International Women's Day is a day meant to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women around the world. While women should be appreciated and celebrated every day, March 8 is annually regarded as the day to acknowledge women’s triumphs over the past many years.
Women across the globe are making their mark in every field. While women continue to multitask in all speres of life and juggle multiple responsibilities, selfcare often takes a backseat.
Skin is the largest organ of a human’s body. A poor lifestyle first shows on your skin. This International Women's Day, skincare should become an integral part of your selfcare ritual.
A good skincare routine helps you relax and revive from all the damage done by various environmental stressors. However, there are certain skincare Dos and Don’ts that you must keep in mind to attain that healthy, glowing skin. Let’s look at those in detail.
Do's For Healthy Skin
Here’s a list of all the things you should start doing as a part of your International Women's Day skincare plan to get healthy glowing skin:
1. Cleanse: Whether you’ve applied makeup or not, always cleanse your face thoroughly to remove dirt and oil from your skin.
2. Moisturise: Irrespective of your skin type, always use a moisturiser to keep your skin soft and supple. You can even use a BB cream if you want the nourishment along with some tint.
3. Protect: Always use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and PA++ to protect your skin from sun damage. Layer it in intervals if you’re planning to stay out in the sun for a long time.
4. Exfoliate: Use a gentle exfoliator to get rid of the dead skin cells on your face and body. This will leave your skin looking smooth and healthy for longer.
5. Repair: Use appropriate products to repair skin damage and protect it from further damage. This could also include the use of anti-ageing products.
6. Balanced Diet: Always follow a balanced diet with all the required nutrients for healthy and glowing skin. This will also give you healthier hair.
7. Stay Hydrated: Keep your skin hydrated and plump by drinking a lot of water and using the right moisture-retaining products such as the ones with Hyaluronic Acid.
8. Sleep Well: Get at least 8 hours of sleep so that your skin can repair itself overnight. It can also reduce stress and inflammation, leading to healthier skin.
9. Manage Stress: Life can be stressful. Indulge in practices such as Yoga and meditation and try to spend some time in nature every day to effectively cope with stress.
10. Exercise Regularly: Physical movement increases blood flow, which in turn reduces stress and helps you get that healthy, glowing skin. Try to incorporate any form of exercise a few times a week.
Don'ts For Healthy Skin
Talking of skin care Dos and Don’ts, there are things you absolutely shouldn’t do, if you want to achieve enviable skin.
1. Avoid Smoking: Smoking not only damages your lungs but also leads to premature ageing and skin damage. So don’t smoke if you want healthier skin and a healthier life in general.
2. Stop Drinking Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption leads to dehydrated skin that catches wrinkles and fine lines faster. So, for healthy skin either reduce your consumption, or stop it all together.
3. Avoid Harsh Skincare Products: Harsh skincare products such as soaps or creams with high concentration of chemical ingredients can strip your skin of its natural oils, cause irritation or damage the skin barrier.
4. Never Skip Sunscreen: Don’t forget to protect your skin form the harmful UV rays. Apply sunscreen during daytime even if you don’t plan to step out of the house.
5. Don’t Sleep with Makeup On: Never sleep with makeup on your face. This will not only clog your pores but will also irritate your skin, causing breakouts. Always wipe off your makeup and cleanse your face before sleeping.
6. Don’t Pick at Your Skin: Picking at your skin or popping pimples will leave you with scars and spread bacteria, leading to further breakouts.
7. Avoid Touching Your Face: Even if you don’t pick at your face, simply touching it repeatedly can also lead to the spread of bacteria and oil, which will be another reason for breakouts and irritation.
8. Don’t Exfoliate Frequently: While exfoliation is an extremely important step in skincare, don’t overdo it as it can damage your skin and cause irritation.
9. Don't Forget Your Neck and Décolletage: People often forget to apply their skincare products on neck and décolletage. These are the spots that show early sign of ageing and damage. Apply your skincare products on these spots after you’re done caring for the face.
10. Don’t Neglect Your Skin: Managing multiple things and a busy schedule can lead to women neglecting their skin and its needs. Consistency is the secret behind healthy skin. Once you start with a skincare plan, stick to it and do it consistently.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are some natural ways to take care of my skin?
Some natural ways to take care of your skin are as follows:
a. Use aloe vera gel for its anti-inflammatory and moisturising properties. Apply and leave it on your skin for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.
b. Mix coffee grounds with coconut oil to create a natural exfoliant that gets you smoother, brighter skin. Apply, massage, and wash it off with lukewarm water.
c. Use apple cider vinegar after diluting it with water to reduce redness and irritation while revealing a glowing, acne-free skin.
d. Eat healthy, non-processed food and drink lots of water.
e. Get enough sleep and maintain a healthy, stress-free lifestyle.
2. Can certain foods cause acne?
While there is no definitive proof of a direct connection between acne and your food consumption, many studies claim that our diet does impact acne. Some foods that may trigger or worsen your existing acne are white bread, sugary drinks, processed snacks, dairy products, fried and greasy foods.
You can either completely avoid these or at least reduce their consumption to see an improvement in your skin condition. However, if you already have acne, along with lifestyle and dietary changes, you’ll also have to use products designed for acne prone skin to see a visible effect on your skin.
3. How often should I exfoliate my skin?
It is generally advised to exfoliate your skin once or twice a week, but the frequency can vary based on your skin type and sensitivity. People with sensitive skin may want to exfoliate less frequently or use a gentler exfoliant. Meanwhile, people with oily or acne-prone skin may need to exfoliate more frequently to unclog pores and remove excess oil. Start exfoliating your skin once or twice a week and adjust the frequency according to your skin’s reaction to it.
5.0
(6)
4.8
(5)