanser that does not strip your skin of essential moisture.

2) Use warm water to wash your face. Warm water helps open up your pores and let out the dirt, oil, and other gross stuff. There is no point in washing your face if your pores are closed...

3) Wash your face in an outwards, circular motion. Believe it or not, the way you wash your skin is actually very important. Always use your fingers (they can work more magic than any Clarisonic if used properly) in an outwards motion. Natural sagging of the skin comes with age and the outwards motion helps to reduce sagging. The circular motion works essentially like massaging your skin to increase blood flow and promote effective cleaning.

4) Pat your face dry gently. Do not rub your face or stretch it in any way when you are drying your face! Rubbing can accelerate wrinkle growth because it stretches your skin.

5) Wear SPF lip balm. Don't forget your lips! They are also prone to sun damage and premature aging! Excessive sun exposure can actually make your lips dry and cracked.

6) Never sleep with make-up on. DON'T do it. I swear it will make you look like shit in the morning... Even if you are tired, sleep-deprived, drunk, whatever, at least use a towelette or something and take your foundation off.

7) Don't mix glycolic acid with Tazorac. Some skincare products such as Boscia's Detoxifying Black Cleanser contain glycolic acid to help soothe out skin texture. Glycolic acids should not be used with Tazorac, a prescription topical cream used to treat acne, because Tazorac contains ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). The combination of the two is known to effectively cancel each other out, or cause more harm than good. Make sure to read ingredient labels!


Miscellaneous 

1) Wash your pillowcase at least once every week or every two weeks. Acne-causing bacteria can accumulate on your pillowcase when you sleep -- especially for those of you who sleep on your side or stomach. Adding a splash of vinegar is recommended to kill the bacteria, but this step is optional.

2) Visit the sauna. Not too much though, as too much sauna can make you too red. The hot steam from saunas help open up your pores and let your skin breath and flush toxins out. I recommend going to the sauna at most once a week. Follow with a nice shower, and maybe a nice sheet mask :)

3) Use a humidifier especially if you live in a dry place such as where I live during the winter. Humidifers add moisture in to the air so that your skin does not dry out.

4) Use fruits. Believe it or not, sometimes using fruits directly on the skin can be more effective than consuming the fruit! My mom taught me to gently rub watermelon peels on my face (after eating the watermelon slice, obviously). It helps hydrate your skin and protects your skin from free radicals with antioxidants such as Lycopene. The same goes for cucumbers! Gently applying a little bit of tomato juice under your eyes (make your to not go too close to your eyes though!) can help reduce the appearance of dark circles with its high concentration of Vitamin C.

5) Raise a plant! Some of you may know that many house plants can purify the air. It's important to keep the air in your house clean if you want to maintain a healthy complexion. This is more pertinent to those of us who live in more urban or heavily industrialized settings. Fortunately for me, I live in a nice suburb that is relatively far from any major city, but I still raise quite a few house plants. Some good air purifiers are: aloe vera, peace lily, bamboo palm, golden pothos, spider plant, English ivy, snake plant, etc.

6) Milk is your best friend. Use as toner to soften and brighten your skin. Milk proteins are known to also help whiten your skin tone.

With these things in mind, I wish you best of luck with whatever skincare woe you're struggling with! Remember, the most important things to keep in mind is a healthy, balanced diet and exercise. No matter how awesome your skincare products are, they will never be as awesome as the proper foods and working out. Skincare products do wonders from the outside, some only capable of concealing flaws and others capable of temporarily fixing problems. Intaking the right nutrients and exercising can help transform form the inside, and is a substantial way to tackle any long-term skincare problem.