We’ve all been there – you wake up one morning after a seemingly-peaceful sleep and BAM! There’s a giant spot on your chin, or your face is cracking from dryness by the second, or your bags are looking darker than you’ve ever seen them!
It’s never nice seeing your skin suddenly go bananas, but there are some ways to prevent this and we’ve got all the secrets for you …
Not enough water
When at work, it can be second nature to unconsciously sip your water bottle and not realise just how much H2O you’re getting in your system. Throw in a lockdown or two and your routine has been thrown out the window, along with your good water habits.
It’s pretty likely your skin is feeling parched- even if you aren’t. This lack of water has a serious effect on your skin and can be the reason you’re feeling dry or dull, causing dark circles around the eyes, itchy skin and deeper, more noticeable wrinkles. Throw in some chilly weather or the AC and your lips might be feeling pretty cracked too. The key to this? Hydration, hydration, hydration.
While serums and oils are perfect for skin that needs an extra boost and can help make your face younger and supple, they are working from the outside in, but the real lasting impact is by letting water work it’s magic from the inside out.
The NHS recommends around 8 cups of water a day. But we tend to use a 500ml water bottle and from morning to night aim to drink it 3 times over.
Ensuring there is a moisturising element in your daily skincare routine is also vital for getting your skin bright and happy again but don’t forget the H20.
Lack of sunlight
Even though staying in and hiding seems like the appropriate way to deal with a nasty breakout, your skin is in fact begging for some sunshine.
Without Vitamin D, the good stuff we get from sun exposure, our skin can struggle with cell development which can cause an increase of breakouts. By spending a little time outside to get this vital vitamin could help improve your skin- but you do not need to spend hours in the sun without SPF for the goodness to penetrate your skin.
Stress can also lead to similar issues — creating more oil in the skin which sits in pores until it causes breakouts, so don’t forget to chill out either!
Products that are packed full of Vitamin D, such as toners or serums, could also help to fix up your face. Even products such as Vitamin D supplements can add a boost to your diet if sunlight is an issue. Remember, SPF is the best anti-ageing product you can have and we recommend using it each and every morning, even if there are clouds.
Junk Food
We’re sorry to break the bad news, but those spots are caused by some of your favourite things — the snacks, takeaways, processed and fried foods.
Famous for causing breakouts, junk food is full of grease and preservatives which can lead to blocked pores that can develop into pimples. Reducing the amount of junk you’re eating daily will help with these pesky spots.
For quick treatments, products with antiseptic properties such as tea tree oils will help blast those pimples, as well as concentrated spot serums with speedy accuracy.
Over-Moisturising
I know they feel *AMAZING* but all those face masks in a short period of time can be doing more damage than good. Over-moisturising could cause clog pores and blackheads on the skin.
Keeping the hydrating sheet masks to just two or three a week will help battle the temptation of over-moisturising your face. For blackheads that may have been created during this serious pamper time — a clay mask or a serum rich in niacinamide can do wonders for pulling out the excess oil and sebum from pores.
By keeping up with an active skincare routine and a short walk in the sunshine or even chilling in the garden, your skin should be getting to its peak plumpness.
Now, join us in chugging a glass of water.
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