Healthy Skin Tips for Every Age

We Discuss The Correct Way To Take Care Of The Skin — For All Skin Types

Whether your skin is oily, dry, normal, combination, or sensitive, we're all here for one thing, and one thing only — we want to learn how to take care of our skin. While there are a gazillion products out there that promise to do wonderful things, figuring out how to take care of our particular skin is probably one of the toughest things to accomplish. However, it is one of the most important things that you need to do, because taking care of your skin is vital, especially in the long run; a few bad moves, and you could end up looking like you aged ten years, even if you've just turned 30. We wanted to get the lowdown on how to take care of skin, regardless of skin type, and that's why we reached out to Dr. Divya Sharma, a renowned dermatologist about the importance of taking care of skin. "Skin is the largest organ in the body and a reflection of our inner health," says Dr. Divya Sharma. "It's very important to take care of skin since it's not only a barrier against external agents like sun, humidity, temperature changes, and infectious agents, its immune system is also designed to protect us. If we don't take care of our skin, even the inside of our body gets affected." It's true what they say that beauty goes beyond the surface level; to properly take care of our skin, first of all, we need to build a healthy skincare routine that isn't just about following a few steps — it's about understanding what your skin truly needs. And we're guessing you're here because you want to learn how to take care of your skin on the whole. Regardless of your skin type, we've got a few steps that'll help you take care of your skin day in and day out, so read on.

01. Cleanse

Cleansing is the most important step of any skincare ritual! Cleanse your face twice a day, and when you do, avoid face washes that make your skin feel squeaky clean. That feeling may make you think your skin is clean, but it can strip your skin of its natural oils. And if you're concerned about what kind of face wash to use for your particular skin type, here's what Dr. Divya Sharma has to say. "If you have a dry skin type, you can use a non-soapy cleanser. If you have oily, or combination skin, you should go for AHA or BHA-based cleansers," she shares. "Mandelic acid is my choice for sensitive skin. For extremely oily and acne-prone skin, you can use glycolic acid or salicylic acid at times."

02. Exfoliate

Exfoliation is key to maintaining healthy skin. By scrubbing your face of all dirt, impurities, and grime, exfoliation manages to improve the appearance of your skin, and is great especially if your skin is acne-prone. Says Dr. Sharma, "Do exfoliate, but avoid rubbing your skin vigorously. Don't use brushes or massagers on your face. You can consult your dermatologist and get a chemical exfoliant, depending on your skin type and condition."

03. Use Sunscreen

If you're still not using sunscreen, well, it’s time you did. Using sunscreen is a vital step to taking care of the skin, since it prevents sun damage and the consequences of it in the long run — from sunburn, to skin diseases. Plus, it keeps your skin looking youthful too! And Dr. Sharma agrees. According to her, "Never forget to apply your sunscreen, even if you're indoors! Along with the sun rays, visible light and infrared light can cause pigmentation too."

Even if you don't see the effects immediately, don't get disheartened. This is all about the long term, and if you take care of your skin, you'll see incredible effects over time. This holds true, especially for maintaining youthful-looking skin when you're older. On how taking care of skin helps with ageing, Dr. Divya Sharma says, "So we have to understand that ageing is of two types — one is intrinsic, where one can't really help it.

We can try to arrest the progression. The other is extrinsic ageing, which means that sometimes the skin ages faster due to sunlight or radiation exposure. In the current times, it's the screens — your laptops, your mobile phones — causing the radiation burden on the skin."

She continues, "Stress also accelerates the ageing of the skin, it is very important we inculcate healthy skin habits from a young age. Habits like wearing sunscreen both indoors and outdoors, like avoiding over-exfoliation, and making sure our diet contains antioxidants.

This can go a long way in ensuring we don't get hyperpigmentation, pimples, dullness, and wrinkles." Now that you know why it's important to take care of the skin, let's try and figure out how to go about it and how to set goals for achieving the skin of your dreams. We all tend to be a little careless with our skincare routine at times, but this isn't always for the best. In order to have healthy looking skin, you need to follow your skincare routine rigorously.

"A common skin goal for all skin types is actually an even skin tone and glowing skin. It's achievable, not only with ointments, products, and procedures, but it is also a reflection of our inner health," explains Dr. Divya Sharma. "It's impossible for us to attain flawless skin; as I mentioned, skin is a reflection of your inner health. There will be times in life — such as acne in pregnancy, or too much sun exposure during a beach holiday — where your skin will change."

"An uneven skin tone is generally indicative of nutritional deficiencies, lack of hydration, lack of sun protection. Glowing skin is the best marker for inner health," she further adds. "So if you notice your skin getting dull, question the products you use, question the lifestyle you have, question your sleep time, and question your lack of sun protection."

And while having a select few products in your roster can definitely make a difference in the way your skin looks, we need to remember that taking care of skin is more of a holistic process. As Dr. Divya Sharma mentioned, your skin is a reflection of your inner health — so if you're not taking care of your body, your skin isn't going to reflect that. Read on for all the holistic ways to take care of skin.

04. Improve Your Diet

You know we had to go there! What you put in your body is going to reflect on your body, so if you're all about that junk food life where you eat unhealthy food, maybe it's time to give it a rest. "Sugar is the enemy of good skin!" exclaims Dr. Divya Sharma. "Avoid sugar, avoid high glycemic foods, have a low-carb, high-protein diet. Your diet should have a lot of antioxidants, like vegetables, vitamin C, and coloured foods like beetroots, fresh fruits, nuts, and seeds."

