Once upon a time, not everyone cared about skincare. In fact, water was enough to cleanse their skin. Fast forward to today, and the cosmetic industry is among the fast-rising industries in the world, making it worth $460 billion and giving it a growth rate of 6.4 percent per year.

Apparently, not all skincare products can guarantee you healthier skin. If you want to minimize the possible side effects from unknown and hard-to-pronounce ingredients, you might want to re-evaluate what you use and do to your skin.

Here are 15 healthy skin tips you should know and include in your daily routine:

1. Get to Know the Amazing Benefits of Sleep for Skin Health

How much sleep are you getting every night? If you often get five hours or less of sleep, then it’s not surprising that your skin will suffer.

Sleep allows your body, including your skin to recover from the daily abuses. It allows you to clear your skin and improve your overall skin health. This follows that lack of sleep could increase your body’s inflammatory response, which could worsen any existing skin conditions and leads to acne breakouts.

That is not all. Lack of sleep breaks down collagen and hyaluronic acid in your skin, two crucial components in keeping your skin healthy and glowing. It could also lead to poor water balance; hence the birth of puffy bags under your eyes. Lack of sleep could accelerate skin aging as well.

Therefore, get at least six to eight hours of sleep every night to allow your skin to rest and recover. No wonder it is called “beauty sleep” for a reason.

2. The Powerful Effects of Exercise on Your Skin

Are you serious about getting healthier skin? Then make sure you exercise as much as you can. In fact, this is one of the best skin care tips you will come across when it comes to taking care of your skin.

You might ask why.

Exercise gets your heart pumping. This means you are able to supply your skin with a good amount of oxygenated blood; hence the glow. It also minimizes cortisol, a stress hormone responsible for wrinkling your skin and increasing sebum production. This leads to acne breakouts and breakdown of collagen that encourages skin sagging.

Choose a workout or any physical activity you fancy and make sure to stick to it. You will say hello to healthier skin – and hair – in no time.

You’re just getting started. Stick around and find out more healthy face skin tips to make you look younger as ever.

3. Drink Your Way to Better and Healthier Skin

There is a reason why your grandmother always tells you to drink eight glasses of water every day. Aside from keeping you hydrated, drinking water, or at least any of its healthy alternatives, is good for your skin, because it:

• Increases blood flow to your skin.
• Keeps your skin plump, thereby minimizing the appearance of wrinkles on your skin.
• Helps in the formation of collagen, a crucial component in your skin.
• Maintains plumpness and elasticity in your skin to minimize cracking and blemishes.
• Balances oil and water levels in your skin to minimize acne breakouts.

This explains why hydration is and will always be part every healthy skin tips list. You should also include this in your list of acne tips as well. Drink eight to 10 glasses of water every day and keep your skin happy. Don’t forget to add herbal teas, as well.

4. Eat Your Way to Healthier Skin with These Proven Skin-Friendly Foods

Sleep, hydration, and regular exercise can help in keeping your skin healthy and young again. Apparently, these three techniques are not enough. If you want an extra boost, then keep this advice in mind: eat healthy.

Food plays an important role in the health and status of your skin. If you want to keep your skin in tiptop shape, here are foods you should include in your healthy skin diet:

• Olive oil
• Tomatoes
• Green tea
• Nuts and seeds
• Leafy green vegetables
• Soy
• Eggs
• Carrots

Most of these foods contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that give your skin a boost. The next time you go to the grocery, make sure to add these foods on the list.

Consequently, try to avoid the following:

• Sugar
• Dairy
• Coffee and other caffeinated drinks

Apart from these foods, there is another food group you need to add on your list of healthy skin diet.

5. Four Amazing Reasons Why You Need to Eat Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Salmon, sardines, and mackerel – what do they have in common? Aside from having the same natural habitat, these foods are rich in omega-3, which is essential for your skin. One study revealed adding omega-3-rich fish makes you less prone to sun-induced lesions called actinic keratoses.

You should eat more fatty fish for these four reasons, because it:

• Fights wrinkles by supporting your skin’s collagen structure.
• Keeps your skin hydrated by keeping the moisture in and irritants out of your skin.
• Has anti-inflammatory properties that help protect your skin against the sun and free radicals that could compromise your skin’s health.
• Evens your skin tone and keeps your skin clear and healthy.

You can get your dose of omega-3 from fatty fishes like salmon, tuna and sardines. Chia seeds, kidney beans, spinach, walnuts and flaxseed are also excellent sources of this nutrient.

