Your skin has a tough job. While your other organs are resting comfortably in the safety of your insides, your skin is out there–enduring the elements, taking on the sun, the wind, the dust, the insects, and whatever other irritant flies its way. Yup, it isn’t easy being skin.
There are ways, however, that you can arm your skin (yes, even your arm skin) to win its battle against the outside world, keeping it healthy and looking its best.
Keep it Pumped
If you poke a baby in the face, you will notice that its plump skin quickly bounces back. (Please note that it is considered impolite to poke a stranger’s child in the face, so it is recommended that you receive parental permission, first). If you poke a ninety-year-old woman in the face, however, it will likely take a while for your fingerprint to work its way off her countenance. Why? As we age, we lose collagen–the protein responsible for your skin’s firmness, smoothness, and elasticity.
It makes sense, then, that one of the best things you can do for your face is engage in a comprehensive collagen treatment regimen. According to “The Benefits of a Complete Collagen Treatment Program,” topical collagen products rejuvenate your skin and treat wrinkles without the downtime and unwanted side effects associated with invasive procedures like chemical peels. Plus, it sounds much less frightening.
Be Gentle
In the attempt to rid our skin of grease and grime, we subject it to regular torture. And it doesn’t like it. Instead of cleansing your skin into submission, replace hot showers with warm ones. Stay away from harsh cleansers and opt for ones bearing the words “mild” or “gentle.” When drying your skin, the Mayo Clinic recommends gently patting or blotting it with a soft towel, leaving some moisture behind. And always moisturize.
Sleep on Your Back
If you are a stomach or side sleeper, the odds are that your face spends hours buried in your pillow. Not only does this mess with your skin’s moisture levels and temperature, but it can also leave your smooth complexion riddled with a series of oddly placed–and eerily deep–bed wrinkles. Sleeping on your back is the optimum solution, however, if this is not possible, Good Housekeeping suggests switching to a silk or satin pillowcase as these create fewer compression wrinkles.
Keep Your Hands Off Your Face
If you have a tendency to play with your face, it’s time to stop. Your face doesn’t like it. Not only does it introduce dirt, oils, and other impurities to your skin’s surface, but always rubbing your face can lead to unsightly wrinkles.
And, never ever pop a pimple–no matter how much it begs you to put it out of its misery. You may not realize it, but that zit is basically a sack of oil, dirt, and bacteria. By popping it, you are spreading its content to other pores, unwitting creating more pimples. Plus, you run the risk of permanent scarring. Enduring a blemish for a few days is much better than donning a disfigurement forever.
Yes, it isn’t easy being skin. By following a few steps, however, you can give your skin the love and pampering that it desperately craves. And look fabulous doing it.
What skincare tips do you recommend following?