Seven daily habits that promote beautiful, healthy skin

Sarah Parker
Authored by Sarah Parker
Posted: Thursday, May 6, 2021 - 22:03

Healthy looking, clean and radiant skin is a boon that everyone aspires to. While some people are genetically blessed to have flawless skin and require minimal skincare efforts, others may have to put some effort to achieve this. To maintain a healthy, glowing complexion, consider adding these seven habits to your regular skincare routine.

Wash Your Face Twice a Day

An integral part of any skincare routine is cleansing. But both under washing and overwashing can cause problems for your skin. So, the golden mean is washing your face twice a day — once when you wake up and once right before bedtime.

Try to use a cleanser that doesn't completely remove the natural oils from your face. These oils are essential for balancing the skin, which helps to reduce skin breakouts. And even if you have an oily skin type, you shouldn't strip it entirely.

Eat a Healthy Diet & Drink More Water

A complete, well-balanced diet not only key to maintaining a healthy weight and feeling your best but also an essential component for having a gorgeous and radiant complexion. Make sure to eat lots of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. The link between good nutrition and acne is not clear, but some research suggests that a diet low in unhealthy fats, refined or processed carbohydrates and rich in fish oil or fish oil supplements can promote younger-looking skin.

Additionally, drinking plenty of fluids will ensure that your body stays hydrated, your stomach is clean, and toxins are flushed out properly to keep your skin glowing.

Exfoliate With a Gentle Scrub

Regular exfoliation helps cleanse the skin of impurities and debris that are stuck to your skin' surface. Plus, it helps flush away dead skin cells that can eventually clog pores, causing blackheads and whiteheads and making your skin look dull. Using a mild abrasive scrub also helps increase the effectiveness of topical treatments such as moisturisers and serums as the products are more easily absorbed.

Removing dead skin cells with gentle face scrub will leave your skin feeling smooth and looking clear and radiant. However, avoid aggressively scrubbing and excessive exfoliation, as this can cause irritation and make the skin too dry. Instead, incorporate an exfoliating facial cleanser into your skincare routine once or twice a week and make sure to avoid delicate areas, such as around the eyes.

Manage Your Stress

Stress is not only one of the main causes of many diseases, but it also negatively affects the condition of your skin. During times of stress, your body stimulates "emergency" physiological responses to help you cope. However, prolonged activation of these reactions can lead to skin ageing, among other effects.

A study published in Dermatology Online Journal found that psychological stress is directly related to skin ageing. Stress triggers damage to DNA, dysfunction of the immune system and endocrine and immune modulation - all of which result in skin ageing.

Aside from premature ageing, your skin also becomes more susceptible to different microbial infections when you are constantly in a state of stress. One clinical study noted that stress disrupts the antimicrobial function of the epidermis. Due to the violation of the protective system of the skin, it becomes susceptible to infections.

To prevent all of these negative effects, consider incorporating various stress management techniques into your daily skincare routine. This can include doing breathing exercises, listening to music, engaging in yoga or practising aromatherapy to relieve stress levels. 

Try Out CBD Oil

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural supplement that can be a beneficial addition to your skincare regimen. Due to the potential interaction with your receptors of the endocannabinoid system, CBD is thought to inhibit excessive skin oil production without disrupting the function of the sebaceous glands. Also, as CBD oil is derived from cannabis plants, it may have antibacterial and antifungal properties, which can be useful for treating skin infections.

What's more, CBD is known to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities, which may aid in preventing the appearance of ageing in the skin and relieving the most common symptoms of different skin conditions like dryness and itching. With all these promising effects applying CBD cream can help you achieve healthy and glowing skin, yet CBD benefits can also help you manage stress levels, which can aggravate skin problems.

Get Your Beauty Sleep

Sleeping is crucial for a healthy complexion because only during deep and prolonged sleep your skin cells can repair and regenerate, keeping your skin looking young and fresh. 

The strong association between adequate sleep and skin conditions was further emphasised in a study on common sleep disorders and dermatological conditions. Individuals that are subjected to sleep disorders are more susceptible to experiencing various skin disorders such as psoriasis, eczema and skin ageing. Therefore, make sure to give your skin a chance to stay beautiful and healthy by getting a quality night's sleep (at least 7 hours).

Don't Skip the Sunscreen

We cannot overemphasise the importance of sunscreen for maintaining healthy skin. Although sunbathes can make you more energetic and give an attractive skin tone, the sun continuously emits radiation in the form of high-energy ultraviolet rays, and exposure to these rays (both UVA and UVB rays) can be incredibly harmful to the health of your skin.

Ultraviolet rays damage the elastic and collagen tissue of the skin, resulting in sagging, stretching and wrinkles. It also leads to skin discolouration, freckles, age spots and even skin cancer. Imagine what your skin has to go through when you go out in the sun without wearing sunscreen.

However, keep in mind that sunscreen only works if you choose the right product and apply it correctly. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggest wearing a water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher that ensures protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Consider applying a generous amount of sunscreen product to all exposed skin areas 15 minutes before going out and reapply every two hours of exposure to stay safe.