10 Quick skincare tips

Skincare Tips

I am often asked what would be my top 10 tips to achieving and maintaining the best skin possible. I have to admit that there are so many and I am so fickle that my response to this question would probably be different every day! I am also not the biggest fan of ‘ranking’ advice, and I don’t even like this sort of list (what am I doing?!) but disregarding all this, I thought I would post a quick list of ten top tips to keep your skin soft and healthy!

1. Regulate the exposure your skin gets to the sun. Try to use a good quality sunscreen and avoid exposure to the sun when it is at its peak around midday. If you must be out in direct sunlight during the summer, try and wear a hat and keep in the shade between 10am and 2pm.
2. Quit smoking. There is no way I could overplay this one. Smoking dries the skin and really reduces circulation, which is extremely important for healthy skin. If you smoke, you will be reducing the amount of oxygen rich blood which reaches your skin and this can leave you looking drawn and grey.
3. Try to limit stress. Stress can affect many areas of your life, often in ways that you would not have thought possible. If you are under stress you will be more likely to developspots, boils and blemishes.
4. Make sure you get enough sleep and rest. A hectic lifestyle can be maintained if you make sure you still get rest when you need it.
5. Make sure you eat well and have a balanced nutritious diet. If you eat too many fatty foods and your diet is not balanced, your circulation and other bodily functions may be less efficient and this can affect your skin too.
6. Remember the ‘forgotten’ areas of skin which may actually need more attention than they often receive. Remember to moisturise your elbows, neck and heels, and don’t forget to put sunscreen on your scalp and feet if they are exposed to the sun at all.
7. Stop picking at it!! Keep your hands well washed and off your face as much as possible. The more you pull, pick and squeeze at a spot or blemish, the more likely it will form scar tissue. Use products where necessary, but you should realise the skin has a phenomenal ability to self-regulate, and often less is more! Everything in moderation here is a key point- moisturisers and exfoliators are often overused, which can actually end up damaging your skin.
8. If you wear make-up, keep it clean. Make sure you ditch dirty pads and sponges for clean ones, and factor in this practice when deciding your budget for cosmetics.
9. Exercise regularly. Exercise will improve your circulation and if you keep clean and healthy in your diet too this can have profound effects on your skin.
10. Keep it simple. Whilst it is true many skincare products contain valuable compounds for maintaining healthy skin, lathering on every conceivable concotion means it is far more unpredictable if there will be any reaction between the various elements of each one. Keep your skincare routine straightforward, and never apply products just for the sake of it.