Hydrated Skin = Happy Skin!

With the emergence of various different brands of sodas, pop, bubble tea, etc., it can be hard nowadays to remember to drink water and keep your skin happy and hydrated. Here are a few tips on how to keep your skin looking supple and glowing!

     1)     Exfoliate!

Image source: http://natyourordinarygirl.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/exfoliate.jpg

Exfoliating, especially during the summer, is an important part of your beauty routine and helps to scrub away all of the excess dirt and impurities on your face, including dried, dead skin cells. This reveals a new layer of vitalized skin cells and leaves room for your face to breathe.

      2)    Take shorter baths and use warm water instead of hot to shower or bathe. Hot water and soap causes your skin to dry up by stripping away your body’s oils and letting moisture in your skin escape. The longer and hotter the shower, the faster this process takes place and the more moisture you can lose, and so it’s better to stick to 15-minute showers with warm or cool water.

      3)     Use a hydrating mask. If your skin’s badly in need of hydration, this will give it a boost. Look for masks that are not oil-based, as they may clog your pores and give you acne Masks with 'non-comedogenic' (will not clog pores) on the label are ideal, and masks with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or plant extracts, such as the Acymer Hydrating & Brightening Silk Mask, will provide added nutrients.

      4)     Eat foods that moisturize the skin. Foods such as spinach and berries are packed full of antioxidants that help nourish and protect the skin, and any food that contains omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and flax seeds, helps maintain the skin retain moisture. Remember, “you are what you eat”!

Image source: http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/moisturizer-include-sunscreen-1.jpg

      5)    Moisturize! This may seem obvious, but moisturizing is the way to go when hydrating the skin. Try to moisturize twice a day, preferably after showering when the skin has opened up, and rotate moisturizers based on the seasons (e.g. a heavier lotion is needed for the winter while a summer lotion should have a lighter consistency). Avoid moisturizers that contain fragrances or additives, as they can irritate sensitive skin. Natural oils such as extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil can be excellent alternatives to storebought moisturizers and can also be applied to the hair for hydrating purposes.

      6)    If you have spots as well as dry patches, focus on moisturizing and eliminating the dry patches first, even if the moisturiser worsens the spots. Moisturise your entire face, including your acne, and then apply cream directly onto your spots to treat them after. Dry patches are much harder to conceal than spots because they can visibly turn flaky and shed.

      7)    Keep a humidifier in the winter if you live in a dry climate. If you have dry skin or skin problems like eczema, maintaining a humid atmosphere in your home makes a huge difference in the way your skin will look and feel!