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Simple Steps for Glowing Skin
Getting a great complexion doesn’t have to break the bank
When you consider that your skin is your body’s largest organ, as well as its most visible one, giving it some attention can be worthwhile. But how can you make your skin look great without spending a fortune on fancy products and treatments? Here are some steps you can take to keep your skin looking fresh and your budget intact.
Take cover
The No. 1 thing you can do for your skin is to avoid the sun and wear sunscreen, says DMC Harper University Hospital dermatologist Ali Moiin, M.D. He recommends using a product with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30.
It’s also important to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen to prevent absorption of both UVA and UVB rays, says Raechele Cochran Gathers, M.D., a dermatologist with the Multicultural Dermatology Center at Henry Ford Hospital.
Wear your sunscreen regularly, even in the colder months.
“Apply it twice a day, more if you are sweating,” Moiin says.
In the summer, says Gathers, protect your ears with a wide-brimmed hat and use a product containing SPF on your lips.
Don’t smoke
Besides giving a sallow appearance to the skin, smoking is bad for the body’s organs, according to Gathers.
“There’s nothing positive to say about it,” she says. “It can cause premature aging, wrinkling and discoloration. Smoke constricts blood vessels, so you don’t get the proper nutrients and oxygen to the skin.”
Smoking also impairs healing, Moiin says, and prevents scars from healing as well.
Drink up
Drink at least eight glasses of water a day, and your skin will thank you.
“It will do wonders for your skin and flush toxins out of your body,” says Rachel Kapp, a dietitian at DMC Harper University Hospital. Water is not only vital to every organ, but it also helps you look better.
“You can see dehydration in the tone and structure of the skin,” says Yvonne Moses, a dietitian with Henry Ford Hospital. Avoid alcohol, coffee or other caffeinated beverages, which can lead to dehydration, she adds.
Eat well
Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
“[Omega-3 fatty acids] give you a glow, a more supple, lustrous look,” Kapp says.
While you can take supplements, she encourages getting nutrients through food. Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include salmon and tuna (two servings a week are recommended) and ground flax seed (add a teaspoon to cereal or yogurt in the morning).
Consume fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants, which are nutrients that help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals, highly reactive atoms introduced to the body by pollution, smoke and sunlight. These antioxidants include vitamins C, A and E, and lycopene, Kapp says.
You can find vitamin C in oranges and tomatoes, A in carrots, sweet potatoes and winter squash, and E in hazelnuts, almonds and whole grains. For lycopene, turn to tomatoes and other red fruits.
Be gentle
Don’t overdo it when it comes to washing and moisturizing.
“Washing (your face) two times a day is too much for some people,” Moiin says. “It makes your face dry.”
Be gentle when washing, says Henry Ford’s Gathers. She recommends using circular motions instead of scrubbing the skin. Also, avoid long, hot showers or baths, which can dehydrate the skin, and towel dry by blotting. Then, apply lotion while the skin is still damp to lock in moisture.
When it comes to your face, go for gentle cleansers and noncomedogenic moisturizers (which won’t clog pores). Opt for oil-free products if you’re acne prone, and don’t pick at your skin.
“You introduce bacteria from the environment. It can cause inflammation, and can lead to scarring and discoloration,” Gathers says. “That’s very difficult to treat.” Moiin says he favors products with hyaluronic acid to help lock in moisture, such as DML Facial Moisturizer with SPF 25 ($13). Gathers recommends Aveeno Positively Radiant SPF 30 ($15). “It’s a good price point and non-irritating,” she says.
For patients with acne, she recommends skincare products from the lines Purpose and Cetaphil.