If you want to know how to take care of your skin, be willing to look at the big picture. Great skin comes from slowly mixing bad skincare habits and introducing things that are good for your skin over the long run. Let’s explore some healthy skin tips and habits to break or build up in order to help you achieve your healthiest looking skin.
Why is skincare important?
Effective skincare helps your skin maintain good condition even as time and the environment take their toll. Bodies naturally produce sebum, your skin’s hydrating oil. However, over time, excess sebum, dirt, dead skin cells, and other debris can accumulate on the surface of your skin, clogging your pores and leading to acne. So using the right products for your skin can help remove dead skin cells, cleanse debris out of your pores, and keep your skin hydrated and protected.
What habits are bad for skin?
Bad skin is often the result of bad skincare habits. Getting stuck in a routine weighed down by bad habits can have all sorts of consequences, including skin damage like acne scarring.
-
Not washing your face at night
Your face accumulates oil, dirt, sweat and, of course, dead skin cells. This can contribute to clogged pores, especially if it sits on your face overnight. If you wear makeup, it’s even more important to wash your face at night, as letting the makeup sit on your skin is a quick way to clogged pores.
-
Over exfoliating
Exfoliating too often or too hard can irritate the skin, causing increased sebum production, and therefore more acne. Try a chemical exfoliator like the Skin Smoothing Exfoliator from the Proactiv+ ® Acne Treatment System. It’s optimized for daily use, featuring gentle exfoliating beads that work together with glycolic acid to exfoliate without harsh scrubbing.
-
Touching & picking your skin
Picking at acne can push bacteria deeper into your pores and lead to scarring. The estimated time for acne to heal is between days and weeks, but acne scars that form as a result of picking can last a lifetime.
-
Not moisturizing properly
Apply moisturizer after targeted treatments, exfoliators, and serums. By moisturizing after, you seal in the benefits of the other products beneath a layer of moisture. That’s why the Complexion Perfecting Hydrator is the last step in the acne-fighting, hydrating Proactiv+ Acne Treatment System.
-
Skipping sunscreen
Your skin picks up sun exposure throughout the day in a variety of unexpected places. Make sure to apply an SPF 30 or above every day to protect from UV rays and premature aging.
What habits are great for skin?
Great skin is the result of great skincare habits that you practice for the long haul.
-
Starting early
Treating acne early (as opposed to waiting until later in your life) has all sorts of benefits. It can speed up healing, reduce chances of scarring, stave off hyperpigmentation, boost self-esteem, and build positive skincare habits that last a lifetime.
-
Using products that suit your skin type
Your unique skin has unique demands. Products are usually optimized for certain skin types. If you are searching for a straightforward solution for how to get better skin, identifying which skin type you have and picking products that are optimized for your type might be the answer.
-
Eating a healthy diet
High glycemic index foods can spike your blood sugar, leading to an insulin spike. This can stimulate your skin to produce excess sebum, in turn leading to more acne.
-
Managing stress
While stress doesn’t literally cause acne, it can greatly exacerbate the factors that cause acne. The stress hormone, cortisol, can increase sebum production, clogging your pores.
-
Getting enough sleep
Your skin uses sleep as the time to repair damage from the day, pushing fresh skin cells to the surface. Not getting enough sleep can also lead to stress which exacerbates many acne-causing factors.
The bottom line
Remember you don’t get great skin overnight. You need to work toward it by introducing healthy habits and reducing negative habits in your daily routine
