25 Natural Ways To Maintain Youthful, Glowing Skin from Home

7. Keep your skin microbiome balanced.

Just like your gut, your skin is home to a community of billions of friendly living microorganisms, also known as skin flora. This community is called the skin microbiome. Think of it as an invisible eco-system that lives on the skin that’s working to help keep it healthy and in good condition. The microbiome is defined as a collection of microorganisms that live in a particular place.

Although each person is unique, the average person has more bacterial cells than human cells. And depending on the skin’s texture, thickness and humidity, different microbes can inhabit different regions of your skin. The role of the skin microbiome in skincare. New research shows us that these microbes play an important role in skin health. The gut and skin play a balancing act between beneficial, neutral, and harmful flora that are interrelated with the innate and adaptive immune systems.

8. Apply skincare products right after bathing.

It’s best to apply body lotion and moisturizer immediately after exiting a bath or shower, while your skin is still damp. This helps to lock in the most moisture. But that’s not the only time you should apply body lotion and moisturizer.

Showering first allows your pores to open up from the warm water and steam, prepping your skin for a deeper cleansing experience. If you have drier skin, you may be better off applying your mask before taking a shower. This helps to seal in the moisture from your mask and the shower.

9. Practice a facial massage routine.

Facial massage can improve the appearance of your skin in many ways. It improves circulation, relaxes muscles, and tones. First, massaging the facial skin helps to relax the muscles that tend to cause stress lines. The stimulation of the skin results in increased circulation, which ultimately helps produce collagen and elastin.

By doing facial massage, the texture of the skin is improved by virtue of manual stimulation and the flow of lymph. Facial massage detoxifies the skin—both lymphatic drainage (fluid) and the exfoliation effect of getting rid of dead skin cells.

10. Eat antioxidant-rich foods.

Many fruits are high in antioxidants, packed with vitamins, and beneficial in a myriad of ways. Antioxidants are compounds produced in your body and found in foods. Fortunately, eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help increase your blood antioxidant levels to fight oxidative stress and reduce the risk of many diseases.

Eating foods rich in antioxidants like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes (peas, beans, and lentils), nuts, seeds, and spices are the best way to get antioxidants. Whole foods contain many different antioxidants that work together to provide the best protection for your health. These include cranberries, red grapes, peaches, raspberries, strawberries, red currants, figs, cherries, pears, guava, oranges, apricots, mango, red grapes, cantaloupe, watermelon, papaya, and tomatoes.

11. Stay active.

Exercise helps to supply essential nutrients to the skin. Aerobic exercise makes you sweat and promotes the removal of toxins through perspiration. Working out tones the skin improves blood circulation and oxygenation to the skin and so imparts a healthy glow. By increasing blood flow, exercise helps nourish skin cells and keep them vital. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to working cells throughout the body, including the skin.

Contrary to some claims, exercise doesn’t detoxify the skin. Your increased circulation from exercise means more oxygen and nutrients are delivered to your skin cells, which will radiate on your face. Sweat is also good for the skin. Water hydrates, minerals, and salt naturally exfoliate, and urea and uric acid combat dry skin and dermatitis. Sweating purges the skin of bacteria, dirt, oils, and impurities. The optimal pH factor for the skin is the same as the pH factor of sweat.

12. Try supplementing collagen.

Taking collagen is associated with a number of health benefits and very few known risks. To start, supplements may improve skin health by reducing wrinkles and dryness. They may also help increase muscle mass, prevent bone loss, and relieve joint pain. There are claims that applying collagen in the form of creams can boost collagen within the skin, helping to reduce signs of aging. These creams probably work as a simple moisturizer only.” says Consultant Dermatologist Dr. Anjali Mahto at The Cadogan Clinic.

“Collagen as a cream doesn’t do anything-it’s too large a molecule to cross the skin barrier,” she says. There is more data in favor of collagen supplements taken by mouth,” says Dr. Mahto. “One study involving 114 women aged 45 to 65 years, who took collagen supplements for eight weeks, appeared to demonstrate a reduction in wrinkles of 20% and improved dermal matrix synthesis. It’s unlikely that the collagen reached the skin directly, as it would be digested in the stomach. However, supplements would ensure an adequate supply of amino acids, which the body then uses to make its own collagen.

13. Don’t pick your skin.

People may pick their skin for various reasons. Some may feel compelled to remove perceived imperfections, while others pick in response to stress, boredom, or out of habit. Popping a pimple, whether you’re successful or not can spawn more spots. The bacteria, oil, and debris that are being contained by the acne papule, pustule or cyst once released, can spread and lead to more acne. Those destructive habits not only compromise your skin’s integrity, and aggravate your acne, but even worse, picking at your breakouts can lead to severe scarring and hyperpigmentation that ends up lasting longer than the initial breakout.

This can cause additional scabbing and lead to scarring. In a statement from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) “Making sure not to touch your face throughout the day is especially essential for those looking to control oily skin. Touching your face can spread dirt, oil, and bacteria from your hands to your face, which can lead to clogged pores and breakouts.”

