When I went to college and started facing new skin troubles like dry skin, random breakouts, and tired-looking eyes, I realized that I had to change the way I was caring for my skin. Luckily, I have a sister who is a former Lush employee and skincare guru. When she’s not making her own face masks, begging me to let her try her new samples on me, or dragging me to Sephora for hours, she gives me really great advice on how to take care of my skin right now and for the future. Here are the five best skincare habits she’s taught me.
don't sleep in your makeup
Okay, this one is hard I know! In my experience, sleeping in makeup almost always leads to dry skin or blemishes. I’ve learned that keeping face cleansing wipes on my nightstand helps to ensure that I at least remove most of my makeup before bed. Obviously, doing your whole nighttime skin routine is ideal, but sometimes it’s just not realistic and that’s when cleansing wipes are perfect.
start using an eye cream
Dull under-eye bags are inevitable after too many late nights studying or going out with your friends. When I asked my sister for advice, she explained, “The area under your eyes is super sensitive and requires extra care and moisture. Eye cream helps revitalize your under eyes after a long night and helps prevent laugh lines in the future!”
make caring for your skin feel like a treat
High levels of stress, a lack of sleep, and an unhealthy diet all lead to breakouts in college. My sister’s tip for prevention was to invest in good skincare products and make caring for your skin a relaxing ritual. Specifically, she told me that the most important thing to do was, “Exfoliate, cleanse, and moisturize regularly.” Once I started cleansing and moisturizing my face morning and night in addition to exfoliating every two to three days, I noticed my skin was much clearer.
try a vitamin C serum
Prior to college, the only thing I knew about vitamin C was that I drank it in orange juice. That is until my sister told me, “vitamin C is good for fading any sunspots and keeping skin tone even and bright.” Most importantly for me, it helps fade red or dark acne marks. Trust me (and my sister) on this one.
always wear sunscreen
Going to school in Ohio, I didn’t think that I needed to wear sunscreen daily, especially in the winter. However, my sister has really stressed the importance of wearing sunscreen to me. She told me that, “Sunscreen is important for preventing both premature aging and dark sunspots.” Now, I use a moisturizer every morning with SPF 15.
Ultimately, when you’re young it’s all about maintaining healthy skin and preventing future damage by establishing good habits. Your older self will definitely thank you!
What are your best skincare tips? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured photo by Michelle Szczech
