6 things you should be doing for your skin health NOW!

Getting in the right routine for YOUR ultimate skin health is more simple than you think. Some people think if you just buy the overly expensive, celebrity-endorsed product that GOOP (or fill in your favorite beauty blog) that all your skin problems will melt away. But what if you tried that and you are still suffering? Here are 6 tested healthy habits you can do today to completely revamp your skin health.

1) Wash your face twice a day: Regular facial cleansing helps remove dirt, oil, make up, dead skin cells, bacteria, pollutants, and other debris. These impurities can cause clogged pores, acne, dehydration of the skin, and an overall dull look, so remove that grime and start (and end) the day fresh faced! The right facial cleanser is important to get the best results so look for one with your targeted skin in mind.

2) Protect your skin from the sun! Duh! But seriously, all day long your skin is exposed to UV radiation, even if you aren’t lounging by the pool. Imagine how much accumulated exposure you get even just walking to your car, the mailbox, driving, or sitting by a window. All of that UV exposure can wreak havoc on skin. Your best bet is to use sunscreen daily on ALL exposed skin with an SPF of at least 30, preferably with mineral based sunscreen ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. We also recommend you wear protective clothing when out in the sun, including wide brimmed hats, SPF rated clothing, and of course seek shade, especially between the hours of 10am – 4 pm.

3) DON’T SMOKE! We can’t stress this enough. Smoking ages your skin, causing wrinkles, textural and pigmentary changes by narrowing the small vessels, decreasing blood flow to skin. This lack of blood flow decreases oxygen and nutrient delivery to the skin leading to a decline in overall skin health. Smoking causes cellular changes to occur to your collagen and elastin fibers (these are the fibers that give youthful skin its elasticity). Damage to those fibers leads to wrinkles, permanent facial expressions (think pursing lips when smoking), and sagging skin. Finally, smoking will increase your risk of squamous cell skin cancer (not to mention ever other cancer). Get help at https://smokefree.gov/

4) Eat Healthy: Eating healthy isn’t just good for your body! A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can improve the look of your skin by providing healthy nutrients needed for proper cellular function. It is believed that diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids and healthy fats (think fatty fish like salmon, walnuts, and avocados) can help keep skin supple and moisturized, while decreasing inflammation. Anti-oxidant rich foods (Such as brightly colored, vibrant fruits and veggies) can also help decrease oxidative stress to our cells leading to healthier body and skin.

5) Drink Water: Drinking plenty of water (at least 10--8oz glasses of water a day) for overall health to aid in digestion, circulation, absorption of nutrients, and filtration of toxins. Our skin is an organ made of cells, which are mostly made of water. Without adequate hydration, organs will not function properly, leading to changes that can appear as dry, tight, flaky, or dull skin. People that drink more water often claim that their skin looks and feels more radiant and youthful.

6) Use quality skincare products! Of course, a quality skincare regimen will keep your skin healthy and youthful. Go with the basics, using a daily Vitamin C Serum (best with a 15-20% potency using L-Ascorbic Acid - the most potent form of topical vitamin C) to protect against oxidative stress and improve the look of pigmentation and textural changes of the skin. On top of a daily Vitamin C, use a high-quality moisturizing sunscreen to protect skin and keep it hydrated. A retinol product at night is also great for anti-aging properties but can by drying so find one with hydrating properties (try Save The Wave Hydrating Retinol Serum) or apply a moisturizing cream with your retinol.

If you have specific skin concerns, we invite you to please message us personally. Consider it an open invitation. We’d love to hear from you.

- Heather & Elena.