August 25th 2011

Skin care dos and don’ts

Having nice skin keeps you looking young and feeling refreshed, but are you taking care of it like you should be?

With the weather moving into fall, the air gets dryer… and our skin does, too.

Here are our top dos and don’ts for giving our face and body the proper treatment it deserves.

Hydrate plenty

Do drink plenty of water. Drinking those necessary 64 ounces (or more) of water daily is essential for a healthful skin. Why? It flushes out toxins and keeps your body moving efficiently. Tap, bottled, filtered… it doesn’t matter. Just drink it down. And remember that most vegetables and fruits are full of water, so fill up on those, too.

Don’t take too many showers, which can wreak havoc with your skin. Hot showers can have a drying effect on your skin (think: turning into a prune while sitting in the tub. And always be sure to moisturize right after showering.

Moisturize less

Do use a nighttime face lotion. And basically nothing else. It has been shown that skin-cell regeneration is a little faster at night than during the day, so take advantage of this and use it in the evening before you head to bed.

Don’t go overboard with moisturizers. Heavy creams can actually cause your skin to absorb moisture even less, and formulas that contain synthetic ingredients can trap dead cells and leave your complexion looking dull. Even more, most contain ingredients like alcohol, which actually dry out the skin… so you end up using more.

Keep it simple

Do nourish your skin with a nutrient-packed moisturizer. Just a single one, at that. Find a multitasking product that takes care of your all your skins’ needs in one shot. Be on the look out for these ingredients: vitamin C, which evens skin tone and minimizes blotchiness, and anti-agers like retinoic acid and niacinamide, which, obviously, combats anti-aging.

Don’t apply too many face products at once. This can irritate and dry out the skin.

Scrub-a-dub-dub

Do exfoliate with natural fruit enzymes. Acids from fruits such as pumpkin, papaya, and pineapple dissolve dead skin cells effectively, but also are gentle on your skin.

Don’t use harsh scrubs or scrub too often. Anything jagged can cause tiny lacerations in the skin, making the skin vulnerable. Exfoliate about twice a week maximum if you have dry or sensitive skin, or up to four times a week if your skin is oily.

Banish those blemishes

Do use the right topical treatment on a blemish as soon as you notice it. Look for products that contain lactic acid, which is best for cysts. Cysts are hard, painful bumps that appear under the skin and can last for weeks. If you have minor breakouts, opt for something that is based with salicylic acid or benzyl peroxide to deal with those.

Don’t use a harsh alcohol-based toner or toothpaste to tame blemishes, regardless of what 90s television has taught up. These both strip the skin of moisture, which makes oil glands come into action and possibly worsen your condition. Further, the menthol in toothpaste can cause itching and inflammation, which equals more flareups.

Perk up that pucker

Do wear SPF on your lips during the day. Some brands of lipwear has it built it, but any one can go underneath, or, if you’re a guy, neutral ones are available. Gloss isn’t a good idea – the shine actually attracts the UV rays!

Don’t choose lip balms that are medicated, and skip menthol- or camphor-based ones, too. These formulas offer no protection to your lips, and instead, they only make them dryer. Lip balms and other lip wear should include ingredients such as beeswax, shea butter, and other nourishing products that coat your lips and keep them feeling smooth and fresh.

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Andrew's Biography

Email this Author with comments or questions.

Andrew loves art and design, and pursues his studies in his final year at the Ontario College of Art and Design. He loves seeking out new artists and giving them their dues, and in his spare time, focuses on his own abstract sculpture.