Guest Post: Five Tips to Flawless Skin

 

From the best way to remove hair to staying protected from the sun, follow these simple tips to achieve lustrous, healthy skin.

While some people seem to have lucked out in the genetic gene pool lottery with vibrant skin, many of us have to work to achieve a glow and cover up unsightly blemishes and spots. If you weren’t born with perfect, celebrity worthy skin, it doesn’t mean you can’t work at it to give nature a boost. We’ve complied five basic guidelines to follow that will give your skin a natural, healthy glow.

1. Sun protection: You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it over and over again – sun protection is essential to healthy skin. This doesn’t mean you need to hide inside like a vampire shying away from every glint of sunshine, it just means you need to be smart about using sunscreen, umbrellas, hats and other cover ups while outdoors. Skin exposed to repeated UV rays (indoor tanning or natural outdoor light) without protection will develop more fine lines, moles, wrinkles and sun spots. You also run the risk of developing skin cancer. Use a sunscreen base of at least SPF 15 when going outdoors and cover up when possible. 

2. Manage stress: We’ve all experienced the unwelcome zit that comes just in time for a big event like prom night or a wedding. And it’s no coincidence. Stressful events in life, like the nervousness that accompanies those rights of passage, trigger your body to release cortisol, a stress hormone. This in turn will make your skin oilier and can increase acne. Learn to manage your stress to help keep acne at bay. 

3. Get plenty of shut eye: Every notice that after a sleepless night your skin seems to show more fine lines, dark circles and in some cases, even rashes? That’s because our bodies produce collagen while we sleep, which in turn helps to firm our skin and help water retention. It also boosts our immune system to keep rashes and other skin problems from making their mark. Finally, it’s in the deepest hours of sleep that your body begins restoring itself with cell and tissue repair. Get the recommended six to eight hours daily to keep your skin looking its best.

4. Be selective with your beauty routine: From cleaners and moisturizers to foundations and blushes, we are constantly bombarding our skin with a variety of products. It’s important to read labels on products before you buy them. Even certain toothpastes may contain ingredients that could agitate the skin! Pay attention to your skin type and ensure that you are choosing products that won’t be working against you. Oily skin needs a completely different approach than dry skin. Not sure what to buy? Stop by the makeup counter or ask a sales clerk. They can help recommend products that are geared specifically towards your skin type. 

 5. Be smart about hair removal products: There’s no easier way to ruin what should be envious, glowing skin than sporting unsightly hair in places like your under arms, legs and bikini line. While there are hundreds of hair removal products available, it’s hard to know which one is the best way to remove hair. That’s because the answer really depends on what you’re trying to achieve, your budget and how much time you have. For example, laser hair removal offers permanent hair removal results in as little as six months. It’s relatively easy to make an appointment with a professional technician and even easier to purchase an at-home laser treatment kit. However, if you need instant results, or you’re not ready to try laser hair removal, many men and women still rely on the old standby of shaving or waxing. Whichever method you prefer, make sure you’ve taken care of those embarrassing hairs before leaving the house.

Get healthy skin now!
There’s no time like the present to start faithfully following our tips to achieve flawless skin. Remember to put on your sunscreen, get plenty of sleep and keep your stress in check. As an added bonus, these are great health tips that apply to other aspects of your life besides giving you radiant skin, like maintaining a healthy weight and reducing your risk of getting cancer. Also make sure you are using the best products for your skin type – including makeup, cleansers and moisturizers. Finally, whether you choose laser treatment for a permanent fix or bust out the trusty razor, be sure to treat your pampered skin to an effective hair removal method.