Frequently Disregarded Skin Care Tips
Hello!
Today, I will be talking about some of those skin care tips that everyone talks about, but no one actually does. You know the ones. Things like, "Drink 2.7 liters of water a day" and "Get eight hours of sleep every night." You tell yourself things such as, "It's not like the amount of water I drink can influence how my skin looks" or, "Eight hours of sleep would be nice but it won't actually improve my skin."
I was one of those people for a really long time. I told myself those exact things. Well, my friend I was wrong, these tips are solid. Ready for a list of four skin care tips that everyone ignores but you shouldn't? Yes. Yes, you are.
Disclaimer: Everyone's body is different and these tips may not work for you. I am speaking from personal experience and what has worked for me. I am not a doctor and have not evaluated your specific needs. Please consult a healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet and/or exercise regimen.
This skin care tip can be found on almost every beauty site to ever exist but it also seems to be the most ignored. When I started drinking the recommended amount of water, my skin drastically improved! It was less puffy, more hydrated and wasn't as red and inflamed. You can calculate your recommended daily water intake with this equation from Mayo Clinic.
I know that for some people, including myself, drinking the recommended amount of water is a struggle. I uploaded a post a while back called, Chia Water: A How-To. Chia water is a great way to stay hydrated, without having to drink plain water. Another way you can help yourself stay hydrated is by making it a competition. Label your water bottles with hour markers. It's a race against the clock to finish the water to the mark before the hour strikes!
The main reason that getting the proper amount of sleep is neglected is the fact that people lead very busy lives. There are constantly things to be that need to be done. Clean the house. Write the report. Finish the spread sheet. Our to-do lists are never completed. Despite constant distractions, you need to take time to sleep. Taking an all-nighter to finish a project every now and then is fine, but if you are getting six hours or less of sleep every single night, that's a problem. Your body does most of its repairs at night. Sleep is essential to a healthy immune system, good skin, and a rested mind. Seven hours of sleep is good, eight is best. Some tips to help endure that you get have enough time to sleep are:
Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but there are ways to help you keep it from really getting to you! Self-care is extremely important, especially during times of intense stress. It is not selfish, it is necessary. You can't be your best you when you are spread thin and worn out. There are many ways that you can reduce the effects of the stress of everyday life. Let's break it down by amount of time you have to spend on self care. (note: I am almost positive that i have seen a list like this somewhere before, if you happen to find it I would love if you would send it to me so I can include it in this post as well as give credit to the original idea. Thanks 😉)
This is definitely one of the most debated skin care points, probably because it can vary from person to person. Some people can eat all the junk they want and never experience a related breakout. I am not one of those people. Thinking back, I remember every time I would eat lots of junk food, I would encounter skin problems. I would go to a sleep over with friends and we would only eat pizza, cup ramen, candy and popcorn. Next few days? Breakouts. It took me far longer than one would imagine to actually begin to see the correlation. Once I noticed that most of my breakouts were related to my eating habits, I remembered a tidbit of info from a book I had read, "Food never causes breakouts." So I continued my eating habits for another couple months until I finally told myself, "I don't care what any dermatologist or doctor or book tells me, my breakouts are food related." To this day, I am still frustrated with that book for telling me that my breakouts could never be caused by food. It has been five years since I figured out that food triggers my skin problems, and I will still breakout when I eat junk. Every. Single. Time. So if you notice that your skin problems seems to get worse after eating a bunch of bad food, you might have food relating skin problems. Check out my post on clean eating for help with food related break outs!
Today, I will be talking about some of those skin care tips that everyone talks about, but no one actually does. You know the ones. Things like, "Drink 2.7 liters of water a day" and "Get eight hours of sleep every night." You tell yourself things such as, "It's not like the amount of water I drink can influence how my skin looks" or, "Eight hours of sleep would be nice but it won't actually improve my skin."
I was one of those people for a really long time. I told myself those exact things. Well, my friend I was wrong, these tips are solid. Ready for a list of four skin care tips that everyone ignores but you shouldn't? Yes. Yes, you are.
Disclaimer: Everyone's body is different and these tips may not work for you. I am speaking from personal experience and what has worked for me. I am not a doctor and have not evaluated your specific needs. Please consult a healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet and/or exercise regimen.
1. Drinking water improves your skin
- Take your weight in pounds (lbs), and divide it by 2.2
- Multiply that number by your age
- Divide that number by 28.3
- Voíla! You have your recommended water intake in ounces. Divide that number by eight for your recommended intake in cups.
I know that for some people, including myself, drinking the recommended amount of water is a struggle. I uploaded a post a while back called, Chia Water: A How-To. Chia water is a great way to stay hydrated, without having to drink plain water. Another way you can help yourself stay hydrated is by making it a competition. Label your water bottles with hour markers. It's a race against the clock to finish the water to the mark before the hour strikes!
2. Getting eight hours of sleep can help reduce acne.
The main reason that getting the proper amount of sleep is neglected is the fact that people lead very busy lives. There are constantly things to be that need to be done. Clean the house. Write the report. Finish the spread sheet. Our to-do lists are never completed. Despite constant distractions, you need to take time to sleep. Taking an all-nighter to finish a project every now and then is fine, but if you are getting six hours or less of sleep every single night, that's a problem. Your body does most of its repairs at night. Sleep is essential to a healthy immune system, good skin, and a rested mind. Seven hours of sleep is good, eight is best. Some tips to help endure that you get have enough time to sleep are:
- Block out a night time routine so that you can complete night time tasks as efficiently as possible. Shower. Put water in the coffee machine. Set the alarm.
