Because your skin is your first line of defense from infections and diseases, you should take care of it. The skin’s function as a protectant of your body should teach you to take care of it. The skin can be extremely vulnerable to carbon monoxide emitted by cars and UV rays from sunlight. It needs daily pampering because it may just degenerate on you if you don’t take better care of it.

What you must watch out for is the clogging of pores. Environmental pollutants like toxins and free radicals are always around to harm your skin. These chemicals clog the pores, making it difficult for your skin to excrete normally. Sweat and oils come out of pores often, but that’s normal. What isn’t normal is the way sweat and oils try to come out of your skin but cannot because of the clogged pores. Clogged or dirty skin pores are the primary reasons of deterioration of the skin cells.

There are many other factors that may contribute to poor skin conditions. I’m mentioning some of them here so you can avoid them.

Alcohol will always be bad for the skin, especially if taken regularly. Alcohol will dry out your skin, making the pores a little tighter and the texture more rough. When you get drunk, your skin becomes deprived of water and nutrients because you’re excreting too much in copious amounts. Alcohol may also lead to decrease in immunity against diseases that cause digestive tract disorders. Poor diet, or faulty digestion restricts the absorption of nutrients that are important to skin’s health.

Moreover, alcohol consumption can cause liver disease. The liver is the main food processing center of the body, and it’s the one responsible for turning the nutrients from food into minerals that your skin can use. A sluggish liver cannot store skin-nourishing vitamins such as Vitamin A.

Having a better looking skin may mean you need to transform your lifestyle. Besides regular cleaning and a wholesome lifestyle, you may also need to use skin products that are especially made for your skin type. You can use moisturizers or skin products with a lot of moisturizers to cure your dry and flaky skin.

Direct sun exposure can damage your skin. Moreover, it can cause skin cancer. To avoid direct exposure to the sun, use a sun block with SPF 15 at least even on overcast days. The ultraviolet rays of the sun are always present, even if the sun isn’t shining as brightly. We cannot control the way the environment is getting denuded directly, but we can at least do this to prevent the effects of the damaged environment from reaching our skin.

Allergens. To be safe, always apply a dab of a new skin care product on the inside of your elbow and wait for 24 hours before using the product on your whole body. This is to make sure you’re not inadvertently using a skin care product that you’re allergic to.

Be very careful when choosing your moisturizing soap, lotion, cream, and other skin care products. There is such a thing as over-pampering, which could lead to allergies. Use gentle skin care products or those endorsed by health professionals. Sometimes, the development of pimples is the result of using harsh ingredients, comedogenic substances (those that cause pimples) and products that contain too much chemicals and scents.

We can always take care of our skin more starting now. It’s never too late to become extremely skin-conscious and a lot of people benefit from this change. Moisturizers are easy enough to procure, and sometimes they can even be free. Some resort to trapping the skin’s moisture after bathing by applying lotion. Some go for anti-aging skin care products that work the same way as regular lotions, but longer. If you have ever spend your summer lazing around in the sun without regard for your skin, it’s time for a change.

Winter doesn’t give much respite either. The cold and frost will dry your skin as fast as sunlight, and so you still need to use moisturizers even during the winter season. Begin by getting a good anti-aging skin care regimen. Develop one yourself, and don’t use the excuse that salons are expensive to opt out of better skin care processes. When we do these things to care for our skin, our inner radiance will be evident in the way our skin glows.

Cleansing the skin is the first step to taking care of it. Cleansing doesn’t just mean giving your skin a thorough scrubbing. It also means choosing which bar of soap will work best for your skin. Some soaps can clean but not moisturize. If you can find a skin care product that does both, go for it. You can also use some natural elements to cleanse your skin. Fruits when macerated and crushed can become great skin care products. Whatever you do, make sure you’re pampering your skin more.

Mild cleansers are great for the face. The skin on your face is a lot more sensitive than that on your hand or legs. I’ve tried Aveeno, Olay, and Biore and they all work great. The best thing is that they are gentle. A skin care product is gentle if your skin does not feel tight right after you use it. Moreover, your skin shouldn’t itch at all after you use the product. Some skin care products are perfect for certain skin types, but to be safe, try the gentlest ones first to test if your skin is more sensitive than others.

Adopt a twice-daily cleaning routine. This means you use your brand of skin care product before you go to work and before you go to bed. In between, you can use a soft sponge to hydrate or clean your skin, but the beautifying should be done twice a day to avoid scrubbing the skin on your face more than necessary.

For your hands, use mild, soap that has antibacterial properties. It’s great if you can find a hand sanitizer that doesn’t contain too much alcohol. Rubbing alcohol can kill bacteria but it can dry your skin.

Exfoliation is a great way to get rid of dead skin cells and make room for new ones. This should be a regular part of your routine. If you don’t have the time to exfoliate daily, do this twice on the weekend to keep your body’s skin supple and smooth. Everyday exfoliation is also possible using loofa sponge or a soft scrubber that will slough off the skin cells that are dried out or dying. This is a secret to that healthy glow. The healthy skins in the pink of health are always replenished because of proper cleansing procedures.