Products these days can be expensive. It can pay to have good skin, but having good skin should not require paying hundreds. Believe it or not, there are many easy and affordable ways to get clear skin.
Water is the essence of glowing skin.
Water isn’t just for keeping your body hydrated; it’s also good for hydrating your skin, leaving it clear! Drinking more water is especially important during winter and summer; it's important in summer because you sweat, and important in winter because the air is very dry. Any kind of dry climate robs moisture from your skin, leaving it dehydrated. Experts have suggested drinking six 8-ounce glasses of water per day, depending on how much you feel you need. Although drinking water is good for your skin, this does not necessarily mean putting water on your skin is also good for it. Whenever you take a shower or wash your skin, make sure to pat it dry. Believe it or not, water applied directly to skin does not moisturize it as most would think, but actually does the opposite and dries it out. Don't mix up which way to keep your skin hydrated, but do try to carry more water wherever you go (and you may notice better skin).
Wait, sunlight is good for your skin?
I hope by now you don't think I'm crazy for first saying water is bad on skin, and then telling you the sun is good for it. Contrary to what most people believe, the sun is actually good for skin. “Don’t forget to wear sunscreen,” are some words you’re probably used to hearing every summer. Clearly, excess sunlight is damaging and you should wear sunscreen in certain cases, but some exposure to unprotected skin is good in many ways. For example: the sun can kill bad bacteria on your face. It can also reverse skin conditions such as dermatitis, acne, psoriasis and others. Research says that we only need 10 minutes of direct sunlight to unexposed skin two to three times a week. It’s also noticeable when your skin needs a break from the sun, and you should be able to tell when your skin starts to feel that slight hot and burning sensation. Use the sun wisely, and if you forget to put on sunscreen, it may not be all that bad.
Food can either be a friend or foe to skin.
No, you don’t have to be a gluten-free, low-carb, sugar-free vegan to have great skin. However, some slight diet adjustments and the addition of drinking more water can drastically improve the condition of your skin. Leafy greens help moisturize it, drinking certain teas can prevent skin conditions, and nuts have powerful antioxidants such as vitamin E, which keeps skin tight and strong. My favorite thing that keeps skin healthy? Wait for it: dark chocolate. Hopefully you aren’t avoiding chocolate in the false belief that it’s unhealthy, because it actually has great benefits for your skin. The darker the chocolate, the better. And yes, there is extremely dark chocolate that still tastes amazing. Other foods such as avocado, berries, seeds and oats all contribute in keeping soft, clear skin. On the other hand, foods that are greasy, high in sugar or high in sodium can break out skin and damage it. So try out one or more of the above foods. You can still have the typical college diet of pizza, Wendy's and ramen noodles -- just be wise and add more variety every now and then, like some of those foods that benefit skin.
Do you know what is really going on your skin?
Marketing has programmed us to think we always need to put lotions on or buy products for our skin. Whether it's sunscreen, makeup, humidifiers, an exfoliating cream or some ridiculous $100 lotion which you supposedly need or your skin is going to explode, the fact of the matter is that we do not need to be putting that many things on our skin. The other fact is that most of the “skincare” products in the market are overpriced, and some contain ingredients that can damage our skin over time. Some store-bought lotions and moisturizers are good for skin, but only to a certain extent. If you have the wrong product, you might be slightly restoring your skin, and drying it out at the same time with the same product. There are products that are great for skin, but they are usually quite pricey. The good news is that a lot of what goes into skincare products can be replaced with affordable substitutes such as oils and food products. Sugar can also be used to scrub and exfoliate skin. Be careful with what goes on your skin, and how often you’re putting things on it. Look for makeup with more natural ingredients, and try to aim for putting things on your skin to mostly moisturize it.
You might already have what you need in your home.
Olive oil, and the ever-so-popular coconut oil that all you vegan-crazed people probably have, can be applied on skin to aid in moisturizing it. Keep in mind that a little goes a long way, so don’t overdo how much oil you put on. I always think of skin as being similar to plants: they only need a little to absorb, and if you give them too much, then the water will just sit there, barely being absorbed. Be careful not to apply too much oil or apply it too often, as this can make your skin oily, and impact your skin effectively absorbing it. When applied, wash off the oil after 1-2 hours. Doing so once or twice a day can result in noticeably clearer skin! Other things such as tea (believe it or not), avocado, banana and chocolate can also be applied to skin. DIY skin masks using some of the previously mentioned ingredients can also be quick and fun! The best time to apply such things to the face is after the shower, in a warm environment, so your pores are opened up. When washing off anything from your face, it's best to use cold water to close the pores. If you're using variations of natural products, you are putting little to no chemicals on your skin.
No touching your skin.
Research says the average person touches their face 16 times an hour. If you noticed you were one of those people that touched their face at least once reading this article, hear me out when I say you need to quit, you skinaholic. Every time we touch our face, we might be transmitting bacteria onto it. Bacteria can lead to acne, or worse -- getting sick. Picking and scratching at our skin can also irritate and make skin dry. This is especially important if you have any kind of acne, or dry skin. When touched, acne can get worse and more irritated, and dry skin can get even dryer or develop other problems. A lot of people have this habit and don’t realize how much it can affect the skin. The next time you touch your face, remember how much better it will be to have healthier skin. Try to realize why you are picking at your skin, and to notice when you do it.
Now before rushing to your pantry, note that everyone’s skin is different; what works for someone else may not work for you. Experiment with yours to see what works best for you. Happy skin-caring!