The Reasons Why We Pursue Smooth Skin
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of it all, have you ever wondered why having smooth skin is so important? Well, the short answer is to look good. But the benefits of having smooth skin lie deeper than the surface. Being able to look good has a significant boost on a person’s self-esteem.
Basically, if you look good, you’ll start feeling good as well. It can be difficult to force yourself to be positive about yourself, but it’s certainly a lot easier to simply work on the things that matter a lot to you and feel good about that, like having even and smooth skin.
What Causes Rough and Uneven Skin?
The primary culprit that causes rough or uneven skin is mostly the environment the person usually finds themselves in. Dirt, pollution, stress, chemicals, and exposure to the sun play significant roles as to how your skin will look. The skin, much like every other organ in the body, reacts to whatever stimuli it comes across in any person’s life, much like how muscles build up the more you use them.
In that case, dead or dry skin cells accumulate on the surface, and that build up can get thick in some places and thinner in others, hence, uneven skin texture.
As we age, our skin also starts losing its elasticity, it becomes less firm, its ability to moisturize itself becomes stunted, and it starts declining in some places. Certain hormonal changes also cause our skin to lose its ability to hydrate itself, which eventually results in rougher skin. This is especially rampant among women undergoing menopause. Scarring is also a huge contributing factor to rough skin texture.
What Can We Do to Improve Skin Texture?
What many people don’t understand about skincare is that it’s not a race, it’s a marathon. To have perfectly healthy skin, it’s necessary to change your lifestyle and make a habit out of taking care of your skin. It may not be possible to have skin that’s as smooth and firm as a baby’s, but with the right kind of effort, you can certainly come close.
Here are just a few things you can do to improve your skin’s texture.
Cleanse and Exfoliate Gently
While there are a huge collection of chemical peel products or cleansers out there, it’s best not to tire your skin out. Choosing the right kind of cleanser and exfoliator is an important step for your daily beauty habit. Harsh soaps and chemical peel products can inadvertently dry your skin out if you’re not careful, so make sure you choose a product that is best suited for your skin type.
Keep Your Skin Hydrated
In order to help your skin be firm and healthy, never let it dry up. After washing it, always apply moisturizer afterwards. Moisturizer locks in hydration and acts as a secondary layer against the aggressors. You should also apply alcohol-free products on your face to prevent it from drying out.
Apply Sunscreen
The sun is the number one villain when it comes to smooth skin texture. Its heat dries your skin out and the UV rays it produces practically kill skin cells. That’s why it’s important to keep yourself safe from the sun, even when it’s cloudy or snowy outside. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. You should also avoid direct sunlight at anywhere between 10 am to 3 pm, even if you’re applying sunscreen. If you really need to go out, make sure you have clothing that cover your body as much as possible.
Live Healthy
Just like any part of the body, skin is greatly affected by how you treat yourself. If you exercise, eat healthy food, and keep smoking or alcohol to a minimum, then your skin will definitely start looking healthy. Try to eat healthy food, avoid junk food and keep your drinking to a minimum. Keep yourself hydrated as well, by drinking a minimum of 3 – 4 liters of water every day.
Warnings
Now that you have an idea of what to do to get healthy skin, let’s look at the things you should avoid:
Avoid Overwashing
Although it may seem counterintuitive to most of us, washing your skin too much may actually lead to dehydration and damage. Daily cleansing is definitely a must, but be careful not to overdo it. If you like taking more than one shower a day, try not to soak too long, avoid using harsh soap, and wipe lightly yourself dry. Afterwards, make sure to apply moisturizer.
Avoid Too Much Sugar
A recent study has found that too much glucose can actually cause your skin to lose elasticity. This process is known as glycosylation, where sugars would attach themselves to collagen, the thing that binds your skin together, and weakens it. To counteract sugar, try incorporating healthy fats to your diet, like olive oil and omega 3.
Don’t Try Every New Fad
While it may be our instinct to jump on whatever is the newest fad, it’s actually not good for your skin if you keep jumping from one product to another. This could cause your skin to burn out and at worst would actually damage it in the long run. Find what works for your skin and stick with it.
