Basics for Glowing Skin

Many of us become overwhelmed at the thought of the skincare routine necessary for glowing skin, including exfoliation, hydration, moisturization, and cleansing. But there are some simple steps that can help you protect and pamper your skin within minutes.

Wash your skin every day

Cleaning the skin does not require any fancy products. A mild unscented cleanser is all that is needed. And avoid exfoliating daily! If you do want to exfoliate, limit this to once per week at the very most. Cleaning with water and soap is enough to remove the dirt, grime, sweat, pollution, and dead cells that accumulate throughout the day. But be careful not to wash too often, since it may lead to loss of the natural oils in the skin. When this happens, your skin recognizes it is dry and produces more oils to replenish itself. Then, the skin becomes oily. So, instead of getting stuck in this back-and-forth battle, try to keep your skin clean without cleaning too often.

Moisturize your skin

Although our skin already has protective lubrication, daily hot showers, exposure to sun, and cold weather all make it essential to moisturize every day. Really lock in moisturizer and avoid greasiness by just patting the product onto the skin immediately after a shower. Just like your face wash, your facial moisturizer doesn't need to be fancy. Choose a gentle unscented moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15. Many moisturizers with SPF stay at a low level as to keep the product light and non-greasy. 

Use sunscreen to protect the skin

Sunscreen is essential for healthy skin whether the weather is cold, sunny, or windy. Snow and water reflects the sun’s rays, and on cloudy days we still get exposure to ultraviolet rays. Exposure to UV rays can lead to wrinkles, discoloration, moles, and even skin cancer over time. Cover up the exposed skin and apply a layer of sunscreen with SPF greater than 15 with protection against both UVA and UVB.

If you are really struggling to find the time for a detailed skin care regimen, simply follow the above three steps, and don't mess with your routine. Your skin will look and feel its best when you stick to a healthy, simple routine. And, perhaps most important of all, make sure you're drinking water. Staying hydrated does wonders for skin elasticity and brightness.