We all want smoother, plumper, softer skin that looks hydrated, blemish free, wrinkle free… it’s a common complaint among many of us. There are plenty of beauty and aesthetics treatments that you can have done to help achieve this, but if you’re not helping your skin everyday with some simple changes and healthy habits, it’s not going to have any long term effects. These 6 tips below will help you achieve softer, smoother skin that looks hydrated and healthier! And it’s super easy. Trust me! I do them!
Collagen Supplementation
Our bodies are all made up of collagen, it runs throughout our entire system. It helps our joints, our skin, our hair, our organs… everything. Collagen is responsible for giving us the elasticity in our skin too! Taking collagen supplements is one of those key ways to nourish your skin from the inside out. Naked Marine Collagen is pretty good because it contains only one ingredient, premium marine peptides from wild caught cod. This is going to strengthen, and add structure and elasticity to the skin, which can help reduce some fine lines and wrinkles.
Of course as we age, our bodies produce less and less collagen, so supplementation is going to be incredibly helpful. Collagen is vital for skin hydration and elasticity as loss of collagen often contributes to dry and wrinkled skin as we age, so supplementing with marine collagen peptides can help your skin stay smooth, hydrated, plump and firm, giving you a radiant complexion.
Plus, you get the added benefit of your hair, nails and joints becoming stronger! There is bovine collagen as well, but the good thing about marine collagen is that it’s made up of smaller peptides, allowing it to be absorbed more efficiently by the body. This high bioavailability ensures that the collagen reaches the skin and hair quickly, boosting hydration, elasticity, and strength for a smoother complexion and healthier hair.
Drink Water
This may sound like a generic point as everyone tells you to drink water, for every reason under the sun, but the truth is, it’s because it works. When you’re hydrated, your skin is plump, full, and soft. Dehydrated skin often leads to a quicker onset of wrinkles and dullness, which is why smoking is bad for aging as it dehydrates the skin and starves it of oxygen. You’ll want to make sure you’re drinking the correct amount of water for your height and weight, but the general amount is 8 glasses a day! You’ll notice a difference! I drink water 99% of the time and my skin is always hydrated and soft, as well as my lips.
Exfoliate Your Skin
When I say exfoliate, I don’t mean by using a harsh scrub like St. Ives scrub that’s going to create micro tears in your skin and damage it, I’m talking about a really gentle beaded cleanser, or chemical exfoliant with AHA’s like glycolic acid. My preference is a gentle cleanser with mild beads inside though as I find it to be a lot softer on the skin. Pure chemical exfoliants work too, but sometimes they make me more red. One exfoliator that I love is Skin Theory AHA/BHA Vitamin C Cleanser as it’s so soft! It’s perfect. It’s pretty pricy, but it works. I think it’s important to help slough off the top layer of skin to help it stay bright and smooth.
Wear Sun cream
I know everybody goes on about sun cream and sun protection, but trust me, you need it. The sun really damages our skin and will contribute to premature aging, sagging and loss of overall plumpness. Not to mention the hyperpigmentation and texture changes that can result from sun damage. I’m sure you’ve seen pictures of malasma and sun spots online, so you want to avoid these at all costs. I always wear a SPF 50 under makeup and it helps! I’m 36 years old and I haven’t had any sun damage or hyperpigmentation. So if you want smooth, hydrated, plump skin, be sure to always wear sun cream! Just avoid the ones in a spray can as they have bad chemicals in. Use one formulated for the face like Dermatica.
Moisturiser and serums
Again, this may sound like a simple statement because of course moisturising your skin is going to make it softer… that’s a given. However, using the correct moisturiser and serums is going to make a huge difference. Understanding your skin type and what strength or type of moisturiser to use for maximum benefits is super important as it will make all the difference! Obviously the more hydrating and intense the lotion, the more it will look soft and smooth, however if you are prone to oily skin and acne, you don’t want to clog it up even more, so you’ll need a more lightweight one. And using the correct serums for your skin is useful too. Vitamin C, Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid are all super important for soft, smooth, hydrated skin. Apply these before your moisturiser.
Makeup free days
I’ve spoken with a couple of dermatologists that say wearing makeup every day is ok, as long as you’re removing it every night correctly, however from my own personal experience, I’ve found that my skin tends to do a lot better when I throw in some makeup free days. I just let my skin be for the day, using a gentle cleanser and moisturiser and that’s it. I think these days off really just help it regenerate and relax. I find that it looks clearer and softer, and smoother, especially in terms of my acne. Sometimes makeup can make it look dull as it can absorb the moisture in your skin, especially if you’re using powders, so for me personally, makeup free days are needed for some mini rejuvenation.
So, there we have it! 6 simple ways to help keep your skin smooth, soft and hydrated. After all, our skin is our largest organ, it’s important to make sure we’re taking care of it from the inside and outside. I definitely recommend collagen though. I’ve seen a lot of people have major improvements from that!
