Have you ever felt that there are times where your skin needs a detox? I recently got back from a gateway week in Goa where I just did not take the best care of my skin—constant exposure to the sun with no reapplication of sunscreen (I know, I know, it’s sin), bingeing all the fried calamari there was, indulgence in my favourite cocktails and so on… You get the drill, right?
Naturally so by the time I got back to the bay my skin (and body) really needed some R&R. But I didn’t really fret because, with the right regime and skincare ritual, our skin has the capability to bounce back within a fortnight! All you have to do is be committed and stay on the right path without straying… Scroll below for my 7 key practices to ensure better skin in 14-20 days!
1. Wash your bed sheets & pillowcase
The 8 or 9 hours of shut-eye that one gets at night is usually when your skin works in overdrive and starts to repair itself. And even though you religiously wash and sleep with no makeup on, there are sweat glands and other bacteria that can transfer to and from your pillowcase. So it’s essential to wash your pillow regularly to avoid skin flare-ups and acne build-up.
2. Use a cleanser
First up, let me start by saying that you do not need an expensive cleanser to have good skin. Cleansing is basically washing off the gunk from within the pores so that they are no longer congested and blocked with dirt and sebum (that does eventually leads to blackheads and acne), and you get a clean canvas for layering your other skincare actives over.
3. SPF
The most basic and important thing you can do for your skin is to wear SPF. Sunscreen can be the deciding factor with how your skin ages. UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin which then leads to wrinkle formation and aged skin. Be sure to apply at least SPF 30 10-15 minutes before leaving your house.
4. Roll your way
While there is a lot of buzz surrounding how efficient and efficient facial tools are, I can truly say that don’t knock it ’till you’ve tried it! Personally, I love the Gua Sha and other high-frequency facial tools that allows the skin to feel like it just worked out, also boosts lymphatic drainage and re-energises and firms the skin.
5. Use a sleeping mask
Overnight masks (aka sleeping masks) are essentially designed to help certain ingredients from the product penetrate deeply into the skin as you sleep. And TBH, what better time to make use of your “beauty sleep” than with sleep mask on? Look out for rich and creamy formulas with these products that help seep into the skin easily but hydrate and nourish it for the 6 or 8 hours while you snooze.
6. Take your vitamins
Vitamins are a great source of getting those added nutrients into our bodies. Certain vitamins help to heal and strengthen different parts of the body. And just like we need these essentials vitamins for our bones, muscles and immune systems, we need to think about vitamins like A, B, C and E for our skin as well.
7. Drink up
One the most important, effective and naturally available thing you can do for yourself is to drink water! I kid you not, the way your skin (and bowels) will thank you, is unlike any other gift you’ll receive. Drinking 7-8 glasses of water a day can help the body flush out all the toxins, giving you healthier-looking skin. Studies have also shown that it’s because it helps increase blood flow to the skin, which is the reason for giving you that even skin tone and glow.
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