While aesthetics treatments are effective maintenance for healthy skin, home care is your best resource for achieving great-looking skin. The cosmetic products and daily remedies you use to counteract sun and natural aging have a cumulative, continual effect. By enhancing your skin's inherited good qualities and minimizing environmental hazards, you can look and feel your best. Bump up your personal skin care routine with these skin-friendly products and techniques recommended by dermatologists.
Eat a Vitamin-Rich Diet
Experts at the Skin Sciences Institute note that lifestyle remedies are important to achieving healthy skin. Getting enough of vitamins A, C and E in your diet may make the difference between a lackluster look and great skin. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, helpings of cooked spinach, oranges and almonds provide nearly half of the daily A, C and E vitamin content required by an average 2,000-calorie diet. A good multivitamin will ensure that you get a full daily dose.
Use a Gentle Facial Cleanser
Deodorant and antibacterial soaps and shower gels and perfumed cosmetic products can dry your skin, especially in the delicate facial area. Doctors at the American Academy of Dermatology suggest using a mild, fragrance-free moisturizing soap. Those formulated for facial skin care may contain hydrating glycerin, lanolin or olive oil. Choose one made for your skin type.
Always Moisturize After Cleansing
Any soap will dry your skin to some degree as it removes the natural skin oils that can clog pores. Restore healthy skin's natural balance by applying a moisturizing cosmetic product immediately after cleansing, while skin is still slightly damp. The AAD considers moisturizing creams and lotions proven, effective aids to smooth skin texture and appearance.
Use a Humidifier in Winter
Temperature extremes contribute to dry skin. Winter weather places stress on the epidermis, the body's barrier to the outside elements. Cold and wind have a dessicating effect on skin, which indoor heating can exacerbate. Radiators and forced-air heat can suck the moisture out of the air indoors. Dermatologists at the AAD recommend using a room humidifier as part of your winter skin care.
Wear Sunscreen Every Day
Ultraviolet radiation from sun exposure is the greatest threat to healthy skin. A good sunscreen cosmetic product protects your skin from premature wrinkling, age spots and a weathered look. The Skin Cancer Foundation notes that sunscreen can help you avoid several types of skin cancer, including life-threatening melanoma. Daily skin care with an SPF 15 or higher-strength sunscreen can lead to great skin while protecting your health.
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