New Year, New Skin
Not literally, of course. But, as we are starting this new year, why not take an opportunity to talk about one of my favorite subjects: skincare.
Okay, so this is only the beginning of a litany of skincare related posts; I know it. I could talk about skincare for days, much to my family's chagrin (they could not care less about the topic), and often find myself in conversations with friends about it.
However, before I go any further, I need to make a disclaimer: I am not an expert in this field. I’m not a dermatologist, nor am I an aesthetician. I’m just a woman who has learned a lot in the last 10+ years that I have been taking skincare seriously. So, take all of my advice with a grain of salt, and if you see a dermatologist or aesthetician frequently, please consult them before you do anything.
Alright, so let’s get into some of the basic things that are important when you feel like your skin needs a reset.
You need to know what kind of skin type you have. Before you do or buy anything, you need to determine what kind of skin you have. Do you have oily skin? Dry? Combination? Sensitive? Normal? This is something you need to figure out, and please don’t assume that just because you’ve had combination skin since you were 16 that you still do. You might, but our skin is always changing as we age, so pay attention to what kind of skin you are working with, then proceed.
What is going on with your skin? What I mean by that is: what are the issues, if any, do you have? Are you having trouble with eczema? Acne and breakouts? Redness? Dullness? The list goes on, but if something is going on with your skin, you need to work out what that is before you do anything. As I said in point 1, pay attention, and see what you are working with before spending any money.
Once you know your skin type and what skin-issues you would like to remedy, this is the step where you evaluate what you are currently doing that is either not working or assess what you are using that is not working. I’m not going to lie; this step will look very different for everyone. If you have no skincare routine, then you are going to start from square one. But, if you had a well-oiled regimen down for years and it’s suddenly not working, then you will need to do a little digging as to why. Maybe your skin has changed and has new needs, or perhaps you have recently developed a sensitivity to a product you are using. Or you may not have any issues with your skincare routine, and your problems lie elsewhere (but more on that later). However, for those who are just dabbling in the world of skincare and overall feel lost, then take a deep breath because I’m going to try to walk you through this.
What if your skincare routine is fine, but something else is the culprit? So, the key to healthy skin does not lie within one magical cleanser or eye cream. Not even close. Instead, many lifestyle factors play a role in how your skin behaves, many of which you have control over.
The first is your water intake. Did you know that the average male should be drinking 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of water a day and that the average woman should be drinking 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of water a day? (Check out this article to learn more.) If you are not drinking anywhere near that amount, then start here before buying any skincare product. Get yourself a reusable water bottle (somewhere in the ballpark 32-40oz is the size I prefer) - it will help you easily keep track of how much water you drink, wash it, fill it up, and start chugging! Just kidding, gradually drink it and refill it throughout the day until you’ve reached your goal. If you don’t like the taste of water, try water enhancers like MiO or True Lemon (both links will send you to Amazon if you are interested in purchasing either of them). But, whatever you do, JUST DRINK WATER! Trust me, your skin will thank you for it, and you will see a difference. If you don’t, you will just be throwing money at a problem that nothing topical can fix. So, JUST DRINK THE WATER!!!
Pillowcases. Alright, so this is one thing that I feel like many people don’t think of as a culprit in their skincare woes, but let me tell you, it probably is. Two things could be happening: your skin is freaking out because your pillowcase is dirty or freaking out because your pillowcase is not made of a skin-friendly textile.
If your pillowcase is dirty, and I don’t mean run-over-by-a-truck or rolled-in-a-ditch dirty, you need to start changing your pillowcases more frequently. I change mine once a week, and once I started doing that, I quickly noticed my skin getting happier.
The second reason I mentioned, your skin not liking the material your pillowcase is made out of, is something newer to me. The most skin-friendly textile out there is satin-woven silk. Now, before you comment about how this is a step too extra, hear me out. I was super skeptical, also, believe me. I refused to buy silk pillowcases for years because I thought it was some extra boujie step, and I wouldn’t like the pillowcases' feel (I’m very sensory sensitive). But, wouldn’t you know I was wrong.
First, the second I switched over, I noticed a difference. My skin felt happier within a week, and I adore the way the silk feels. And if you don’t believe me, recently I was house and dogsitting for a family and forgot my pillows for the time I was away; two days into the week, my skin was so dry, and I couldn’t understand why. But, wouldn’t you know, once I got home, my skin was back to normal in 24 hours. The silk is no joke.
