Building healthy skin habits: Your guide to glowing skin during Healthy Skin Month
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) launched the first Healthy Skin Month in November 1997 and has since designated each November as a month to pay extra attention to the skin, learn about essential skin care, and adopt habits to lead to a lifetime of optimal skin health.
But what are the most important steps to take to achieve healthy skin? A good skincare routine should always involve a three-pronged 360 approach: inside (diet, supplements, mindset), outside (skincare) and on top (SPF / mineral makeup). Three of the most essential things we need to do for our skin every day are a thorough cleanse, AM + PM, SPF every single day – UVA rays reach us year-round and get deeper than UVB and the inclusion of water and fatty acids – these support skin from within for hydration.
Our skin can reflect our health and habits but sometimes we can find that we invest lots of money and time into our skin without reaping the benefits we hoped for. Whilst this can be understandably frustrating, I urge you not to despair – there are many ways to make positive changes to your skin, with the key lying in knowing where you may be going wrong, and which changes to make. Whilst quick fixes rarely solve a problem in the long term, smarter skincare can be achieved simply, and changes can be seen fast. Here are some ways to make a big difference to the health of your skin with minimal daily effort.
Extend your cleanse
Life can be hectic but investing a few extra minutes into your cleansing time will reap rewards when it comes to your skin. Whatever your skin goal or needs, a thorough cleanse is essential to ensure you remove any dirt, debris, pollution and makeup from your skin. This will prevent congestion and allow your active ingredients to work more efficiently. A truly thorough cleanse features two steps, which is why we recommend a double cleanse, twice a day for optimal results. The pre-cleanse stage is vital, even for non-makeup wearers. Makeup is not the only thing that sits on our skin. The skin secretes and excretes so sweat and oil can create a buildup on the surface of our skin.
Follow this with your daily non-stripping cleanser. Alternatively, an active cleanser containing an ingredient such as salicylic acid can be used 2-3 times a week. Aim to cleanse in circular motions for 60 seconds, under the jawline, in the eyebrows, down the sides of the nose, behind the ears – all nooks and crannies – rinse thoroughly and then pat dry.
Clean up your act
Whilst we are on the subject of cleaning, ensure that anything that goes on your face is clean. Reusable protective masks and foundation brushes harbor dirt and bacteria, which can lead to blemishes and congestion. If you are wearing the same mask daily without cleaning it, you’re introducing oils, bacteria and old makeup to your face and letting it sit on top of it. This is a key reason for “maskne,”and culprit for the irritation and itchiness mentioned by many. The HSE recommends washing your face coverings daily in a hot wash of over 60 degrees with washing detergent.
Store your products correctly
Keep products out of direct sunlight and away from sources of heat if you want to extend the lifespan of your skincare staples. Some products also work better stored at a lower temperature. Make space in your fridge for facial spritzes, eye creams or masks to help depuff the skin and boost circulation. It is also important to make sure the lid is tightened correctly. Oxidisation can occur when a formula is exposed to air, lessening the effectiveness of the product.
See a specialist
If you have a skin concern, don’t try to work it out alone and book in to see a skincare specialist. The Skin Nerd provides one-to-one skincare consultations online, making it super easy to fit into a busy schedule and allowing you to speak openly about your skin in your own, private space. Skincare science is constantly evolving, and your nerd will be fully knowledgeable in the latest innovations. This means they will be able to help you decide if your regime could benefit from a new ingredient or treatment. It also allows you to track your progress, setting you on the path to skintentment!
Try a supplement
How we eat feeds our skin too. Like your body, your skin needs protein, probiotics, fats, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Topical skincare can only reach our epidermis, so the living layer of our skin, the dermis, can only really be reached by nutrients. I go by a ‘food first’ approach but supplements are a convenient way to ‘top-up’ your nutritional intake and can really make a difference to the health of your skin. Remember to discuss using supplements with your GP prior to use.