Since there was already a mention of the sun, make sure to check out this next tip.

6. Avoid the Sun: One of the Most Effective Ways to Achieve Healthier Skin

Tans may look cool and fun, but the truth is, they could do skin damage in many ways. You may not experience the effects now, but as you get older, the effects of sun exposure will manifest in the form of age spots, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and worse, skin cancer.

If you want to get that healthy skin, then remember this: take it easy with Mr. Sun. Sun exposure may be unavoidable, but don’t use it as an excuse to go out unprotected. Here are a few tips on how to protect your skin against the sun’s harmful UV rays:

• Stay indoors between 10 in the morning and three in the afternoon where the sun’s UV rays are at their strongest.
• Consider sun-protective clothing.
• When heading outdoors, keep your skin protected using wide-brimmed hat and clothing that covers your skin.
• Go for sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection and at least SPF 30.
• Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out.
• Wear sunscreen at all times, regardless of the weather.
• If you are staying outdoors longer, make sure to re-apply sunscreen every two hours.

The bottom line is do not trust the sun too much. It may be the best source of vitamin D, but make sure you know how to play the game to get the most out of it wisely. In case you are wondering, this is also one of the best healthy skin tips for black skin.

7. Several Ways Smoking Ruins Your Skin – Plus Tips on How to Quit the Habit

Did you know that more than 480,000 Americans die due to smoking every year? Aside from its harmful effects on your skin, smoking also directly affects your skin by producing:

• Bags under the eyes.
• Stains on your teeth and fingers.
• Premature aging, like wrinkles and sagging.
• Bad breath and smelly fingers.
• Longer times for wound healing, which encourages scarring.
• Warts and other skin problems.

Smoking affects proper blood supply in your skin, a characteristic that is crucial in keeping your skin supple and healthy. It also depletes the nutrients in your body, which could help in keeping your skin glowing. If you want to prevent these circumstances from happening, here are tips that could help you quit the habit:

• Set your quit date – and make sure to stick to it.
• Inform the people around you about your intention to quit so you could have someone to remind you of your plan.
• Stay away from any situations that will encourage you to smoke.
• Get rid of cigarettes and other smoking paraphernalia in your car, bedroom, or even in your office drawer.
• Look for healthier alternatives after meals, such as walking.

It is challenging at first, but as long as you keep your eyes on the prize, you can surely do it.

Now that you know the many lifestyle changes, you can do for healthier skin, read the succeeding sections for simple and effective skin-specific tips to keep your skin healthy and glowing.

8. The Importance Knowing Your Skin Type First Before Moisturizer Shopping

Moisturizing is an important step in every skincare routine. It keeps your skin hydrated, locks in the moisture to prevent water loss, and makes your skin smooth and soft. It also minimizes the formation of wrinkles and is refreshing on your skin.

Here is the thing: there is a specific type of moisturizer for every skin type. If you have oily skin, make sure to go for oil-free moisturizers while dry skin needs essential oils to help revive your skin. If you are prone to any skin irritations, make sure to choose a moisturizer that are paraben-free, oil-free and hypoallergenic.

On the other hand, combination skin requires heavier cream on your cheeks and something light and oil-free for your T-zone area. If you are one of the few with normal skin, any moisturizers will do, as long as it maintains hydration in your skin.

9. Clean Your Makeup Brushes to Avoid Transferring Bacteria on Your Face

Here is the bad news: your makeup brushes contain tons of bacteria – and you might be transferring them on your face. The good news you can prevent this from happening.

Here are tips on how to clean your makeup brushes:

• Wash the bristles under water. Make sure that you do not wet the handle of the brush to avoid loosening the glue.
• Swipe the makeup brush in gentle soap then rinse again.
• Squeeze the water out then let it dry.

Easy, don’t you think? It will only take few minutes of your time, so make sure you do not skip this step. You do not want to transfer the bacteria on your face, do you?

Aside from your makeup brushes, you often use something that you need to clean too. Read the next section to learn more about it.

10. Your Phone is a Bearer of Tons of Bacteria, So Clean It

Yes, you read that right. Despite the convenience it brings, your phone contains tons of germs, bacteria, and even feces that you might be transferring on your face.

Therefore, one of the healthy face tips you need to keep in mind is to keep your phone as clean as possible. How will you do it?

