Your face is one of the most vital parts of your body. You use your face to communicate, to breathe, to read, to watch, to eat, to smell, and more. That is why taking care of the skin on your face is so important. Here are 10 common skincare mistakes you might be making.

Not moisturizing right away

Many people, especially men, tend to skip this step in their skincare routine. Any time your face has gotten wet, it is important to moisturize right away. This can include after showering, washing your face, or even after swimming. Allowing your face to dry up and become stiff after it has been wet will cause any healthy moisture to escape. Instead, you should dry your face last. Pat your face dry with a clean towel and immediately apply a creamy and oil-free moisturizer. A light or thin moisturizer will not be as effective.

Not wearing sunscreen

UV rays from the sun are probably the most damaging thing to skin. They have been known to cause skin cancer, premature wrinkling, redness, freckles, and sunspots. If you are hoping to avoid any of these effects, wear sunscreen daily. The recommended SPF is 30. Anything under SPF 15 will not protect you from the sun. for your face, apply an oil-free sunscreen underneath your makeup.

Exfoliating too often

Exfoliating can be great for your skin. It helps remove dead skin cells that have been building up over time. However, exfoliating your skin too often can cause damage. It can lead to dehydration, flaky skin, and red pigmentation.

Related article: Benefits of Collagen

Picking at cysts

Almost everyone has heard you should avoid picking at your zits. Whiteheads should be carefully pooped when they are ready. However, you should keep your hands away from cysts. They should be treated with care. Keep the area clean and place a warm washcloth on them multiple times a day for at least 20 minutes. If needed, have them removed by a dermatologist.

Wearing makeup to bed

It is so tempting to get home from a long day and go straight to bed. Do not do this! No matter how tired you are, take the time to finish your skincare routine every night. Make sure that all makeup has been carefully removed before gently cleansing your face. Finish with face toner and an oil-free moisturizer. There are many other steps you can take as well such as face masks.

Not washing your bedding weekly

Throughout the week, our bedding accumulates dirt, oil, and dust. If left there long enough, they can transfer to our skin. This can lead to breakouts. To keep your skin clean while you sleep, wash your bedding at least once a week. You may even want to consider washing your pillowcase more often or switching it out with a fresh one.

Unhealthy diet

The condition of our skin does not just depend on what we do on the outside, but also on the inside. A well-balanced diet and water can help give our skin a better chance of achieving a healthy glow. To help, make sure your body is getting the right amounts of vitamins and minerals. A daily multivitamin can even help supplement your healthy diet. Make sure your body is also getting enough collagen, which is an important protein for healthy skin.

Hot showers

While a nice hot shower feels great, it is hurting your skin more than it is helping. The hot water can strip your skin of moisture, leaving it dry, red, and inflamed. Instead, switch to a lukewarm shower.

Not using a proper skin toner

Another commonly skipped step is applying face toner in between washing and moisturizing. Toner helps remove any left-over dirt, oil, and makeup that your face wash was unable to get. If a quality toner is used correctly, it can improve the tone of your skin. However, be careful with toners that contain alcohol. They may help kill bacteria that cause acne, but they can also strip your face of the moisture it needs.

Related article: Can the Light from Screens Harm Your Skin?

Touching your face

Finally, do not touch your face. Keeping your skin clean and healthy can be a lot of hard work. However, your hard work can go to waste if you cannot keep your hands away from your face. This is because our hands are covered in oils and dirt from all the things we touch throughout the day.

Avoiding these 10 common skincare mistakes can help give your skin its best chance. Start cutting these out of your life today and form healthy habits. You may not notice results right away, but one day your skin will thank you.

Sources

https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/sunscreen-patients/sunscreen-faqs#:~:text=While%20SPF%2015%20is%20the,SPF%20of%20at%20least%2030.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5221538/

It’s no coincidence that colder temperatures bring with them dry skin, irritation, and break outs. The science behind winter dryness has to do with the density of water molecules in cold air versus warm air. Cold air has a lower density of water molecules, meaning there is less dew in the air replenishing the moisture in the upper layers of your skin. This lack of moisture has wide-ranging effects on your health, and your skin especially. By trying these 7 cold weather skincare tips, you can beat the dry-skin blues and have dewy, healthy skin all year round!

