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Stay Hydrated
Let’s start out with one of the most simple and accessible steps that works for absolutely anyone. This is simply staying hydrated. Now, we all know the importance of staying hydrated. It prevents uncomfortable experiences of thirst. It helps our bodies with all sorts of essential functions. But few people realise the benefits that effective hydration can have on our skin! Getting eight glasses of water on a daily basis can ensure that our skin is sufficiently hydrated and can retain sufficient moisture to prevent dryness, cracking and other dermatological problems. Now, there are so many ways to stay hydrated that it would be nigh on impossible to list them in one small section of one short article. But the most effective is simply drinking water. Make sure you don’t forget by always carrying a reusable water bottle on you. This will ensure you have some water ready to sip regularly throughout the day. If you like cold water, it’s a good idea to have some kind of bottle of water in your fridge or a filled water filter jug in your fridge. This means you’ll always have cold water available at home and this can encourage you to drink enough! You can also top up your water levels by eating water-rich foods, such as melon, berries, cucumber, tomatoes and celery.
Get to Know Your Skin Type
If you’re going to take care of your skin, you’re going to have to get to know your skin type. There are a number of different skin types out there, however, the four main types that people tend to fall into are “normal”, oily, dry and combination. Here’s a quick run through of the characteristics and defining features of each!
- “Normal” skin – if you have “normal” skin, you have skin that has relatively few problems to tackle. It is well balanced and doesn’t tend to experience excessive levels of dryness or oiliness. Consequently, this tends to be the deemed the most desirable skin type and is the skin type that most people aim to mimic.
- Dry skin – the clue is in the name when it comes to dry skin. This skin is dry, lacking in moisture and can often have a rough and dull texture. In more extreme cases, skin may flake or crack. This is because individuals with a dry skin type have skin that produces lower levels of sebum than other skin. It can be uncomfortable and you may experience a feeling of “tightness”.
- Oily skin – oily skin is another skin type that gives its nature away in its name. Oily skin operates on the opposite end of the spectrum to dry skin – producing too much sebum. This skin gives skin a wet, oily or greasy appearance. You may also have visible pores.
- Combination skin – combination skin is a skin type that’s more difficult to decipher from the name for beginners. But essentially, it’s a combination of some sort of the skin types listed above. Parts of your skin may be “normal”, other parts may be oily, other parts can be dry. Of course, this skin type tends to be more difficult to create a skincare routine for, as you may need to use different products on different parts of your face!
Once you know your skin type, you can start conducting research into how to best deal with it. There are various lifestyle changes that can tackle problems you may be experiencing with your skin. It will also give you a good idea of what types of products you should be using. Products are increasingly being marketed to specific skin types, so knowing yours will help you to more easily identify what you should try out.
Consider Treatments
There are all sorts of professional treatments out there that can help to tackle issues you feel you are having with your skin. These can range drastically. From wrinkle relaxers to facial exercise, facial massage, antibiotics for acne, chemical peels, laser therapy, resurfacing and more. It’s important to do plenty of research into any professional treatment to ensure that you only use clinics and therapists or medics with an impressive portfolio and good track record. Read up reviews to ensure that others have been happy with their previous work.
Visit a Dermatologist
If you can’t figure out what’s best for you and want some professional intervention, book in for a consultation with a professional dermatologist. These are skin specialists who will be able to take a look at your skin, identify or diagnose any conditions and offer prescription medications or other over the counter products that can help to improve your skin’s health and condition. This is quite literally their area of specialism, so they’re bound to have some good advice that can lead you in the right direction. Thor services can be pricey, but once you’ve found the right skin care routine, products and treatments at their recommendation, you’ll generally be set for a fair amount of time and will likely see results much more quickly than you would if you were trying to simply figure things out for yourself.
Prepare Yourself for Trial and Error
Of course, it’s important to remember that one routine will not work for everyone. You’re going to have to prepare yourself for a process of trial and error that will ultimately lead you to the right products, treatments and other skin care tricks that work for you. This can be frustrating, but once you finally nail it, it will all be more than worth it!
Now, this can all have come across as a bit complex. But hopefully, the above information has helped you to get started on the right path towards developing the best skincare routine to meet your personal needs and preferences!