Second, it’s not nearly as expensive as you are probably thinking. Now, if money is no problem for you, splurge away. However, for those of you who are like me and don’t have all the money in the world to buy pillowcases, I have your back. AlaskaBear sells some excellent pillowcases on Amazon in a variety of colors. The quality is excellent, and the price is right. Run, don’t walk.
But why, silk? Unlike cotton, silk doesn’t absorb all of the product off your face, which means that your products will do their jobs while you sleep instead of being rubbed off into your pillows. It also has a far smoother texture, which prevents pulling on both your skin and hair. Plus, it stays relatively cool all night, which can help you sleep. It’s a win-win, trust me.
Side Note: If something says it is just satin but doesn’t give you the mommes of silk that it is, please don’t buy it. That is polyester satin, which is, quite literally, satin plastic. You want natural fiber. Also, follow the cleaning instructions with your pillowcases to the letter. YOU CANNOT BLEACH SILK; it will disintegrate if you do. So, just follow the garment care instructions. But, if you get the AlaskaBear ones, they are washing machine safe, and all will be well. If you want my recommendations for a great laundry detergent for delicates or just my laundry detergent recommendations in general, let me know in the comments.
Sleep. Another thing that plays a significant part in your skin’s health is the amount of sleep you are getting. If you haven’t noticed a trend yet, your overall lifestyle plays a significant role in how your skin acts. So, if you are not getting a lot of sleep, it will show on your face. When you are tired, you look and feel it. Now, I know that some people have real problems with insomnia, but you need to prioritize rest if that is not something you struggle with. It is the way our bodies heal, refresh, and recharge. If you aren’t getting enough quality sleep, try to fix that because your skin will thank you for it.
Stress. The trend keeps going. If your stress or anxiety levels are through the roof and you’ve noticed that suddenly your skin’s health has changed, I think you can quickly determine that it is a culprit. Stress and anxiety are not so easily managed or fixed but try to make an effort to calm yourself and let your brain have a break. When you are stressed or anxious, the hormones released into the body do not do your body any favors when they are continuously released. So, even though it’s easier said than done, try to prioritize calm and relaxation to give your body (and skin) a break.
Diet. Okay, so we’ve all heard that if you eat sweets, you will get pimples, right? That myth has been around forever and is still circulating. Although that is not necessarily true - if you have a piece of cake, you won’t be covered in pimples the next day - there is a correlation between your diet and your skin's health. If you eat a lot of sodium, you’re going to be puffy the next day. Or if you have any food intolerances, you won’t just feel like crap, but continued eating can lead to skin changes. That can be acne or irritation, or anything. But, what you fuel your body with does affect your skin, so be conscious of it.
Hormones. Of all the things mentioned, this is the one thing that you have virtually no control over. Some people have severe hormonal imbalances that a medical professional can prescribe medications to fix, but most instances of hormone-related skin issues are out of our control. However, there is some hope, and that comes in recognizing what those issues are. So, for instance, as women age, their hormonal acne will move down their face. Before puberty and at puberty’s start, acne primarily lives on the forehead. As puberty progresses, it moves down the face to the point that, by the time puberty is well over and full adulthood has arrived, hormonal acne generally lives in the chin region. Not everyone struggles with hormonal acne, but it is extremely common for women to break out when they are about to be or are on their period. Although I don’t have any tips to prevent acne during that time, I can say that knowing it’s placement and the timing can help you figure out why it’s there. Also, you can lessen its severity once you get a routine down.
That was by no means a fully comprehensive list, but it was a hit-list of the most common culprits. I also fully realize that I haven’t even addressed skincare products or routines. But, don’t you fret, I totally will. My next post will be a rundown of my routine and some product recommendations. The whole purpose of this very long post is to help you navigate where you are and some things to potentially be mindful of this year to take care of your skin and body. If your body is feeling good, I promise it will show up on your face. So, focusing internally first will only make your topical routine far more comfortable and more effective.
Anyway, that is all I have for today. Good luck on your journey to healthy skin, and please leave a comment if there is anything you think I left out.
Also, if you want to hear from a real expert, head to carolinehirons.com or buy her book Skincare on Amazon. Caroline Hirons is the queen of skincare, and a lot of what I’ve written about here I’ve learned from her. Another great resource is Susan Yara at Mixed Makeup on Youtube. I’ve also learned a lot from her and cannot recommend her enough.
Alright, that’s all!
Blessings,
Sarah
