While you might dream of flawless, glowing skin as shown off by celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Miranda Kerr, and Katy Perry, you already know the basics— drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, and wash your face. But what about everything in between?
There is no magical formula, procedure, expensive creams that can achieve flawless skin on its own. Great skin also starts with practicing the right habits. Below, we’ve listed some tips to keep your skin looking great before or after a cosmetic procedure of the face or skin.
1. Exfoliate Your Face
Oatmeal makes a great exfoliator or mask. Mix two tablespoons of oats with a tablespoon of honey and a dash of water. Warm up the mixture and then rub it into your skin. While you can use it only to exfoliate, you can also leave it in place for 15 to 20 minutes as a soothing and hydrating mask.
2. Whip Up an Olive Oil Cleanser
A great natural oil to use as both a natural cleanser and moisturizer is olive oil. Rub the oil into your skin, drape a warm, damp cloth over your face until it cools, and then wipe away the excess oil.
3. Moisturize Both Day and Night
The best times to apply moisturizers are in the morning, before bed, or after showering, cleansing, or swimming.
4. Hydrate Inside and Out
Dermatologists agree on the importance of hydration. Allowing oneself to become dehydrated leads to the skin losing radiance and looking dull. Look for cleansing, moisturizing, and anti-aging products that have hydrating formulas. And, of course, drink around eight glasses of water a day.
5. Avoid Direct Heat Exposure
It’s not enough to simply watch out for the sun— getting too close to heaters and fireplaces can also wreak havoc on your skin, causing inflammation and collagen breakdown. Try to stay at least ten feet away from these sources of heat.
6. Vitamins Should Go on Your Skin, Too
While a balanced diet is essential, keep in mind that there is more than one way to get skin vitamins to your skin. Topical antioxidants like vitamin C serum found in serums and creams contain ingredients that nourish the skin.
7. Get Your Greens
While many of us simply want to grab a coffee the moment we wake up in the morning, choosing the right beverages can be a game-changer. Drinking a shot of chlorophyll every morning will brighten, oxygenate, and hydrate your skin.
As an alternative to this drink, chlorophyll supplements can be found at many drugstores and health food stores. Drinking green juices with lots of veggies in them also helps oxygenate the skin and stimulate lymphatic drainage.
8. Maintain a Healthy Diet
Your skin has a natural barrier to retain moisture. Omega-3 fatty acid, which can be found in walnuts or the flax seeds on your salad, can be used as an instant boost to this barrier, increasing your skin’s ability to retain moisture.
9. Wear Sunscreen 365 Days a Year — Indoors or Out
Many people feel they only need to protect themselves when they are outside on sunny days. However, we also need to protect our skin when driving in the car, flying in an airplane, or even while sitting near a window reading a book. It’s daily UV exposure that contributes to the visible signs of aging. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater, and remember to reapply it every two hours.
10. Sleep Smarter
It’s not just about getting eight hours a night. Your skin will also benefit from regularly using clean silk pillowcases, which help prevent the skin’s creasing.
Contact Us to Learn More About Your Professional Skin Care Options
If you have any questions about keeping your skin healthy, feel free to contact a team that’s passionate about patient care and the latest technologies and products. At The Maryland Institute of Plastic Surgery, we’d love to be part of your skincare team.
Please call our practice at (410) 744-0900 to schedule your consultation. You can also reach out and contact us through our website with questions or to request more information.