The holiday season has arrived and with it comes themed parties, pie, pretty lights and all sorts of wonderful traditions. In the midst of all this bustle, you may notice that your skin’s looking a little dull or uneven. No worries, ladies! You’ll have your face glowing again in no time. Here are some easy (and cheap!) ways to get through the coming season, exams and all, while maintaining facial perfection.
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1. Exfoliate
No matter what is plaguing your face–blackheads, whiteheads, post-breakout scars–exfoliation helps fix it. Girls have a natural inclination to get heavy-handed with the moisturizer in winter, but failure to exfoliate prevents that hydration from breaking through the barrier of clogged pores and dead skin cells to do its job. Remember that expensive doesn’t always mean better. There are even great products available at your nearest drug store. Don’t be fooled the grand promises and airbrushed models on the boxes, and stick with the brands you already use and trust. To achieve beautiful, smooth and supple skin, you need to find best exfoliator for your skin type and use it faithfully.
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2. Reduce Sugar Intake
You’ve heard it before, and here it is again. Sugar consumption is linked to acne breakouts, so cut back on sugar and watch the pimples disappear. How is this possible during the season of cupcakes, pumpkin pies and decorated cookies? As we all get into the spirit of the season of giving, glittering bowls filled with candy and other delectables will be everywhere you go. Don’t be afraid to just say no! These little treats add up faster than you think, and before you know it, your face is paying the price. If you feel your sweet tooth calling, answer it with something worthwhile–a slice of something filling that will satisfy your sweet tooth until the next great dessert comes along.
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3. Drink Water
You might think you drink plenty of water, but do you really? Water helps detoxify the body, maintain metabolism and balance hormones. All of these benefits lead to clear, fabulous skin. And water is actually pretty filling. It’s certainly not a replacement for real food, but adding water to your diet can help reduce hunger and prevent you from indulging in a second helping of zit-inducing dessert. So how much water do you need? The Mayo Clinic recommends around 2.2 liters, approximately nine cups, for women per day. It sounds like a lot, but investing in a reusable water bottle (aluminum is best) that you can carry around with you makes the daily quota much easier to meet.
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4. Wash Pillowcases and Blankets
This usually isn’t your first instinct when you find a new pimple, but maybe it should be. Think about it – we not only sleep on our beds, often times we also eat on them, study on them, and use them as sofas when our friends visit. That invites a whole host of germs we lack the ability to detect, until the result shows themselves on our faces. What can you do? Keep an extra pillowcase and blanket on hand, and rotate them out at least once a week, putting the used ones with the rest of the laundry. You’ll notice the difference immediately, especially if you have sensitive or oily skin.Â
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5. Hands Off!
Avoid touching your face under all circumstances! Your hands are your body’s most interactive germ hot spots. They come into contact with doorknobs that thousands of other people have grasped, foods that other people have handled, etc. Now imagine touching your face with those extra toxins. This can single-handedly undo all previous strides to correct your skin! So if your stress tick is running a hand over your face in frustration, don’t do it. If you must touch your face, at least wash your hands first!