Use a Humidifier

To combat the lack of moisture in the air directly, make your first line of defense a humidifier! Simply heating cold air will not replenish the moisture in the air—you have to do it yourself. Humidifiers work by releasing water vapor to increase moisture levels. Using a humidifier can positively impact more than just your skin—it can also be used to treat respiratory problems like bronchitis, sinus issues, and nosebleeds.

Some things to consider: Overusing your humidifier can cause problems, particularly if you are not cleaning and maintaining it well. According to the Mayo Clinic, if it is not cared for properly humidifiers can breed mold or bacteria that are released into the air, potentially aggravating allergies and asthma. Additionally, if humidity is too high in your home, it can cause condensation on the walls and floors, triggering further growth of bacteria that again, might aggravate respiratory problems.

If you’re unsure about the use of humidifiers, check out this article about how house plants can act as natural humidifiers!

Turn Down the Heat

There’s nothing quite as nice as coming into a warm house after being out in the cold, just take it from literally any rendition of the song Baby It’s Cold Outside. Did you know, however, that cranking up the heat is drying out your skin even more? Indoor heating sucks moisture out of the already dry winter air, drying out your mucous membranes leaving you susceptible to dry lips, noses, and throats. Instead of turning up the heat all the way, keep it at a lower temperature—try 69-72 degrees. Turn on the humidifier and cozy up in a soft sweater or blanket if you’re feeling cold. This simple step will help out both your skin and your heating bill!

Adjust Your Shower

It can be tempting, during the cold months, to sit in a steamy, hot shower and to forget that it’s frozen outside. As nice as it might be, your personal sauna time could be sabotaging the glowing skin you want. The next time you shower, lower your water temperature to warm instead of hot and keep your shower time to 5-10 minutes. Long exposure to hot water will strip away your skin’s natural oily barrier, leaving it extra vulnerable to the harsh effects of the cold and wind.

Use Gentle Skincare Products

Avoid products with perfumes or harsh soaps—instead reach for moisturizing cleansers that won’t strip your skin of its natural oils. Limit your use of exfoliants, that can aggravate already sensitive dry, flaking skin. Refrain from using products with drying effects like astringents and products with alcohol. Perfumes, fragrances and toners often contain alcohol because it helps the products to dry quickly, but the benefit of their dry-time can be detrimental to your already dry skin.

You might also consider adding a supplement to your regimen to promote the health of your skin from the inside. Try our Skin Rescue & Renew vitamin supplement to help maintain skin hydration and to fight the effects of aging!

Swap Lotions for Creams and Ointments

If you’re like me, your typical winter skincare regimen starts and ends with lotion application. Lotions are meant to replenish and lock moisture into your skin, and during warmer months they do a great job! During the colder months, however, dermatologists recommend switching out your lotion for a heavier-duty cream or ointment. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests looking for products that contain some of the following nourishing ingredients:

• Oils (ex. Olive oil or jojoba oil)
• Shea Butter
• Lactic Acid
• Urea
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Dumethicone
• Glycerin
• Lanolin
• Mineral Oil
• Petrolatum

Use Sunscreen Every Day

Sunburns and sunscreen are for hot days spent on the trail, at the beach, or on the lake, right? Wrong! Sun damage can occur at any time during the year, including on rainy or cloudy days, whether you’re directly in the sun or being exposed through windows. Dermatologists recommend that everyone wear broad-spectrum sunscreen every day of the year, regardless of season or weather conditions.

Wear Soft Fabrics

Dressing for the cold means bundling up with layers of clothing and heavy, sometimes scratchy fabrics. While it is important to stay warm and to protect your skin from the harsh temperatures, it is also important to make sure you choose fabrics that don’t irritate the skin. Fabrics like wool are fibrous and can be itchy, undermining the work you’ve done to protect your skin from irritation and dryness. If you’re going to wear a potentially irritating fabric, layer softer, breathable, more gentle fabrics beneath to act as a buffer. Natural fibers like cotton will help keep your skin healthy and glowing all year long!