14. Use a retinoid or retinol alternative.

Retinol, also known as Vitamin A₁, is a vitamin found in food and used as a dietary supplement. As a supplement it is used to treat and prevent vitamin A deficiency, especially that which results in xerophthalmia. The only natural Retinol alternative that Actually reverses wrinkles, according to experts, is Bakuchiol. Bakuchiol is proven to have a similar gene expression regulation as retinol. Both boost collagen and elastin production and reduce photoaging like fine lines and wrinkles. Unlike retinol, bakuchiol has no harsh side effects on the skin and is a much more gentle alternative.

Rosehip oil lacks enough retinoic acid to be classed as a retinoid, but does offer some skin benefits as it’s rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E. Rosehip oil is sometimes used as a natural alternative to retinol. Retinol is present in foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes, mangoes, raw spinach, apricots, cantaloupes, papayas, fat-free milk, raw tomatoes, bell peppers, oranges, eggs, and broccoli. Use vegetables that are raw and fresh to achieve the best results for the retinol anti-aging natural home remedies.

15. Get regular facials.

With the HydraFacial, CBD-infused facials, and now cryotherapy facials… It seems like the level of popularity, and innovation of professional facials is at an all-time high. Facials can remove blemishes and pimples, giving your skin a healthier look. Moisturizing the skin helps it feel better, but steaming can open up the pores, and exfoliating can get rid of any gunk that may be clogging those pores.

These processes help clear up the skin to look its best. “Once per month is also the ideal time frame because our skin cell turnover cycle is 28 days long”, explains Ellen Marmur a New York City-based Dermatologist. I always recommend [that] clients have facials once a month, nothing you do at home can replace professional attention.

16. Avoid potentially irritating foods.

Given the increasing awareness of the link between diet and health, many are concerned that dietary factors may trigger dermatitis. In a recent study, the NCBI has given an overview of potential foods that might trigger dermatitis. There are eight foods that cause over 90% of food allergies in children, these are: cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, and tree nuts (such as walnuts, pecans, and almonds).

In adults, 90% of food allergies are caused by peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish. As for things like Rosacea, what foods tend to make it worse? Pungent or sour vegetables like tomatoes, hot peppers, carrots, beets, eggplant, onions, radishes, and spinach. Drinks such as alcohol and hot coffee or tea, which can dilate blood vessels and contribute to facial redness. Foods that release histamine, such as citrus fruit.

17. Don’t smoke.

Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide, which displaces the oxygen in your skin, and nicotine, which reduces blood flow, leaving skin dry and discolored. Cigarette smoking also depletes many nutrients, including vitamin C, which helps protect and repair skin damage. Smoking can speed up the normal aging process of your skin, contributing to wrinkles. These skin changes may occur after only 10 years of smoking.

Aside from age, smoking is the strongest predictor of facial wrinkling in men and women. Quitting increases the oxygen and nutrients sent to your skin cells, leaving you with smoother, more supple skin. And while your skin will look younger, you’re not just turning back the clock on your appearance. Quitting smoking before the age of 40 decreases your risk of premature death by 90 percent.

18. Indulge in a face mask.

Face masks are the perfect skincare treatment to help you with your skincare concerns. The right face mask can help hydrate skin, remove excess oils and help improve the appearance of your pores. They’re also an excellent way to help pull out impurities. Good quality face masks help purge pores of dead skin cells, dirt, toxins, and excess oil which prevents breakout-causing build-up for clearer skin. Intelligent face masks stimulate sweat gland excretion which helps oxygenate the skin.

Deep-down hydration infused with age-defying elixirs reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and pigmentation to achieve complexion perfection. Regardless of whether you lean towards sheet masks, clay masks, overnight masks, you may be wondering just how often you can safely use face masks anyway? The consensus among skin experts is that, as long as your mask-of-choice is a hydrating one, you can use it every single day if you wish. However, with just about every other type of mask that is not primarily for hydrating purposes, it’s best to limit or alter your use.

19. Strengthen your skin barrier.

The skin barrier refers to the outermost layer of the epidermis, which helps protect your skin from harsh elements and holds in moisture, preventing your skin from drying out. You’ll know your skin barrier is damaged when you notice any signs of redness or inflammation, dehydration, itchiness, flakiness or acne flare-ups. A weak or damaged skin barrier is mostly dry or dehydrated so it can’t lock in moisture, making it easier for irritants and bacteria to penetrate the skin. You can help replace depleted skin lipids by applying oils that antioxidant-rich, such as sunflower and safflower oils, which hydrate with linoleic acid.

Beware of heavily fragranced varieties, such as mint or citrus oils, which can irritate sensitive skin. Products containing panthenol, a vitamin B-5 derivative, also work as healing lubricators, as do products with niacinamide, an ingredient that increases ceramide production and restores skin barrier function. For healthy skin, it can take 2 weeks and up to a month to repair the barrier function. Once your skin barrier is back on full force, you’ll notice a decrease in redness, skin-sensitivity, inflammation, and dehydration!

20. Get your beauty sleep.

Sleeping beauty had this one right: regular shuteye alone actually makes you look prettier, according to a 2010 study published in the British Medical Journal. The researchers took photos of 23 people after a normal night’s sleep of eight hours and after a period of sleep deprivation. How many hours are necessary for beauty sleep?

