We all dream of smooth, silky skin. Most of us begin to look for ways to improve our skin’s texture as soon as we leave childhood behind when that first pimple rears its ugly little head. We roam the skincare aisles of our local drugstore, we slather on the products, we use makeup to enhance the appearance of our facial skin. But still, we often find ourselves with rough, dry, bumpy skin that’s dull in appearance.
Is there something some of us are missing? How do we improve the texture of our skin so we get that glowy look and the soft, supple, touchable skin that we’ve always dreamed of?
Skincare experts tell us that we really can improve the texture of our skin, but first, we have to understand our skin, and what it needs to be it’s healthy best.
Smooth Your Skin From Within
Healing rough, dry skin begins from within. We can promote healthier, smoother skin by improving our diet. Avoid overuse of alcohol, caffeine, and junk food. Processed foods and refined carbohydrates can cause a disruption of the natural gut microbiome. This can lead to inflammation that is visible in your skin. Inflammation means your skin will be roughened, reddened, and may display tiny bumps that cause a rough texture.
Adding bright colored fruits and vegetables to your diet can boost your body’s level of beneficial antioxidants. Berries are bursting with antioxidants, making them a skin superfood. Antioxidants fight the free radical cells that form in our skin and interfere in our skin cells’ natural processes.
Free-radical cells form from environmental factors such as UV ray exposure and other impurities. They cause the breakdown of critical collagen and elastin which gives our skin its structure, firmness, and softness. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can reduce the signs of aging and give us softer, more supple skin.
A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids has also been shown to promote healthier, smoother skin. Omega-3 fatty acids can actually help your skin to protect itself from sun damage. They also strengthen cell barriers, effectively guarding cells against intrusion from free-radicals and environmental impurities, resulting in healthier, smoother skin. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish and walnuts, and can also be taken in supplement form.
Water intake is another critical way to improve your skin’s appearance and texture. Most experts recommend that adults drink 8 eight-ounce glasses of water per day for optimal hydration. Even the best moisturizers work by promoting a strong moisture barrier to seal cell hydration into the skin and keep it from evaporating. Your cells must have adequate water content for moisturizers to have a lasting effect, rather than just temporarily adding softness to your skin.
Develop a Good Skincare Routine and Stick to it Faithfully
According to skincare experts, our skin requires nurturing and pampering to look its best. In today’s world, our skin is exposed to environmental factors that can cause damage. We live busy lives and may not always take the time to care for our skin. It’s important to know that a good skincare routine with the best skincare products can go a long way toward improving the quality of the skin.
A good skincare regimen means using a good moisturizer with sunscreen in the morning. This not only protects your skin from the sun, but it also seals in moisture and helps protect your skin from your makeup.
A good, all-over body moisturizer should be used in the morning before you dress. If you shower in the mornings, the ideal time to apply your moisturizer is while your skin is still damp and your pores are open and receptive. The moisture from the warm water and steam can be sealed into your skin with your moisturizing cream or lotion for all-day softness.
In the evenings, your skin should be cleansed with warm water and gentle cleansers for the body and face. Your cleanser and face wash should be beneficial for your particular skin type, whether it’s oily, dry, normal, or sensitive.
After cleansing, a serum should be applied to your face. Serums are richly concentrated products that are liquid or gel in the formula so they immediately sink below the skin’s surface to deliver a powerful punch of nourishing ingredients such as antioxidants, retinol, and hyaluronic acid. It’s important to understand that serum doesn’t replace a moisturizer. Serums don’t contain lipids or emollients which sit on the surface to provide a moisture barrier, which is why they are quickly absorbed. However, a moisturizer is still needed to seal these beneficial ingredients into your skin cells.
After your serum, apply your moisturizer to soften, hydrate and seal in essential moisture. An eye cream can be added to the fragile skin around the eyes to further protect and moisturize them while also reducing puffiness.
Importance of Exfoliation
One of the most effective methods of improving your skin’s texture is exfoliation on a weekly basis. This means gently exfoliating your face with either a gentle scrub, or with an exfoliating cloth, or even with a nubby washcloth. You can exfoliate by applying gentle but firm pressure on your skin as you rub it in circular motions. Exfoliating removes the dull, dead, dry skin cells that sit on the surface of your skin and cause a dull, gray appearance and rough texture. These dead cells can also clog your pores and cause breakouts. Exfoliating the dead cells from the skin’s surface will allow your skincare products to more easily sink below the skin’s surface to work their magic. It also encourages cell renewal by removing dead cells and allowing fresher, softer, younger cells to surface.
Exfoliating isn’t for your face alone. Exfoliating your entire body can make an amazing difference in the texture of your skin by ridding it of dead, dry skin cells. It also gives your skin a radiant glow.
With these tips for improving your skin’s texture from within with healthy, skin-nourishing foods, and hydration, and improving it from the outside with a good skincare regimen, your skin should be healthier, and feel soft, supple, and smooth.
Remember that changes take time. Be sure to exfoliate weekly to rid your skin of dead cells, and your new, healthier, more nourished cells will surface sooner to give you the softness and glow you’ve always wanted!
Resources— Brilliance New York, Dermstore, Perricone MD