Almost everyone wants healthy, glowing skin. Many people will even go to great lengths to maintain a youthful appearance. However, the healthiest way to achieve better skin is from the inside out. One of the most important things our bodies need for healthy skin is collagen. Here are some of the benefits of collagen and what you can do to make sure your body is producing enough.

What is collagen?

Collagen is a protein found in the body. They are an important structural component of connective tissues. This includes both skin and cartilage. Collagen makes up about a third of the proteins in the body. Although there are many types of proteins throughout the body, about 90% are found in the skin. The body naturally makes collagen from the protein in your diet. Not only that, but your body also needs other nutrients to help make collagen. These vital nutrients are vitamin C, zinc, and copper. Some protein-rich foods include:

• Eggs
• Nuts
• Chicken
• Beef
• Dairy
• Whole grains
• Legumes

Things that affect collagen

While we can find ways to improve the production of collagen in our bodies, many factors limit the benefits of collagen by slowing production. If you are not eating enough foods that contain proteins, fruits, and vegetables, your production of collagen is going to decrease. It is important to keep in mind that the older we get, the less collagen our body produces. A couple of other things that affect the production of collagen in our bodies are too much sun exposure and smoking. That is why people who spend a lot of time tanning or smoking tend to wrinkle earlier in life than others. To help prevent this, be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen when spending time outdoors. Giving up smoking will also give your skin a better chance of maintaining it’s elasticity.

Collagen supplements

While there is little evidence to fully support them, many people also take collagen supplements. One issue with this is that the structure of collagen is broken down when made into a tablet or a powder. Another option instead is to take a supplement that contains phytoceramides. These nutrients help to produce collagen in the body. Liquid Health’s Skin Rescue + Renew contains phytoceramides along with antioxidants to help naturally improve the production of collagen and elasticity in the body.

Sources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6835901/

https://www.livescience.com/collagen.html

With the increase in the use of technology and screens, there has been a lot of concern about the effects they may have on our health. Plenty of research has proven how they can damage our eyes and our sleep cycles. However, can the light from screens harm your skin?

What is blue light?

First off, what is blue light? This is the type of light that emits from screens such as cell phones, laptops, and even your television. It has already been proven to affect sleeping patterns. Staring at a screen right before bed can slow the production of the hormone melatonin. You need melatonin to feel drowsy and doze off. Now, people are wondering if these same rays of light can harm your skin as well.

Effects on your skin

A few studies have been done to try to discover exactly how blue light rays affect your skin. However, research is still very limited. Based on what has been studied, blue light can be both damaging and beneficial. Dermatologists have also been using it to help treat acne. Treatments include 15 to 30-minute sessions over a few weeks.

Related: Antioxidants for Your Skin

Although blue light has been known to help treat acne, it is done safely and in small increments. This does not mean that the light from your screens will help improve your acne. Some research has even suggested that too much exposure to blue light can cause pigmentation and photoaging. However, there is not enough research to indicate how true this is. They have concluded that too much blue light from the sun should be a bigger concern for you than the blue light from your screens.

What you can do

Can the light from screens harm your skin? It may, but with little evidence, it is hard to know. If you are concerned about the blue light emitted from your screens, there are steps you can take yourself. Some of these steps include:

• Limiting your screen time
• Adding a blue light filter to your screens
• Wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day

Check out: Ways to Care for Your Eyesight

Sources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6280109/

https://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-beauty/is-blue-light-harming-your-skin-health/

Learning methods on how to get clear skin is going to help get rid of acne scars and help you know how to prevent pimples. There are several home remedies for acne that can be used to get rid of acne scars and other skin problems that you may have. Take the time to read this article and apply the tips that fit your needs.

How to Get Clear Skin

The simplest tip to learn how to prevent pimples is to keep your face clean. Acne forms from oils that build up on the skin and cause irritations. If you clean your face once or twice a day you can wash away these oils and avoid zits and keep your face looking great and also helping you get rid of acne scars. Try not to use washcloths to clean your face with. These can cause or aggravate acne as they can harbor harmful bacteria either from other places you’ve used it or from other areas of your face that had oil and bacteria. Stick to using your hands to clean your face with, just make sure they are clean first.

