Getting flawless skin isn’t magic or a one-time fix. It calls for consistency and application of the right products.

Whether your goal is to reduce flare-ups, reduce skin breakout, or slow down the aging process, there are a few things you can do to take care of skin and keep it healthy.

Fortunately, a skin routine hardly feels like a chore but an opportunity to indulge in relaxing treatments.

Here are practical tips for taking care of your skin:

1. Drink Enough Water

Consuming enough water does not only help with your skin but your general health as well. Getting a sufficient amount of water helps with functions that improve your skin.

For example, it assists the liver in getting rid of toxins from the body, which reduces puffiness. It also improves your kidney function, which makes dark circles appear lighter.

That said, different body types require different amounts of water. To tell if you’re drinking enough water, simply observe the color of your urine.

If it comes out too dark, you’re probably not getting enough water and it’s time to drink up.

2. Use a Satin or Silk Pillowcase

If you’re a side sleeper, you’re bound to rub your skin on your pillow. The friction can create wrinkles if it happens for a long time.

Switching up pillowcase fabric can be a quick fix for taking care of the skin.

If you sleep on a silky fabric, your skin slides minimizing the chances of getting wrinkles. It is also a great way of protecting your hair.

3. Avoid Exposing Yourself to Sunlight for Long

This is one of the easiest hacks to take care of your skin. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause age spots, wrinkles, and other skin problems. It can even increase the chance of skin cancer.

For this reason, the importance of sunscreen cannot be overstated.

Remember to apply sunscreen generously and make sure you reapply it every two hours. It’s also vital to limit your exposure to the sun and get under some shade when the sun rays are strong.

Lastly, wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with long pants, wide-brimmed hats, and long-sleeved shirts when possible.

You can also consider laundry additives, which adds an extra layer of ultraviolet protection.

4. Avoid Touching and Picking Your Face

It’s tempting to squeeze a pimple and get rid of it as soon as it appears. However, this may cause so much damage to your skin that isn’t worth the instant gratification.

Touching your face too much will also increase the number of bacteria you spread from your hands after coming into contact with various objects.

Avoid your hands near your face in general as much as possible. Also, squeezing and picking can result in a brown spot or scar known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

5. Wash Your Face Properly

You might not think that washing your face consistently can make a huge difference but it helps in getting rid of oils and dirt.

Not cleansing properly can make your pores appear bigger. It’s recommended you wash your face twice – in the morning and before bed – to get rid of the grime accumulated during the day.

It’s also advisable to wash your face after a workout or when you sweat.

Make a habit of washing your face using lukewarm water instead of hot water to protect your skin further. Massage your skin for a full minute to maximize the effectiveness of your cleanser.

6. Clean Your Makeup Brushes

There is a lot of bacteria, dust, oil, sweat, and makeup residue that accumulates in makeup brushes.

Failing to clean your brushes means you’re constantly smearing all that grime to your face every time you apply makeup. This can cause acne, clogged pores, and inflammation.

To protect your skin from all this dirt, wash your brushes at least once a week.

7. Manage Your Stress

Your mental health significantly affects the glow on your skin. Stress triggers the production of cortisol, which activates our fight or flight hormones.

While that’s a good thing, excess production of cortisol reduces the skin’s ability to reduce moisture and encourages the overproduction of oils.

Other effects of high levels of cortisol include:

• Redness and inflammation
• Premature line and wrinkle development
• Dryness and grey, dull look
• Rebound production of oil (can lead to acne)

Prioritizing your mental health may be your doorway to that glow.

8. Exercise Regularly

Getting a little sweaty is excellent for our general health but it also comes with certain benefits to your skin. When you move around you circulate blood, which carries nutrients and oxygen to all your cells.

Not only does this help your skin to repair itself faster but it gives you an instant glow. Additionally, it reduces stress, which again reduces cortisol levels.

9. Avoid Smoking or Being Around Cigarette Smoke 

When tobacco is heated through vaping or cigarettes, it releases free radicals that destroy the DNA of skin cells. This leads to the breakdown of elastin and collagen.

Smoking also constricts blood vessels, depleting the skin nutrients, vitamins, and oxygen. Also, once the puff of smoke is released, it hits the face, causing blackheads around cheek areas and mouth.

With time, this leads to dehydration, accelerated aging, and broken blood vessels. Research has also shown that smokers take longer to heal, meaning if a smoker gets acne, it may take longer to heal.

10. Get Enough Sleep 

Sleep helps our bodies to repair, rejuvenate, and restore. Our skin produces collagen when we are sleeping.

Going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day also allows your body to rest.

Learning About Taking Care of Skin Leads to Glow

Getting yourself around to applying tips about taking care of skin can be daunting. There might seem like a lot to learn. However, the most important thing to remember is to stay consistent.

Simple things like exercising, getting enough sleep, drinking enough water can make a huge difference in your skin health in the long run.