Here are various ways on how to keep your phone as clean as possible:

• Combine alcohol and water in 40-to-60 mixture and use a damp cloth or cotton swab to clean the phone, except the touch screen.
• Try iKlear, a smart phone cleaner that removes bacteria and germs on your phone.
• Use scotch tape to get rid of the fingerprints and dirty crevices on the screen. Still, this won’t remove bacteria on your phone.
• Consider a PhoneSoap Charger, which sanitizes, cleans and charges your phone all at the same time.

The bottom line is keep your phone clean and your skin will surely be happy. Since you are in the topic of how to keep everything clean and sanitized, make sure to check out this next advice for healthier skin.

11. Avoid Transferring Germs and Bacteria on Your Face by Keeping Your Hands Away from It

Admit it. You are often tempted to pick your pimples the first time they appeared on your face. Apparently, your face is among the most sensitive parts of your body. Therefore, it is imperative to keep it clean and avoid any form of bacteria on it at all times.

Check out these tips to help you prevent touching your face plus techniques you can do in case you need to do so:

• Wash your hands. Keep your fingernails short and clean.
• Every time you feel the urge to touch your face, do your best to keep your hands busy.
• Wash your hands, especially when there is a need to touch it.
• Do not put your hands on your face.
• Make a sign on your bedroom or bathroom to remind you not to touch your face.
• Remember that picking your pimples could lead to acne scarring. This is why one of the healthy skin tips for acne is to avoid picking and pricking pimples.

So, will you still touch your face? There are few more healthy skin tips you should remember, so make sure you read until the end.

12. Long, Hot Showers: One of the key Ingredients in Damaging Your Skin

Do you want to make your skin dull and dry? Take long, hot showers.

Hot showers affect your epidermis or the outermost layer of your skin. Your epidermis is loaded with keratinocytes, a type of substance that helps your skin retain moisture and at the same time, offers tough defense against the harmful elements that make your skin dull, dry and damaged.

That’s not all. Taking hot showers also strips off your skin’s stratum corneum, a layer in your skin that contains oil and skin cells. This layer gets a hard beating when you take hot showers; hence dry skin.

Take it easy on hot showers and read the following showering tips for healthy skin:

 

• Keep your showers short, preferably maximum of 10 minutes.
• Use lukewarm water for showering.
• Go for gentle cleansers to protect your skin’s natural moisture barrier.
• Pat, not rub, yourself dry then apply a moisturizer after.

Some recommend limiting showering to even once a week, but it is all up to you. The important thing is to remember these showering tips. After all, you need to get rid of the dirt and bacteria on your skin, which leads you to this next tip.

13. Get to Know the Proper Way on How to Cleanse Your Face

Remember this: good skin starts with having a clean face. The question is how often should you do it?

Here is how:

• Remove any form of makeup before cleansing your face.
• Choose a cleanser that is suitable for your skin type.
• Use your fingertips to lightly massage and at the same time, cleanse your face.
• Go for lukewarm water during cleansing.
• Wipe your face using a clean towel.

Keep in mind that over-washing your face not only damages your skin but also will not do anything good to it at all. Take note of these facial cleansing tips to make your skin young and supple as ever.

14. Get Your Daily Dose of Vitamin C to Keep Your Skin Healthy

The truth is your body needs enough nutrients to keep it healthy. When it comes to this goal, vitamin C will always be helpful.

Here’s how vitamin C helps your skin:

• Contains potent antioxidants that prevent your skin from going through premature aging.
• Makes your skin look younger by evening your skin tone, improving your skin’s hydration, and revitalizing your skin’s surface.
• Keeps your skin firm.

You can always rely on vitamin C-rich fruits like lemon and orange for your dose of this vitamin. Otherwise, you can try products infused with vitamin C, such as Allure Plus to treat problem areas in your skin.

15. Change Your Sheets, It Might Be Causing Your Acne Breakouts

After a tiring day, all you want to do is to lie down on your bed and get a good night sleep. Unfortunately, your bed can be a haven for bacteria, dirt, and oil that could cause your breakouts.

What should you do?

Changing your sheets daily can be impractical and costly. Nonetheless, it helps if you change your sheets at least once a week or your pillowcases every three days to prevent lying and lurking on dirt and oil. Invest in bed sheets and pillowcases made of natural fabrics because they are more able to breathe better and transfer less oil on your skin.

Hope you enjoyed reading this post, which is written in contribution with Vogue Wellness.