9 Tips on How to Get Healthy Skin

If you’ve been dreaming of baby soft, smooth skin, you’re definitely not alone. We’re talking about that no-filter, photoshop-free skin that everyone’s chasing after -- that’s the goal, right? While the lucky ones are born with flawless skin thanks to good genes, others achieve healthy, clear skin through visits to the esthetician, spa, or dermatologist, or through their holy grail skincare products. In other words, there are many different ways to achieve a glowy complexion.

However, you may find that not everything works for everyone. The good news is there are some tried and true tips to help you get your best skin ever.

9 Tips for Healthy Skin

While you can find many everyday skincare secrets on the web, like those provided by the American Academy of Dermatology, we’ve compiled a list of tips of our own. Whether your skincare routine consists of three steps or 10 steps, follow these 9 tips for healthy skin so you can strut with confidence and show the world how beautiful you are - inside and out.

1. Always Wash Your Face Before Bed

There’s a reason why this tip is the first on our list: your skincare routine should always start with a freshly washed face -- no exceptions. If you think about all the oil and bacteria that has built up on your skin throughout the day, there’s no way you’d want that gunk lingering on your skin overnight. Make it a habit to wash your face with a gentle, vegan cleanser every single night before going to bed in order to keep your skin clean and maximize the effectiveness of your skincare products. If you have acne-prone or oily skin, don’t forget to wash your face in the morning, too.

2. Keep Your Skin Hydrated

If you’re prone to dryness, flakiness, and dullness, your skin is likely screaming for some hydration. Quench your skin’s thirst with hydrating products such as a moisturizer or a hydrating serum.

Your skin type will determine what type of moisturizer is best for you as well as what particular ingredients you should look for. Hyaluronic acid and squalane are highly hydrating, making them particularly beneficial for dry skin. If you have oily skin, opt for a moisturizer that’s lightweight, oil-free, and non-comedogenic. Our Hydrate Skin Smoothie is a great option given that it’s designed to be breathable and doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy.

According to Harvard Medical School, moisturizer is key but it isn’t the only way to hydrate skin. For those in need of deep hydration, our Primed & Ready hydrating primer doubles as an everyday moisturizer while our Drink It Up serum delivers an immediate surge of hydration while continuously releasing moisture all day or all night. Use Drink It Up to soak your skin in moisture, promote cell turnover, protect against environmental stressors, fight signs of aging, and keep your skin soft and dewy.

3. Save Your Skin With Sunscreen

You can use all the skincare products in the world but if you continue to expose your skin to the sun without proper protection, you’ll be putting yourself at risk of skin damage, skin cancer, discoloration, fine lines, and wrinkles.

Use a mineral sunscreen like SunFilter that works as the ultimate skin protector by offering total protection against UV rays, blue light, environmental pollutants and free radicals. Better yet, SunFilter doesn’t break you out nor does it leave a white cast. It’s moisturizing and non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog your pores, and leaves a featherweight finish. Slather it on every single day (yes, that includes the wintertime) to protect your glow year round.

More than sun-proof. Life-proof.

Protect your face and body from harmful UV rays, free radicals, blue light, and environmental pollutants with these non-nano 100% mineral zinc oxide sunscreens for everyday use.

Protect Your Glow

4. Remember That Luxury Products Aren’t Always Better

Luxury products don’t always equate to better results. If healthy skin is the goal, then affordable skincare can work just as hard and be just as effective, if not more. We understand that it may be hard to part ways with your all-time favorites, but keep an open mind when it comes to products with a lower price tag. Better-for-you skincare doesn’t always need to break the bank.

Most importantly, take the time to educate yourself on ingredients and learn what works best for your skin type. This will help you make better choices when you’re in the market for new skin treats.

5. Add In Extras When Necessary

There are certain skincare steps that should be done every day, but you can also add in extra steps when you feel like your skin needs a little extra help and TLC. Exfoliation should be part of your weekly routine to help slough off dead skin cells and make room for younger, newer skin cells. Exfoliation also helps get rid of dullness, fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone and texture. Keep in mind that exfoliators are not one-size-fits-all so be sure to use one that works well with your skin type. Exfoliate regularly but be careful not to overdo it and fall victim to the dangers of over-exfoliation.

Another extra step that would help you on your journey to healthy skin is a face mask. Throw in a face mask every few days to give your skin a spa-like facial at home. If your skincare routine is missing a vegan exfoliator and a face mask, fill that void with a product that functions as both. Brighten Up, Sunshine is a clay masque designed to brighten, exfoliate, and moisturize skin with the help of pineapple, coconut, vitamin C, and other skin-loving botanicals.

Hellooo Sunshine!

Detox your face from daily stressors and reveal a brighter, smoother, glowy complexion.

Brighten Up

6. Treat Breakouts Gently Yet Effectively

As we all know, breakouts often get in the way of a glowing complexion. In hopes of getting rid of zits as fast as possible, people often resort to harsh chemicals and over-drying ingredients, which put your skin at risk for damage and other health issues in the long run. Your skin absorbs whatever you put on it so be mindful of the products you use on a daily basis.

Rather than using harmful ingredients, fight breakouts using plant-based, non-toxic skincare products instead. Our 3-step Clear Skin Routine is clinically proven to clear breakouts in as little as two weeks using nourishing plant-based complexes and salicylic acid, a powerful acne-fighting ingredient that digs deep into the pores to clear them of dirt, oil, and bacteria. This routine is best for treating mild to moderate acne and is also designed to help control oil production, visibly reduce redness and hyperpigmentation, and even skin tone and texture.

7. Get Enough Sleep

When thinking about how to get clear skin, topical skincare products and treatments may be the first things to come to mind, but the reality is that your everyday habits, like your sleeping schedule, are just as important.

Beauty rest is real, people. Your body enters a regenerative state while you sleep, and works to repair itself overnight. Not only does lack of sleep show up on your skin in the form of dark undereye circles and signs of aging, but it also shows up as breakouts. Your body responds to sleep deprivation by producing cortisol, a stress hormone. Increased levels of cortisol can lead to increased inflammation, which can then cause breakouts and worsen existing skin conditions.

The key takeaway? Swap the Netflix all-nighters for some zzz’s to ensure you get a good night’s sleep and take care of your skin in the process.

8. Avoid Hot Water

When it comes to skincare, small tweaks can make a huge difference. You may be surprised to learn that water temperature has an effect on your skin. Hot water may feel nice and soothing, especially during the colder seasons, but showering and washing your face with hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils and cause dryness and irritation, which is bad news especially for those with dry, sensitive, or acne-prone skin. If you’ve ever noticed that your skin feels tight, flaky, or itchy after stepping out of the shower or washing your face, it’s likely dried out. Instead, use lukewarm water since it’s more gentle on the skin, and pat yourself dry.

9. Be Consistent

If you expect to have healthy, clear skin overnight, you’ll be sorely disappointed. Consistency will greatly affect your products’ overall effectiveness so once you have your skincare routine nailed down, stick to it and have realistic expectations. It takes roughly 28 days for your top layer of skin to regenerate, which means it’s important to be consistent and patient with your skincare routine. In order to achieve clear, healthy skin, you’ll need to recognize that skincare is a process and a journey. Take it day by day, listen to your skin’s needs, and you’ll soon have the skin of your dreams.

Abby Vinas

Abby Vinas has long been an active member of the holistic health community, advocating in favor of its benefits to both our physical and emotional well-being. Her commitment to leading a healthy lifestyle has made her an authority on self-care practices. Abby is passionate about fitness, nutrition, and proper skincare, and is also an avid lover of avocado toast and dog-petting.