Skincare involves more than just cleaning it and using lotion. It also involves having a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and exercise, and managing stress levels. Your unique skin type may also determine any additional treatments as well, such as using exfoliating scrubs or moisturizing masks. Keep reading on for some simple tips t0 take care of the skin.

Tips To Take Care Of The Skin

1. Protect yourself from the sun

One of the most important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems — as well as increase the risk of skin cancer.

For the most complete sun protection:

• Use sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours — or more often if you’re swimming or perspiring.
• Seek shade. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest.
• Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. Also consider laundry additives, which give clothing an additional layer of ultraviolet protection for a certain number of washings, or special sun-protective clothing — which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays.

2. Don’t smoke

Smoking makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow and makes skin paler. This also depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to skin health.

Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — the fibers that give your skin strength and elasticity. In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — can contribute to wrinkles.

In addition, smoking increases your risk of squamous cell skin cancer. If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit. Ask your doctor for tips or treatments to help you stop smoking.

3. Exfoliate your skin once a week

This is one of tips to take care of the skin you should know that will help buff away those dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling silky-smooth. You use scrubs, loofahs, and exfoliating sponges. Be sure to use a gentler exfoliator on your face than on the rest of your body. Remember, the skin on your face is much more delicate than the skin on your arms and legs.

4. Eat and Drink for Healthier Skin

Drink 6 to 8 8-ounce (240-milliliter) glasses of water each day. Have you noticed your skin looking a little dry and dull lately? If so, you might not be drinking enough water. Try it for a week, and note the improvements. Drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce (240-milliliter) glasses of water may sound like a lot, but it will leave your skin looking youthful, bright, and glowing.

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. They are not only good for your body, but they are great for your skin. They are full of vitamins and antioxidants. Fruits and vegetables that are particularly good for skin include

5. Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase

While you can’t rub a wrinkle into your skin, you can cause them while sleeping! If you’re a side sleeper, you can be smooshing your face into your pillow, putting friction between the skin and fabric. This creates creases which can result in wrinkles since we sleep for a prolonged period of time.

But if you sleep on a silk pillowcase, the fabric allows your skin to “slip,” minimizing the chance of creating wrinkles. It’s also great for preventing frizzy hair!

6. Don’t pick and don’t touch your face

While it’s tempting to squeeze a pimple, you can create a lot more lasting damage to the skin than that instant gratification is worth. First, there’s a type of acne called acne mechanica, which is caused by friction from touching the face and pushing oil and bacteria back into the pore.

Secondly, picking and squeezing can result in a scar or a brown spot called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. You may prefer dealing with scarring over acne, but it’s not an either or scenario. You can live without both!

7. Wash your makeup brushes

Besides old makeup, of course, bacteria, oil, dust, and sweat accumulate on our makeup brushes. 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.

It’s best practice to clean your makeup brushes weekly!