The tips I list below are beneficial regardless of your skin type. It’s never too late to start taking care of your skin!
Use Sunscreen – Sunscreen shields your skin from developing signs of aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines. Studies show that people below the age of 55 who used sunscreen had 24% lesser chances of developing these aging signs than non-sunscreen and occasional sunscreen users. It is therefore advisable to use sunscreen every day. You may not notice the benefits now, but the advantages of using daily sunscreen are certainly seen in the long run.
Exfoliate gently – Exfoliating with products that contain ground nut shells can be great to use on your body because your skin is thicker and can withstand the pressure, however using it on your face isn’t as beneficial (the jagged pieces can cause microtears). Although it “feels” like it’s working, scrubbing your face too hard or too often can deeply upset the balance of your skin. Drying out your skin in this way can actually cause it to start overproducing oil, which isn’t great for those with acne.
Stop Picking – Don’t pick your skin! Your fingers are full of bacteria and constant picking makes little problem areas into much bigger problem area very quickly. I know that for some people it’s hard to resist, but leaving your face alone will prevent scarring and reduce breakouts.
No Smoking – Smoking and even being around smoke can speed up the normal aging process of your skin, contributing to wrinkles and discoloration. The nicotine in cigarettes causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of the skin. This impairs blood flow which means your skin doesn’t get as much oxygen and important nutrients, such as vitamin A. Also, tobacco smoke damages collagen and elastin, which are fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity.
Wear Sunglasses – Squinting all of the time is one of the easiest ways to get “crow’s feet” (a branching wrinkle at the outer corner of a person’s eye). So wearing sunglasses is a must! Choose sunglasses that provide UV protection on both sides of the lenses. It is best to look for sunglasses that have larger frames so they will cover more of the area around your eyes.
