Skincare Tips to Swear By
As busy moms our skincare routine is often low down on the priority list but this year I’m determined to get a good routine in place and stick with it. Whether it’s the dark circles from partying all night (those were the days!) or sleepless nights with young children, we could all do with a little extra attention when taking care of our skin.
Firstly, don’t expect overnight miracles. Lots of creams and products will leave your skin feeling soft right away but this is a marathon, not a sprint. That glowing look and flawless skin takes time so it’s worth getting it right from the off.
Let’s start with cleansing. It’s so important to spend time getting this part done properly by removing every scrap of make up we’ve had on throughout the day. By doing this we allow our skin to breathe overnight and stop pores from being clogged, which can cause breakouts and redness. My top frugal tip for this? Use olive oil on a cleanser or cotton pad – you don’t need to invest in fancy cleansers for this step. Keep it simple.
Exfoliating is also a key step in achieving glowing, healthy skin. You only need to do this once or twice a week for brighter skin and can even make your own exfoliator with powdered walnut and yogurt, to form a paste. The antioxidants in walnuts help to remove the dirt and promote radiant skin. Give your face a gentle massage when exfoliating too.
How many of us only use sunscreen when hitting the beach or on vacation? The truth is that we need to protect our skin from daily UV exposure to slow down the visible signs of aging. Choosing a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater, and applying this daily, is the best way to stop those harmful rays affecting our skin.
And finally, we need something to help boost the skin’s protective barrier. Using the ultimate cruelty free skin moisturizer after cleansing, with just one or two pumps on the face and neck is essential. Vitamins E and B5 will not only moisturize but protect the skin from damage and enhance the healing process. Stable Vitamin C is also a major antioxidant that helps with oxidative stress, known to combat environmental external stressors that can aggravate the face.
While a great skincare routine will help you achieve that glow, there are two main factors that have to be considered too. Sleep and water. They are absolute essentials. Try to sleep at least 8 hours a night (easier said than done sometimes, right?) and keep hydrated. We all know we should be drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day but why not try upping your intake of foods that have a high water content. Watermelon, cucumber, oranges, strawberries and grapefruit are perfect for this. There are so many other benefits to watermelon consumption too, such as promoting weight loss and preventing irritation, that this is possibly the easiest and most beneficial thing to change about our daily routine.