Apart from the exorbitant price of cosmetics on the market, the ingredients that some skin care products contain are harmful. So, create your own or go natural is always better. There are plenty of alternatives available. Natural and homemade skin care products are not only safer and effective but also cost-saving comparing to branded beauty products. They are also better sensitive skin.
It is, however, important to remember that any type of skin can be sensitive from time to time. External environmental factors, such as pollutants, weather, diet, and irritants found in some beauty products, can play a role in sensitivity, making the skin tight, irritated, or inflamed.
While you can’t alter the weather, there are simple changes you can make to your skin care routine to help soothe sensitive skin, and prevent unwanted reactions. Caring for your skin will be easy and satisfying if you follow these tips.
Here are 25 skin care tips to beautify your skin at a lower cost, inside out.
- Eat Carotenoid-rich foods
It is more difficult to have a beautiful on an unhealthy diet. That is, your first step on your road to a beautiful skin is to eat healthy. Follow a diet that contains lots of colorful fruits and vegetables, especially fruits and vegetables which are rich in antioxidants. They promote glowing skin, inside out.
Research indicates that carotenoids, these pigments found in carrots, beet, apricots, asparagus, kale, other leafy green vegetables and tomatoes, give the skin a healthy glow when they are consumed regularly.
Remember! When it comes to fruits and vegetables, organic is always better.
- Smile while applying your cream
When you put on your day care, remember to smile excessively. This little facial exercise strengthens the facial tissues and muscles beneath the skin in a very short time, making you look younger and more attractive. Try it, you will be amazed by the results.
- Consider gemmotherapy
This term may be new to most of you. Gemmotherapy is a branch of phytotherapy that uses extract of buds, roots, bark, and other fresh plant tissues to heal the body, facilitate tissue regeneration, and encourage toxin elimination.
For skin care, extracts of macerated buds, which come in small bottles like essential oils, are used. They help to overcome small imperfections. Hawthorn buds, for example, are excellent for calming skin redness thanks to their vasoconstrictor effects. Elm buds are draining, but also purifying. Pour a few drops into the palm of your hand and simply dab your entire face with it.
- Massage the lips
If you find that your mouth is less plump than before, you can make them look fuller without fillers. A simple skin care tip is to make small pinches between the fingers from one corner of the lips to the other for a few minutes.
This special message reactivates the circulation of the blood, makes the mouth more fleshy and more colorful, and strengthen the muscle of the mouth.
- Scrub with a mask
Sometimes the skin firming products you use when you start to notice sagging skin also dry the skin. It is, therefore, recommended to plump the skin regularly with masks. Unless you have extremely sensitive skin, it is advised that you exfoliate with a scrub about twice a week, once a week if you have sensitive skin, to remove dead skin cells, clear the pores and reveal the smoother, fresh skin below.
Choosing the right scrub is important. Exfoliating your skin stimulates it, restores its radiance and improves the effectiveness of creams. Mechanical scrubs contain grains and are perfect for combination skin. Less aggressive are suitable for dry and sensitive skin.
- Take off your makeup before sleeping
Your skin condition may worsen if you do not remove your makeup before falling asleep. A gentle foaming cleanser can help sensitive skin stay fresh and clean at the end of the day.
Worried about dry or tight skin? Use a soap-free cleanser or skin hydrating face wash that will not dry out your skin.
- Facial pinching
Without cream, with all your fingers and without pulling the skin so as not to weaken the supporting fibers, pinch the eyebrows, forehead, temples, cheekbones, cheeks and finally the oval of the face.
The facial pinching exercise is used to reduce puffiness, bags under the eyes, and smooth out wrinkles. It works by stimulating blood flow, and repairing and regenerating the facial skin. It is also believed that the facial pinching method activates the cells in the skin to absorb products more efficiently.
- Protect the skin from the sun
The sun does not need to be at its highest point for the skin to suffer the harmful effects of UVA and UVB rays. In fact, depending on your location, cloudy weather can also damage your skin. To protect your skin, use physical sunscreens which do not have titanium dioxide, a carcinogenic to humans. In this case, prepare your own can be the best option.
