Beautiful Skin All Year Round

Keeping your skin fresh, clear and vibrant all year around is one of the best things that you can do for yourself. It is the first thing that people see when they meet you and if you are like me, it is the last but most important part of the day! Skin care has always been one of the key elements to my self-confidence. As someone who at one point, was so painfully insecure about my skin (teenage acne and the scars to prove it – ouch!) I have made it a point to spend the last 5+ years not only improving my skin, but also maintaining a youthful glow. Research shows that once you hit 25, your collagen levels can start to slowly deplete which might result in the appearance of sagging skin and the onset of fine lines. Taking care of your skin is a consistent commitment but, once you decide to commit and stick to it, you will be able to trick people into never knowing your true age. Here are a few of my personal skin care tips that I personally love and believe in and maybe you will incorporate a few into your own regimen.

# 1 – Stay out of the sun: Even though the most natural way to get Vitamin D is by exposing your bare skin to sunlight, I never expose my face to the sun without wearing sunglasses, having a hat on and slapping on some spf 30 or higher always! Sun exposure can account for almost 90 percent of premature aging. Sexy glowing tanned skin isn’t worth a face full of fine lines and wrinkles 20 years from now. Keep your face protected from the sun and find the best place to get an airbrushed tan to get that glowing skin but keep your face wrinkle free! 

# 2 – Get your rest: That saying “I can sleep when I am dead” just makes no sense to me. When you are sleep-deprived, your body makes more of the stress hormone cortisol, yet when you get seven to nine quality hours each night, it may be the closest thing there is to a fountain of youth. Getting the proper rest that you need can give you a glowing complexion, brighter, less puffy eyes and fewer wrinkles. Skin makes new collagen when you sleep, which prevents sagging. Just make sure you don’t sleep on your stomach or your side since the point is to prevent wrinkles, not cause them!

# 3 – Stay hydrated: A big benefit to drinking water is its ability to flush your system of toxins. This cleanse keeps your skin clean, pushing out bacteria and reducing the risk of acne and other skin problems. I keep a bottle of water by my bedside and it’s the first thing I do in the morning and the last thing I do at night (after my skin care routine of course). Water really is my go to beverage 9 times out of ten any given day of the week and after consuming so much daily water I can tell you that my skin feels constantly moisturized along with a few other hydrating benefits. 

#4 – Laser, laser, laser: This was a HUGE game changer for my skin. I believe and swear by laser treatments. Wrinkles, crow’s feet, fine lines, sun-damaged skin, minor or shallow scars, acne spots on the face respond well to laser skin treatment. Remember the acne scarring that I mentioned earlier? I started doing laser in mid-2015 and now I am hooked for life. My skin improved vastly once I added this into my skincare regimen to the point that I started to receive so many compliments on my skin and still do. Don’t forget to do your research on types of laser and providers because you want to make sure you go to someone who knows exactly what they are doing. 

#5 – Retinol: This is the newest step in my skin car regimen. Retinol is a powerful antioxidant and some doctors say it is important to use it every day. I use this at night since it is very helpful in causing skin cells to turn over at a faster rate, decrease oil production and help skin exfoliate. Some dermatologists say in six to eight weeks, this can clear up and prevent acne, reduce the look of fine lines, and lighten hyperpigmentation until it disappears. 

Even though we can’t fully stop the aging process and it is always a blessing to see another day, there is nothing wrong with taking care of your skin and making it a priority. My love for skin care and knowledge of the industry has grown through the process of taking care of my own skin and because of the insecurities I faced in the earlier part of my life. I spent my teenage years and early twenties so self conscious about my skin, now I plan to spend the rest of my life proud of my skin and walking confidently in it!