She further suggests, "Walnut is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids, and then we have a whole variety of seeds now. They not only improve iron, but are good sources of micronutrients like magnesium, selenium, and protein. Aim to eat at regular intervals, and aim to have a balanced diet. Keep your consumption of carbs to 40% of your diet — the rest should be protein and healthy fats."

05. Exercise

Working out can make you sweat, and make you look and feel great. When it comes to skincare, it increases the blood flow, and nourishes skin cells to keep them vital. Plus, the increased blood flow helps carry all the waste on the skin cells away, meaning you can naturally get better skin in the long run. BRB while we schedule our morning run after 5 months of procrastination!

06. De-stress

Stress and a hectic lifestyle may make you feel like a true-blue hustling millennial, but honestly? The effects it can have on your body are not worth it. Now, we're not saying quit your day job and move to the French Riviera. (Although the offer sounds tempting!) We're merely suggesting that every now and then, chill out a little! De-stress with whatever activity you find the most stress-free — in fact, it could be as simple as putting on a face mask! Your skin — and your body — will thank you for it, and you'll feel so much better.

5 Ways to Keep Your Skin Looking Healthy

It’s so easy to casually toss around the phrase “healthy looking skin.” We know you’ve heard (and said and read) it before, but what does healthy looking skin actually look like? What does it *feel* like? And how can you even get that coveted glowing skin lewk without spending a fortune on skincare products?

For starters, natural glowing skin comes from within. Skin is the body’s largest organ. It matters what you put in your body and on your skin. The right combo of healthy habits and glowing skin products can keep your skin feeling and looking healthy.

1. Stay hydrated by drinking enough water.

When your skin starts to look dull and feel tight, you’re likely dehydrated. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends drinking at least 9 cups of fluid every day. This doesn’t mean sugary, fizzy drinks and coffee either. We’re talking water, coconut water, tea and even nutrient-rich smoothies. Skin that’s hydrated will look radiant and feel nice and plump to the touch.

Pro tip: Slices of cucumber or lemon really elevate your water-drinking experience. Plus, it just looks pretty.

2. Nourish your body with antioxidant-rich foods.

Stress eating pizza and chocolate, while delish, can show up on your face in the form of unwanted blemishes. No thanks! One effective way to get glowing skin naturally is to reach for healthy superfoods that have vitamin C. Think blueberries, strawberries, and oranges as well as kale, sweet potatoes, and spinach. Pair that berry bowl with a glass of water. You’ll thank us later when you’re looking at your healthy complexion in the mirror.

3. Clear the way for clearer skin.

Skin breaks out. It’s normal. Breaking out doesn’t necessarily mean your skin is unhealthy. Your pores could be clogged or your skin could be producing more oil, which can lead to pimples. A regular skincare routine such as a face wash, a toner, a moisturizer, and an acne treatment will help get those breakouts under control.

4. Buff away dead skin.

Healthy looking skin feels soft and smooth. A healthy looking skin tone looks even and bright. When it comes straight down to how to make your face glow, we like to impart this nugget of wisdom: exfoliating scrubs. Our skin works hard by shedding dead skin every day. But sometimes it needs a little boost. Dead skin, dirt, oil, and makeup can clog pores making skin look bleh. One of the best ways to make skin glow is to use a facial scrub at least once a week. It’ll buff away the dull layer to improve the appearance and texture of your skin.

5. Laugh a little more.

Ever notice what happens to your face when you’re happy and excited? It gets this healthy flush of color in the cheeks. That’s because tiny capillaries in your skin are woken up, which gives off the look of glowing skin. So, go ahead and laugh. Find moments of joy. Get excited over something that makes you happy.

Healthy-looking skin is just a click away. Shop your go-to Clean & Clear® skincare products now.

Healthy Skin Tips for Every Age

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Skin Care for Your 20s

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Now is the time to create healthy skin habits. Building a good foundation now will help stave off problems down the road.

Changes You May See

Skin in your twenties looks plump and firm, thanks to a robust subcutaneous layer. New skin cells are being created relatively quickly, and sebaceous glands are still revved up, giving 20-year-old skin a dewy glow.

Although you've left your teen years behind, your skin may not have gotten the memo. It's normal for oily skin, blackheads, and pimples to still hang around at this age.

Key Ingredients This Decade: Alpha Hydroxy Acids

Your skin will benefit from gentle exfoliation (the key word here is gentle!). If you've spent high school scrubbing away at your skin with super gritty physical exfoliants, it's time to move on to a more sophisticated way to exfoliate. Alpha hydroxy acids, specifically glycolic acid and lactic acid, will help smooth, soften, and brighten your complexion without often irritating friction from a scrub. A facial mask that contains AHAs, used once or twice per week, is a nice treat for your skin. Combine this with physical exfoliation with a soft washcloth or gentle scrub once every week or two.

Product to Add to Your Routine: Sunscreen

Want to know the number one skin care product you can ever use? Sunscreen. It isn't chic, exotic, or sexy, but sunscreen is the one product you should never be without. Choose a broad-spectrum product with SPF 30 or more.

Don't reserve your SPF for days at the beach. Slather it on every day, over all exposed areas of skin. Doing this now will save your skin down the road. You'll reduce premature aging, dark spots, and uneven skin tone, as well as your risk of developing skin cancer. It's the most important thing you can do for healthy skin.

Tips for Your 20s