Changing Your Diet Could Help You Achieve Clear Skin

Some home remedies for acne can include changing up your diet. For your diet, try not to have too much red meat or pasta. Carbs can have a serious impact on the formation of pimples and can cause breakouts in a lot of people. Instead, choose a salad or a cold cut sandwich once in a while to give your skin a break. Some home remedies for acne can include, drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day. Drinking water can help carry the waste material that causes pimples and blackheads out of your body and work to flush out your skin. This will help you learn how to get clear skin and teach how to prevent pimples, blemishes, and blackheads.

Don’t Forget To Moisturize

If you are using medicated creams or gels to fight pimples, don’t forget to use a moisturizer regularly. Most acne medications contain drying chemicals and alcohol. These drying formulations can lead your skin to overproduce oil, which can then lead to further and more aggressive breakouts. Make sure to work a moisturizer into your skin care regime to keep your skin’s oil production balanced. Consider a moisturizer treatment gel that is designed to moisturize the skin as well as clear pimples. There are many moisturizers specifically created to deal with zits. Be careful with products that exfoliate though, because this can actually damage the skin. Find one that is designed to soothe zits symptoms while moisturizing.

Simple Tips For Clear Skin

One of the best tips on how to get clear skin is to keep your hands off your face. It might sound simple and a bit odd, but touching your face too often can actually make your skin break out. Your fingertips, especially, contain a lot of oil. Sitting with your hand on your face is a good habit to break if you are trying to improve your complexion and trying to learn how to prevent pimples. If you have acne, it is important to look at what is in the makeup products that you are putting on your skin. Look for products that are labeled

If you have acne, it is important to look at what is in the makeup products that you are putting on your skin. Look for products that are labeled hypo-allergenic to reduce the risk of worsening the situation with allergic reactions. There are a variety of chemicals in makeup that just may be contributing to pimples eruptions. You should also try to keep your hair out of your face. This will prevent oil transferring from your hair to your face and causing zits problems. Also, if you are using hair care products like mousse, gel or hairspray and your hair touches your face it can cause flare ups. Don’t allow these products to touch your face at all.

Now that you have some good ideas about the things that will help you to clear your complexion, you are on the path to a clear complexion. Enjoy the benefits of having this information, by using each and every tip as necessary. You are going to be glad that you took the time to find them.

For those of us who suffer from persistent and seemingly never ending breakouts, the question “what causes acne” has probably been considered time and time again. Growing up we’re told that “it’s a phase” and that we’ll “grow out of it.” But when we’re in our 20’s, 30’s or even 40’s and still seeing the splotchy redness in the mirror, we wonder if it’s something we are doing to cause the breakouts. We wonder if there’s some aspect of our lives that we can change in order to make the acne go away. Ehealthmd.com gives 4 basic causes of acne. They are: overactive oil glands, blockage of the skin pores, activity of normal skin bacteria and inflammation.

Sebum is a fatty oil that is produced by the sebaceous glands. Sebum’s general purpose is the keep our skin and hair moisturized. Acne becomes an issue when the sebaceous glands produce excessive amounts of sebum (this generally happens in our teenage years are begins decreasing when we reach our 20’s.) When too much sebum clogs up our pores, acne breakouts appear.

Now it’s well known that bacteria don’t directly cause acne, however, according to ehealthmd.com “When oil is trapped in the hair follicles, the normal skin bacteria P. acnes will grow in the blocked pore. The bacteria produce chemicals that alter the composition of the oil, which makes it more irritating to the skin and causes inflammation.” Inflammation is additional irritation, redness or swelling that can further aggravate breakouts.

Additional factors contributing to what causes acne may include hormones, stress and not taking proper care of your skin. It’s up to us to make sure we’re taking good care of our skin, using products that are right for our skin types and not overdoing it with the harsh treatments. Additionally, there are sometimes things we can do to decrease the stress we are dealing with in our lives. Things like yoga, meditation and getting enough sleep can help our bodies more effectively deal with stress.

Sometimes we need added help in dealing with our continual acne. Prescriptions or supplements may be helpful in controlling our hormones or skins’ oil production. Seeing a dermatologist and finding out what causes acne for you may help you to see what your options are for managing your acne.