Skincare can be whittled down to a simple 4 step process that, when followed consistently, will help your skin look young and healthy but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for some tweaking along the way. Little changes can have big results so we thought we would pass along six simple but surprising tips for better skin that have recently caught our attention:
1. Sleeping on Silk Pillowcases is Better for Your Skin than Cotton Ones. Apart from feeling like you’ve landed in an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, silk pillow cases have an advantage over their cotton cousins in that they cause fewer pillow creases on the face. Before you deem this trivial, consider this: silk allows moisture to remain in the skin versus wicking it away like cotton, thus leaving skin more hydrated and less prone to wrinkles and creases forming. Add the fact that some specialized silk fabrics have antimicrobial properties that may benefit those who suffer from eczema and other skin irritations and silk is a clear winner.
2. You’re Never Too Young to Start on an Anti-aging Regimen. Collagen production begins to slow down sometime in our 20’s, much earlier than we are ready to think about it! The rate of decrease is consistently at approximately 1% per year but escalates once we hit menopause in our late 40’s. Although using skin care products that are known to be anti-aging may seem premature in our 20’s, it’s never too early to start preventive measures. Apothekari A is for Anti-Aging Retinal Serum is the perfect retinoid to start with as it is effective yet gentle.
3. Washing Your Face in the Shower May Dry Out Your Skin. We’re all for multi-tasking and being as time-efficient as possible, but did you know washing your face in the shower may actually be working against you? We tend to turn up the temperature of the water in the shower, especially in the winter, which can dehydrate the skin. Instead, cleanse the face at the sink using lukewarm or warm water which won’t rob your skin of moisture.
4. Cleaning Off Your Cell Phone May Prevent Breakouts. If you’ve noticed an increase in acne on the side of the face or the chin area, your cell phone may be the culprit. Our hands carry countless germs and bacteria, and although we already try to keep our hands off the face, we’ve become blasé about our phones which can pick up dirt and bacteria from our hands, friends’ hands, pockets, purses and other surfaces that they come into contact with on a regular basis.
5. Using an Oil-based Cleanser Can Actually Help Oily Skin. For the most part, people are still under the impression that oily complexions need to stay far away from any oil-based product and that the only way to clean the face is using a strong soap to strip away excess oil. Unfortunately, this only sends a message to the oil glands to bump up production. The latest theory for controlling oily skin is by starting off with a water-soluble oil-based cleanser with the belief that like attracts like. The oil molecules in the cleanser are able to latch onto the excess oil and get rinsed away before they can clog pores. Follow up with a foaming cleanser to remove any residue or leftover dirt.
6. Getting a Good Night’s Sleep on a Regular Basis Contributes Significantly to Healthier, Younger-looking Skin. Okay, so this tip is not surprising nor is it always simple but in our fast-paced world where we will think we can fix anything with a cream, pill or treatment, we often forget that there’s no substitute for being well-rested.