Here is a simple homemade sunscreen recipe with aloe vera and coconut oil.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup coconut oil (has an SPF of 7)
- 2 tbsp. powdered zinc oxide.
- 1/4 cup pure aloe vera gel
- 25 drops walnut extract oil
- 1 cup of shea butter.
Instructions: Except the zinc oxide and aloe vera gel, combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan until melt together at medium heat. Let cool for several minutes before stirring in aloe vera gel, and then add the zinc oxide after the solution completely cool down. Mix well to make sure the zinc oxide is distributed throughout.
- Keep your skin cool
Excessive heat can destabilize your skin if they are sensitive. Wash your face with lukewarm water and avoid very hot showers. If you feel like your skin needs to be cooler, put a damp washcloth in the fridge and use it as a cooling compress on the irritated skin.
- Protect your skin against pollution
Every day, environmental pollution can stick to the skin and damage its outer surface including the outermost layer of the epidermis. Over time, these particles build up and eventually irritate the skin and prematurely age it.
The solution is to clean your skin at the start and end of each day, to remove dirt and grime in order to avoid buildup of pollutants. When travelling, have a pack of cleaning wipes with you.
- Increase your intake of antioxidants
Foods rich in antioxidants help the skin fight against free radicals, which can lead to formation of wrinkles, fine lines and age spots. Antioxidant-rich foods must be an essential part of your diet because they have not only a preventive role on aging, by protecting the skin from aggressions, but also a corrective function which helps to repair damage.
I recommend using an antioxidant-rich serum every morning, on its own or before the day cream.
- Consider bar soap
Bar soaps wash very well and they are good for the skin and environment. One of the most controversial debates on showers concerns the use of gel or bar soap. For some reasons, bar soaps are often neglected in favor of liquid soaps, which contain water, and require the use of preservatives including drying chemicals and surfactants.
Bar soaps are sodium hydroxide based; they only contain soap molecules and hydrating glycerin. Yet, some people think they are dirty and full of germs, although no study has ever proven that bacteria thrive on soap bars.
- Stay hydrated
One of the major things to do in order to keep your skin hydrated is hydrating your body. It is therefore crucial to drink adequate water daily, and eat foods rich in water, and drink 100% juice.
Avoid having dry, flaky skin by maintaining a high level of hydration will also help it keep its youthful freshness. A bottle of water on your desk is a great reminder to keep hydrated. In addition, moisturizing your skin twice a day will help balance a sensitive skin.
- Take fish oil supplement daily
Fish oil is rich in Omega-3. This polyunsaturated fatty acid helps soften rough and dry skin and improves its radiance. Omega 3 also has a soothing effect on irritation and inflammation of the skin. But that’s not all! Studies have found that regularly intake of fish oil may boost the skin’s immunity to prevent UV damage and skin cancer.
More than 66 % of people taking fish oil perceive smoother skin texture within 2 weeks. Dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty provides improvement in skin firmness, tonicity and hydration level.
- Perform double make-up removal
Start by removing make-up with oil or a balm to take off the entire makeup, dust and pollution residues. Then perform a second cleansing by massaging the face with your five fingers to restart the blood flow and re-energize the skin: from the chin to the ears, then on the cheeks, between the eyebrows and finally on the forehead.
- Listen to the skin’s internal clock
Like the rest of the body, the skin is subject to the circadian rhythm, during which its needs differ. During the day it defends itself against external aggressions, at night it regenerates itself. Unfortunately, our changing pace of life has meant that we have lost hours of sleep per night
Sleeping 2 hours less per night can impact the ability of the skin to repairing itself. Therefore, if you have sleep problem it is important to help it with a night cream that promotes cell regeneration, and includes omega 3 fatty acid.
- Put on an eye cream
The skin on the eyelids is so thin and delicate that this is where aging is most visible. Time spent shopping the skin care aisles is not wasted time. It is recommended checking the ingredient list for the presence of peptides and antioxidants if the eye cream is to be effective. Or prepare your own.
Here is an effective eye cream recipe for Eye Puffiness and Wrinkles:
Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon vitamin E
- 1 oz pure aloe vera gel
- 1 oz unrefined shea butter
- 1 oz unrefined coconut oil
- 10 drops frankincense essential oil
Directions: In a clean small bowl, mix all of the ingredients together. If you are in cold season and the oils become solid, gently heat them, and then add the rest of the ingredients and blend everything together. Once well blended, transfer into a glass jar. Use it as you please, preferably every morning and night around the eyes.
