Banish bad habits

Part of having healthy skin is to let go of harmful habits. Abandon the following skin-ruining routines.

• Go easy on the alcohol. If you prefer to party hard or like to have one too many over the weekend, your skin will suffer. Alcohol can age your skin, making your complexion appear dry, dull, sallow and puffy.
• Quit smoking. Cigarette smoke also leads to premature aging. It decreases blood flow into the body, which inhibits oxygen from reaching the skin. It dries out the skin, impedes the absorption of nutrients, including vitamin A and C, and increases the breakdown of collagen. Not only do you end up looking haggard with a sallow complexion, but you start developing fine lines and wrinkles way too early.

• Stop tanning. The sun is responsible for about 90 to 95 percent of wrinkles, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). In addition to wrinkles, sun exposure also leads to dryness, age spots and discoloration (not to mention skin cancer).

  To protect your skin from premature aging and sun damage, avoid indoor and outdoor tanning. In fact, tanning beds double your risk of skin cancer. Also, spending 15 to 30 minutes in a tanning bed is similar to spending an entire day at the beach, according to The National Women’s Health Resource Center. So tanning beds are just as dangerous as sunbathing.

  A 1994 Swedish study found that women between the ages of 18-30 who used tanning beds 10 times or more a year — compared with women who didn’t — had seven times greater incidence of melanoma, according to AAD. Remember that a tan is harmful to your skin and health.

Adopt good habits

In addition to banishing the above habits, make the following good habits part of your life.

• Start seeing a dermatologist at least once a year. A dermatologist can carefully examine your skin for irregular moles and potential sun damage. Skin cancer has a good prognosis when diagnosed early, so it’s vital to get screened regularly. Also, a dermatologist can help you develop a good skin care routine and prescribe effective treatments.

• Identify your skin type. If you haven’t done so already, find out your skin type and buy products that are formulated for your specific skin care needs. The wrong products don’t just waste your money; they can also worsen your skin.
• Eat well and exercise. Though you know that eating a good diet and working out help your body, you might be surprised to know that these habits are valuable for the skin. For one, make sure you’re getting all your nutrients. Many young women’s diets are deficient in good fats. And their skin shows it, looking dull and dry. So get your daily intake of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Plus, exercise improves your complexion by pumping nutrients and oxygen through the body, helping you sweat out toxins, boosting circulation and relieving your stress.

Build an effective routine

With your skin supple and young, now is the time to adopt a successful routine in order to maintain your complexion.

• Start with cleanser. Look for a gentle face wash designed specifically for your skin type. If your skin is dry, choose milky, creamy cleansers. Oily and combination complexions will benefit from gel washes.

  If you’re prone to breakouts, cleansers with acne-fighting ingredients might be too harsh for your skin. Instead, use a spot treatment on blemishes. Look for ingredients such as salicylic acid, sulfur and benzoyl peroxide (if you have sensitive or dry skin, look for low concentrations of benzoyl peroxide). Another option for banishing breakouts is to use a retinoid cream two or three nights, dermatologist David Bank, M.D., tells O, The Oprah Magazine. He says it not only prevents breakouts but can also “undo some sun damage and boost collagen production.”

• Next, apply toner. Though experts argue whether toner is actually essential, it’s usually a helpful step in your routine. Toner helps to remove any residue from your cleanser and ensures that you’ve also removed all dirt, oil and grime.
• Follow with a moisturizer. Every skin type benefits from a moisturizer, even if your skin is oily.

  • For oily skin, look for a lighter lotion that is “oil-free” and “noncomedogenic” (doesn’t clog pores). For an effective product, check out Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion.
  • For dry skin, apply heavier, “oil-based” creams. Look for ingredients like glycerin, dimethicone and hyaluronic acid. Try Sundari Lavender Moisturizer for Dry Skin.

• Apply sunscreen daily. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, such as Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock Lotion SPF 30, and apply it to all exposed areas, including hands and feet.

  If you want to save time in the morning, choose a moisturizer with sun protection. Murad Energizing Pomegranate Moisturizer SPF 15 is a lightweight, oil-free lotion.

• Exfoliate. Several times a week, incorporate a gentle exfoliating product into your routine to remove dead skin cells.

See also:

Treating Acne When Your Skin Type is Dry or Sensitive

How to Complete Your Skin Care Routine

Affordable Skin Care Review: Creating a Skincare Routine for Under $100

Clearing Bathroom Clutter

The Sensational Power of Scent