Figuring out your skincare routine can be one of the most frustrating things on Earth.
Who among us hasn’t spent way too much money on creams, serums, toners, and more, just hoping to find the perfect fix to our skincare problems? And this goes double for anyone who has suffered from acne.
And while there’s no doubt that the products you use on your face are crucial, certain lifestyle decisions can make or break it when it comes to skin health.
Check out a few changes that can make a big difference in your skincare game and boost your confidence.
1. Stay Hydrated
credit: Daria ShevtsovaDermatologists are divided on whether or not drinking water is the key to glowing skin. But one thing they can agree on? That keeping your skin hydrated is absolutely key.
So, what exactly does that mean? Well, you have two choices: start drinking more water or find a topical product to hydrate it instead (or both, of course!)
If you decide to drink more water, try to remember that the whole “drink 8 glasses a day” thing is a total myth. Rather, it’s important to listen to your body. Your body is a pro at knowing exactly what you need, it’s your job to pay attention. If you start to feel thirsty, don’t ignore the signs. Drink up!
On the other hand, if water just isn’t your thing, topical products can be just as effective. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid are often non-irritating and can make a huge difference in the health of your skin.
2. Give Yourself a Bedtime
credit: Miriam AlonsoRemember when your parents set a bedtime for you every night? Turns out they were on to something.
Setting a solid sleep schedule not only impacts your overall health but your skin health as well.
One way it can majorly impact your skin is in the way sleep interacts with stress. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body starts to release the stress hormone aka cortisol. Cortisol leads to inflammation and inflammation can lead to acne.
So, do yourself a favor and try to get on a regular sleep schedule. This is much easier said than done but hopefully knowing the impact sleep can have on your skin will give you a little motivation. Getting your beauty sleep is no joke!
3. Keep a Food Journal
credit: Vlada KarpovichMost of us know that sugary foods, fried foods, salty foods, and more can lead to oily skin. But at the end of the day, everyone’s chemistry is different and so foods will affect us differently.
If you suspect that a certain food is causing breakouts, try keeping a food journal so you can track the correlation between what you eat and how your skin reacts. And if you start to see a pattern, try cutting that food out of your diet for a few weeks to see if it ends up making a difference.
4. Find a Dermatologist You Trust
credit: Antoni ShkrabaAt the end of the day, you can only do so much self-diagnosing when it comes to your skin health. If you feel like you’ve tried everything and haven’t seen results, it might be time to seek out expert advice. Dermatologists have pretty much seen it all and will easily be able to diagnose the causes of your skin woes.
While not necessarily a lifestyle change, one method that could minimize or eliminate acne would be a hydra facial. Companies like Youth Lab offer these services to develop long-lasting effects with immediate results. Hydrafacials can be beneficial — perhaps crucial — for many of those with ongoing struggles with acne. If you can reserve up to an hour of the day to do this, then it could be a game-changer for the health of your skin.
READ THIS NEXT
The Acne Skincare Products My Dermatologist Recommends to Almost Everyone