When it comes to snoozing, the magic number falls between seven and eight hours of rest per night. A good night’s sleep can mean good skin health because when you’re sleep-deprived, your body makes more of the stress hormone cortisol. Getting a good night’s sleep will help to clear up the skin, which allows sleep to improve and, in turn, will improve skin health. For more on the benefits of getting enough rest, have a look at this.

21. Take nr+.

NR is a uniquely valuable form of vitamin B3 that increases NAD, the central regulator of metabolism. Because NAD is under attack in conditions of metabolic stress and aging, we take NR to age better and help cells resist the inevitable stresses of life.

Fasting, or reducing your calorie intake is an excellent method for indirectly boosting the body’s NAD levels. Fasting has been shown to increase the levels of NAD+ the proteins which have been found to slow the aging process.

22. Keep your makeup clean.

Remember to replace all of your beauty care products every year, and your mascara every three months. Make sure you don’t touch your makeup with your fingers and keep all of your makeup applicators clean and sterile. This kind of careful treatment will keep germs and bacteria at bay.

When you’re finished with your spatula or pallet and brushes, clean them thoroughly with soap and hot water — every time you use them. A brush cleaner is a great way to get rid of any bacteria on the brush and remove excess makeup as well. You can do the same thing with blush and lipstick applicators.

23. Keep things lukewarm.

Here’s the cold, hard truth: Rinsing your face with icy water won’t tighten your pores. Using hot water, though it may feel good, can dehydrate your skin. Lukewarm is best, and if you have redness, try cool but not cold water, to help constrict blood vessels. In most cases, the best water temperature is warm. Coldwater doesn’t effectively remove the daily grime, hot water may irritate and dry out your skin. Warm water helps loosen the dirt but preserves your skin’s natural hydrating oils. Hot showers can dry out and irritate your skin.

Hot water causes damage to the keratin cells which are located on our most outer layer of the skin, the epidermis. Higher temperatures make it easier for the skin to dry out and worsen conditions like eczema. Hot showers can cause you to itch. The heat can cause mast cells (which contain histamine) to release their contents in the skin and cause itching. They can increase your blood pressure, too. If you have problems with high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, taking a shower that’s too hot can make these conditions worse.

24. Minimize stress.

Stress causes a chemical response in your body that makes skin more sensitive and reactive. This is because stress causes your body to make hormones like cortisol, which tells glands in your skin to make more oil. Oily skin is more prone to acne and other skin problems. other dermatological conditions such as psoriasis, and eczema, and just other rashes are often reported by patients to be linked with their stress level.

Excessive cortisol production stimulates melanin production which causes the skin to develop dark spots, known as hyperpigmentation. While depression has a disastrous effect on the skin because the chemicals associated with the condition can prevent your body from repairing inflammation in cells. These hormones affect sleep, which will show on your face in the form of baggy, puffy eyes and a dull or lifeless complexion.

25. Moisturize.

To moisturize is to add moisture to something or make it less dry. … Moisturize is most often used to talk about beauty products, like lotions and moisturizers. If your skin’s dry, oil or cream will bring some moisture and softness back to it. Moisturizing every day can reduce the chance of developing extreme dryness or oiliness. Both extremes are harmful to skin and cause common skin conditions like acne. Using a daily moisturizer ensures that the skin’s blemishes are camouflaged.

It also regulates your body temperature, naturally sheds bacteria from your pores and, thanks to its thousands of nerve endings, allows you to feel harmful things such as extreme heat, cold, and pain. This one is obvious, but if you aren’t moisturizing, you will dry out your skin, and it will get even worse if it’s winter and cold out, or the humidity is really low. Without moisture, your skin will start flaking and appear dry. That’s why keeping your skin hydrated is so important to your overall health.

26. In summary

Skincare is the range of practices that support skin integrity, enhance its appearance and relieve skin conditions. They can include nutrition, avoidance of excessive sun exposure and appropriate use of emollients. To start, vitamin C helps reduce complexion concerns like dullness, uneven skin tone, acne scars, and texture. Vitamin C is an essential part of skin health. Like vitamin C, retinol has some coveted benefits. It can heal cystic acne, get rid of dark spots, soften wrinkles, and lighten hyperpigmentation.

If you want gorgeous skin 30 years from now, the choices you make today will help that happen. Beautiful skin is a lifelong process, and developing a daily skincare routine today can help you keep beautiful skin for the future. At the same time, negative skincare routines now can harm your skin for the future. Preventing potential skin problems now is easier than trying to fix skin issues in the future. Taking the time to involve yourself in a skincare routine daily takes less time than having to see dermatologists or address skin issues as a result of neglect down the line.

Where did we find this stuff? Here are our sources:

https://www.skinstation.co.uk/blog/best-age-start-regular-skim-care-routine
https://www.thezoereport.com/p/can-you-use-retinol-vitamin-c-together-18700288
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/skin-care/art-20048237
https://www.sharecare.com/health/daily-skin-care/why-proper-skin-care-important