9 Ways to Take Care of Your Skin and Look Naturally Flawless – Without Products

Beauty products don’t always solve our skin needs. Sometimes, it’s what we do on the inside of the body that matters more.

With the beauty industry and social media putting some heavy emphasis on purchasing products, you might feel at a loss with your 15-step skincare routine. Don’t despair, there ways you can look after your skin without the use of beauty products.

Beauty expert and reporter for the NY Times Jessica DeFino said in a recent interview with Mind Body Green, “We keep buying more, wanting more, trying new things, and applying new things because we’re searching for this satisfaction that cannot come solely from the physical. We’re searching for beauty in an industry that is only serving it to us by its definition.”

Of course, beauty products still have their place in our lives. Especially when we need a good scrub and cleanse to remove dirt, grime and help keep skin nourished and well maintained. However, we shouldn’t just be relying on what goes on the outside of the skin. 

You’ve heard the saying you are what you eat. But have you also heard of you are what you think? Beauty is a matter of perception after all. If you think you’re beautiful, does that not reflect on how you feel? 

A good example of this, is when we have our good days and our bad days. How do you feel when you look in the mirror on a good day? Compare that to how you feel when you look in the mirror on a bad day. 

I know on my good days, I feel unstoppable, empowered, and ready to face whatever comes my way. On the bad days, I want to stay home, not talk to anyone and wish the world would just leave me alone. The hard part is finding out the reason why you woke to a bad day in the first place. 

Most likely, it’s the result of eating bad food, a little too much wine the night before, not enough sleep, and hardly drinking any water.

Jessica also said in her interview, “It’d be so great if we could incorporate more therapy and healing into the beauty industry. And there are some beauty brands adopting this method. With so many people in the industry coming from a good place”.

Here are nine ways to take care of your face for flawless skin.

Meditate:

According to New York City-based dermatologist Jennifer Chwalek, M.D of Union Square Laser Dermatology, meditation could be the missing ingredient in our lives to help us heal our skin concerns. After being introduced to meditation during her yoga teacher training, Dr. Chwalek explains how yoga quickly became part of her daily routine. She also realised the major skin benefits came about during the practice, too. “It’s called Prana, and it’s believed to help repair the body’s tissues and cells which give you a fresh, youthful glow. Through the practice of mindful breathing also which mediating, you’re adding oxygen your skin, which is key to boosting cellular health”.

Food is Key:

Food is fuel, and your skin is the body’s largest organ, so you need to feed it. By eating the right foods, you can show it some respect. We know drinking lots of water is great, but it’s not enough to get you through the day. Leafy greens, salmon, food high in essential omega-3 fatty acids, like avocado, fish and even pecans, are key to helping you manage your skin issues, as they work to balance hydration and oil production and reduce blemishes and acne as well.

Quit Sugar:

Whilst you’re focusing on eating better, and healthier, it might be a good time to cut the sugar too. Often the skin can take a while to catch up on how we felt or what we ate the week before. And sugar is the one of the worst. Too much sugar can cause a surge in insulin resulting in inflammation. This process produces an enzyme which attaches itself to collagen in the body breaking it down and causing it to lose strength and flexibility.

Wash your makeup tools:

Ditching tired old makeup products is essential to keeping your skin fresh and well looked after. The same goes for your beauty tools, such as brushes and sponges. If not cleaned regularly all that junk is essentially smeared around your face during each makeup application. This can cause inflammation, clogged pores, and acne. Bacteria, oil, dust and sweat accumulate quickly on your beauty tools, a good habit to keep is cleaning them weekly. Choose a day of the week at the same time (should be easy in lockdown) to focus on cleaning your beauty tools.

Avoid Smoking or being around smokers:

We all have that one friend who smokes, or rather vapes. But did you know when tobacco is heated whether through cigarettes or vaping, it releases free radicals that damage the DNA of skin cells? It also constricts blood vessels, which deplete the skin of much needed oxygen, vitamins, and nutrients. It may seem social to stand by your mates whilst they vape or smoke for a chat, but it could be ageing your skin faster.

Beauty sleep:

Beauty sleep is the real deal. This may be the easiest yet most overlooked tip for looking flawless, but sleep is truly your best friend. Our bodies rejuvenate and replenish as we sleep. When you don’t get enough sleep, cells in the body don’t have enough strength to turn over and produce fresh new ones. This can leave skin dry and lead to premature ageing as well.

Exercise regularly:

Moving your body is not only important for overall health and wellness, it also keeps the blood flowing and brings oxygen to skin cells, giving you a natural healthy glow. Take a walk outside in the fresh air and sunshine. Try a Pilates class. Or if you prefer to go hardcore, check out a HIIT or weight training class. Experts claim all you need is around 20-30 minutes a week to help pores cleanse out impurities from the body. 

Lashes and brows:

Okay, so this isn’t exactly a revolutionary solution to skin problems, however, having your lashes and brows regularly maintained will help you feel better on those bad days and reduce the amount of makeup you are applying to the eye area, which has been proven to age the delicate skin are around the eyes faster. When you opt for lash extensions and brow tattoos, your eye will always pop – no mascara, no brow pencil and no eyeshadow are needed for a polished look.

Don’t touch your face:

Whilst it’s tempting to touch your face and squeeze that blemish which has been plaguing your skin, it’s best to leave it alone. When you touch blemishes, you can create a lot more lasting damage to the skin, leaving scars which stay for a long time. Our hands also have a lot of bacteria on them, so when you continue to touch your face, you spread bacteria causing more breakouts.