- Put your phone away after a certain time. Scrolling through Instagram takes up a lot more time than you might think. Plugging your phone in and placing it in a drawer by your bedside table is a good way to reduce the temptation to scroll the night away.
- Avoid procrastination! This is the my worst struggle! 😂 I will always wait until the very last minute to complete a huge project or assignment. I like to pretend that "my creative process works better under pressure" but in reality I am just desperate for ideas in the final hours before the due date. Try your best to distribute big projects over a large span of time so you aren't spending your nights cramming!
- Have trouble falling asleep at night? There are lots of products and ideas out there to help you try and catch those z's! Invest in a sleepy time tea. Use a soothing massage oil and work out those knots in your muscles before bed. Try listening to calming music or sounds. One method that I have found to work extremely well for anxiety related sleep problems is to listen to a recording of breathing and a slow heart rate. Works like a charm.
3. High stress levels can cause skin problems over time.
Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but there are ways to help you keep it from really getting to you! Self-care is extremely important, especially during times of intense stress. It is not selfish, it is necessary. You can't be your best you when you are spread thin and worn out. There are many ways that you can reduce the effects of the stress of everyday life. Let's break it down by amount of time you have to spend on self care. (note: I am almost positive that i have seen a list like this somewhere before, if you happen to find it I would love if you would send it to me so I can include it in this post as well as give credit to the original idea. Thanks 😉)
One Minute:
Take out a piece of paper and write down as many things that you are thankful for. Put the list up somewhere that you will be able to see it. Remembering everything that is going well in life can help put the bad things in perspective.
Five Minutes:
Do a couple stretches! They do not have to be anything strenuous, maybe flex your leg muscles, do some ankle and wrist circles, stand up and stretch your back. Getting your blood flowing will help you feel refreshed and ready to power through the rest of your day!
Ten Minutes:
Pick up your water bottle and got for a walk. Even if its rainy, you should still take a little walk around the office or school! Explore places you have never walked before. Drink some water and appreciate a pretty vase that wasn't there the other day or the flowers that bloomed this week. Our environments are constantly changing and sometimes its nice to stop and just take it all in.
Fifteen Minutes:
Make yourself a healthy drink or snack and read a book. Books are a great way to take a break from everyday life! Throw some lime slices into a bottle of coconut water and open your book. A lot of people like to say, "But books are boring." I strongly believe you just haven't found the right kind of book yet! Some people prefer graphic novels. Autobiographies and conservation books are my personal favorite. Maybe you want to read a fantastic tale of dragons and conquest. Another option is audio books! You can still experience the book, without actually having to read it. Still not convinced of the whole book idea? Magazines are just as good. It doesn't have to be as much commitment as a book, reading just about anything is a great way to take your mind off things.
Thirty Minutes:
Some days you have that extra time you can take for yourself. Use those big chunks to take a nice bath and do a face mask. Mix one cup of Epsom salt, 8-10 drops of your favorite essential oil and enough coconut or olive oil to give the mixture a paste like consistency. Plop that in your bathtub and run the hot water. While your bath fills, pick out a face mask and light some candles or turn on your diffuser. You can choose to sit and enjoy the quiet or you could put on your favorite show on your phone and set it next to your bath. Baths are a very personalized activity. Do what relaxes you!
Thirty Minutes:
Some days you have that extra time you can take for yourself. Use those big chunks to take a nice bath and do a face mask. Mix one cup of Epsom salt, 8-10 drops of your favorite essential oil and enough coconut or olive oil to give the mixture a paste like consistency. Plop that in your bathtub and run the hot water. While your bath fills, pick out a face mask and light some candles or turn on your diffuser. You can choose to sit and enjoy the quiet or you could put on your favorite show on your phone and set it next to your bath. Baths are a very personalized activity. Do what relaxes you!
4. Eating large amounts of junk foods can cause breakouts and acne flare ups.
This is definitely one of the most debated skin care points, probably because it can vary from person to person. Some people can eat all the junk they want and never experience a related breakout. I am not one of those people. Thinking back, I remember every time I would eat lots of junk food, I would encounter skin problems. I would go to a sleep over with friends and we would only eat pizza, cup ramen, candy and popcorn. Next few days? Breakouts. It took me far longer than one would imagine to actually begin to see the correlation. Once I noticed that most of my breakouts were related to my eating habits, I remembered a tidbit of info from a book I had read, "Food never causes breakouts." So I continued my eating habits for another couple months until I finally told myself, "I don't care what any dermatologist or doctor or book tells me, my breakouts are food related." To this day, I am still frustrated with that book for telling me that my breakouts could never be caused by food. It has been five years since I figured out that food triggers my skin problems, and I will still breakout when I eat junk. Every. Single. Time. So if you notice that your skin problems seems to get worse after eating a bunch of bad food, you might have food relating skin problems. Check out my post on clean eating for help with food related break outs!
Thanks for reading my post! I hope you enjoyed it! Questions? Comments? Stories? Write them in the comments section below or send me an email at lovesliquidliner@gmail.com.
Love,
Chloe
Find me on
Pinterest: My Collection of Musings
Tumblr: @makeupbycococat
Facebook: Makeup By Coco Cat
Instagram:@mycollectionofmusings
Love,
Chloe
Find me on
Pinterest: My Collection of Musings
Tumblr: @makeupbycococat
Facebook: Makeup By Coco Cat
Instagram:
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