To prepare for the New Year and thereafter, there’s nothing more important than taking good care of your skin. Whether you want to prevent premature aging, attain a luminous complexion or improve the overall health of your skin, these tips will lead you in the right direction toward beautiful skin. Here are seven strategies to protect your skin and reach that radiant destination.
- Commit to your routine.
The foundation of skin protection begins at home with an effective skincare routine that washes away impurities, eliminates dead skin cells and retains much-needed moisture.
If you don’t have a regimen yet, select a simple one with a mild cleanser, day moisturizer and night cream. Add a gentle exfoliating scrub for use twice a week.
Already have a routine? Then, make sure to use it twice a day. Even if you’re exhausted, always wash your face, removing makeup residue, dirt and grime and follow with moisturizer.
Shun the sun. Sure, a sun-kissed glow looks attractive, but who says you have to tan outside to get it? Whether you’re working on your "base tan" for a springtime vacation or aiming for an overall golden glow, soaking up the sun is dangerous. Surely no one wants a bout of skin cancer or skin damage to accompany his or her bronzed skin. Remember that any exposure to UV rays is damaging to skin, so a "base tan" offers no protection.
Fortunately, today, we have an array of sophisticated, easy-to-use self-tanners and bronzers to help us achieve a radiant, healthy glow, without the unhealthy practice of tanning. In addition to using self-tanner or bronzer, avoid the sun during peak hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and wear protective clothing.
Reject indoor tanning, too. When it’s too cold to tan outside, many turn to the drive-thru of tanning: the tanning bed. Some people mistakenly believe that tanning beds are a safer alternative to sunbathing because you spend mere minutes in a controlled setting. But, even though the indoor tanning industry promotes this idea, tanning salons are particularly dangerous. Some sobering facts, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation:
- Exposing yourself to tanning beds when you’re younger increases your chances of having melanoma by 75 percent.
- Using tanning beds also puts you at risk for other skin cancers. Your risk for basal cell carcinoma goes up by 1.5 times and 2.5 for squamous cell carcinoma.
- If the increased cancer risk doesn’t bother you, then the reality of wrinkles, uneven skin tone and unhealthy skin might strike a cord.
Use sunscreen. We all know the importance of sun protection, but remembering to apply it is another issue. If you don’t have time in the morning to apply sunscreen, invest in a moisturizer or self-tanner with SPF protection. For the body, try a spray sunscreen. Either way, rain or shine, you should wear sun protection daily. Remember that the majority of makeup doesn’t offer enough sun protection, so you’ll need to apply sunscreen underneath.
Don’t pick at pimples. The desire to tamper with blemishes is typically too tough to resist, and we all know the outcome: irritated skin that becomes a hotbed for additional acne. So how do you break your habit? Psychologist Mark Bowers, Ph.D., describes how to resist your routine with Habit Reversal on the Web site, Acne:
- First, monitor your behavior by creating a log where you record the date, time and how often you touch your face.
- Next, review your log, observing the frequency and picking up on any patterns. Do you touch blemishes more frequently late at night or when you’re bored or stressed?
- Develop a competing behavior, holding it for one minute. For instance, every time you want to pop a pimple, instead clench your fists for a minute.
- If you’re stressed, which increases the likelihood you’ll fall back into your habit, try to alleviate your tension. One way to do this is through breathing techniques: try inhaling very slowly through your nose and exhaling out your mouth.
Defend your neck and dècolletè. These areas are particularly vulnerable to premature aging and damage. They’re also the first places to reveal your age or add years to it. Still, we either forget about them altogether or refuse to waste pricier products on such large areas.
To avoid sagging, discoloration and damage, make sure to apply sunscreen every day and use gentle products that target your neck and dècolletè.
Shelter your hands. Your hands are another red flag for aging. Age spots, discoloration and loose skin can result from sun exposure, while the natural aging process causes dryness and loss of fat — all factors that age your hands, according to Good Housekeeping. To keep hands healthy and smooth, establish a routine, similar to how you treat your face. Here’s how to protect your hands:
- Exfoliate with a gentle scrub which helps your hands absorb lotions and creams.
- Apply sunscreen every day to prevent sun damage and premature aging.
- Wear protective gloves when going outdoors in chilly weather, and wear rubber gloves while washing the dishes.
- Every time you wash your hands, immediately follow with a rich cream.
- When selecting your cream, look for hydrating ingredients like glycerin, petrolatum or dimethicone. For excessively dry hands, try shea butter.
- For extra hydration, apply your rich cream at night and seal the deal with cotton gloves.
- Consult your dermatologist about using a retinoid formula to boost collagen production for younger-looking hands.
- Product picks: Babor Hand and Feet Sugar Peeling, Whish Pomegranate Three Whishes Sugar Scrub, Peter Thomas Roth Hands that Lie, Korres Thyme Honey Hand Cream for Dry Chapped Hands, L’Occitane Shea Butter Extra Gentle Lotion for Hands & Body
See also:
Get Ready for the New Year, Tip #1
Get Ready for the New Year, Tip #2