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Clear Skin, Happy Life: 4 Tips to Make Your Skin Glow

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UFL chapter.

 

There is nothing more exciting than a giant zit right before crush week. Not. Of course our skin knows the exact time and date to become a minefield. Thankfully, there is a lot you can do to stop this from happening to you without the use of expensive and hazardous products. Here are four tips to give your skin the glow it deserves:

Moisturize while your skin is still wet 
Hot water will damage your skin. There is no way to get around this fact. The hot steam in your shower will dry out your skin similar to that of getting sunburn. The best thing to do to counteract this damage is to moisturize your skin while it is still wet – as soon as you get out of the shower. The water on your skin helps the moisturizer work more effectively and it enables the healing to last all day long. Moisturized skin is happy skin, and it is less likely to break out.

Use real soap, and do it while you shower 
Things people don’t like to talk about: back-acne. It happens, and it’s limiting your life. If you don’t want to wear that super cute tank because it’s going to show the ick on your back and shoulders, the best way to battle this is to take a good, old-fashioned no-nonsense shower.  Don’t buy expensive scented soaps that claim to keep your skin 10 times softer than the next leading brand. Something simple like Irish Springs will clean the grit and excess oils off your skin and leave you smelling like the Old Country. Don’t forget to wash your face! Paired with after shower moisturizing, it’ll keep your skin clean, clear, and manageable.

Wash your hair frequently 
I know it takes forever to flatiron, curl, or blow dry your hair, but your head is a giant grease trap. The more time you spend living, the more oils and gunk your hair collects. These oils make their way onto your face and back resulting in breakouts. The best way to stop this is to wash your hair frequently. If you don’t want to ruin your hairdo, use a dry shampoo. TRESemmé makes one that smells amazing and will get rid of the excess oils in your hair between normal washes. Also, remember that brushing will release more oils than combing, so be sure to comb your hair if you’re not planning on washing it for a while.

Watch what you’re eating 
You wouldn’t put orange juice in your coffee just because it’s “close enough.” The same is true with your body. If you put the right things into your body, you’ll see the right results. This is just as true for your skin as it is for your waistline. Greasy foods, fatty foods, and things high in sugar all mess with your skin. Make sure to eat leafy, dark greens, things high in vitamins A, C, and D, and drink lots of water and milk. These natural antioxidants help protect your skin from unstable molecules called free radicals. Put the right fuel in your body, and you’ll get clear skin in return.

Taking care of your skin can be really easy if you make some simple life changes. In the long run, it’ll benefit your skin, your health, and your wallet!

Sources:
http://www.decisivemagazine.com/true-heart-healthy-eating 
http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Natural-Beauty

Journalism major with a minor in education. Currently a copywriter for Infinite Energy. Twitter handle: @DiadysFig
Cara oversees Her Campus Media's community department and serves as strategic lead for the expansion, development and management of all HCM communities, including the Her Campus Chapter Network, InfluenceHer Collective, College Fashionista, Spoon University, Campus Trendsetters, alumni and high school. She works closely with company leadership to develop new community-related sales offerings and the Integrated Marketing team to support all community-focused client marketing programs from end to end. Cara has experience working with high-profile talent, such as Jessica Alba, Andrew Yang, Amber Tamblyn, Aja Naomi King, Troian Bellisario, Jessica Marie Garcia, Nico Tortorella, Nastia Liukin, Rebecca Minkoff, Cecile Richards and Samantha Power, as well as brands like Coca-Cola, L'Oréal Paris, The New York Times, HBO, Uber, H&M and more. Having been a part of the HC family since 2011, Cara served as Campus Correspondent of the HC chapter at the University of Florida where she studied journalism, women’s studies and leadership. A New Yorker turned Floridian, Cara has a Friends quote for any situation. You can usually find her with her friends and family at the beach, a concert or live sports event or binge-watching Grey's Anatomy or Sons of Anarchy. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @thecararose.