- Sleep on a silk pillowcase
It is said that the way you sleep can leave lines and marks on your face. Researchers believe this statement is false: A University of Michigan study found that position during sleep had little impact on the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but the fabric of the pillowcase does.
With silk, your face slips, instead of crashing, onto the pillow. Not only will you not have marks, but you will have more comfort. If you want to take care of your skin, go for the silk pillow cases.
- Avoid refined sugar
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests that added sugars in prepared foods should not exceed 10% of total daily calories. Nutritionists aren’t the only ones who cut sugar, dermatologists have long known about the negative effects of sugars on the skin.
Sugar molecules can stiffen collagen, an important protein to the health of the skin. Its reduction in the body, which sugar causes, can lead to skin imperfections, including facial wrinkles.
- Use tomatoes
The expression “have red cheeks like a tomato” refers to the appearance of a healthy person. The connection is obvious: Tomatoes offer a plethora of nutritional benefits. Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. John Layke swears by tomatoes to brighten skin, diminish age spots and fade marks. This is because tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.
Eat a tomato every day and you can have naturally pink cheeks and glowing skin. It is, however, important to consider organic or non-GMO tomatoes.
- Take nutritional supplements
Poor nutrition can lead to skin problem the same as unhealthy diet. Take multivitamins and minerals which contain vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, antioxidants, and enzymes that help restore the youthfulness of the skin. These nutrients can revitalize your skin and make it look brighter and younger. In tablets, capsules, granules or energy bars, plant based skin supplements can work wonders for those who are too busy to follow a special diet.
Dermatologist Robin Evans who teaches at Albert Einstein Faculty of Medicine tells us: “Every morning I take fish oils (1500 mg EPA and DHA), flaxseed oil which helps to hydrate my dry skin and flax seeds for their anti-inflammatory effect. All three supplements are good for hydration and health of the skin, and they counter aging.
- Avoid hot showers
It can be a disappointment if you love hot steam, but very hot water does your skin a disservice. It removes your natural oils, brings more blood to the surface, which can cause inflammatory reactions (rashes), worsens eczema and dry patches.
Instead, In the summer, regularly take cold showers. After exposure to the sun, showering with hot water will dry the skin even more, causing more skin damage. And then, heavy sweating promotes acne breakouts. Lower the water temperature to cool off and heal your skin during the summer months.
- Try retinoids
There is not enough emphasis on sing retinoids in daily skin care. Dermatologists give them almost unanimous devotion. There are countless studies that prove the ability of retinoids to speed up cell replacement, boost collagen growth, decrease pigment production, treat acne, and protect against skin cancer.
New York dermatologist Joyce Park recommends “taking a topical retinoid like tretinoin or Differin. They are derivatives of vitamin A that treat acne, lighten dark spots and promote the replenishment of collagen in order to prevent aging of the skin.
- Don’t smoke
Everyone knows smoking cause cancer and respiratory problems, but few are aware that smoking causes the skin to age prematurely. Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow and makes skin paler. The unhealthy habit also depletes the skin of oxygen and essential nutrients it needs to function properly.
Smoking also damages collagen and elastin, protein that gives the skin strength and elasticity, and helps it return to its original position when it is poked or pinched. The repetitive facial expressions people make when smoking also contributes to wrinkles. Worst, smoking increases your risk of developing squamous cell skin cancer. If you smoke and want to have a beautiful skin, you need to quit smoking.
- Go back to basics
When it comes to sensitive skin, simplicity is essential. When choosing your cleanser, forget about harmful ingredients, fragrances and dyes. If you want the best facial cleanser for sensitive skin, go for soothing, gentle dry skin products that will help your skin balance its natural pH level.
Excessive cleaning is harmful. You’re not looking for impeccable cleanliness — you just want a gently cleansed and refreshed skin. Simplify your skin care routine with natural products, homemade or not, which contain skin-loving ingredients. You will have the feeling of a clean and hydrated skin.
