Six Ways To Improve Your Skin Without Touching It

When we think about our skin and ways of improving its overall health and appearance, we often go straight to thinking of products and treatments, and who doesn’t love a good medspa treatment—am I right.

However, taking a more holistic approach to skincare, there are many factors within our control which contribute directly to skin health, and there are certain lifestyle changes that can go a long way in your journey to looking fresh-faced AF.

Ultimately, you can follow an elaborate skincare routine, and even pay top dollar on medical grade products and treatments, but if your environment, lifestyle and body aren’t top of mind as well, it will be harder for you to achieve significant results when it comes to your skin, and you can prevent your skin from reaching its true, glowy, dewy, Hailey, potential. So without further ado, here are six ways to improve your skin without actually touching it.

Drink More Water

You’ve heard it time and time again: staying hydrated throughout the day is key for overall health, but also plays an important role in keeping the skin layers functioning properly. Hydrated skin appears plump and radiant. Dehydrated skin on the other hand can be dry, dull, and can even show in the form of dehydration lines. Although they may look like wrinkles, they are not caused by facial expressions, they are a direct consequence of dehydration in the body on a cellular level, and you may notice them slightly fade as you up your H2O intake. To make sure you get enough water, get yourself one of these extra large bottles and try your best to stay consistent throughout each day!

Change Your Pillow Cases

Getting your beauty sleep also plays a major part in skin health, but can we really call it beauty sleep if you’re resting that pretty face on a dirty pillow? Every night, we shed skin cells, hair, and oils into our beds... so gross. Change your pillow cases every couple of days and make sure to wash the actual pillows periodically as well. Experts also say that you should switch your pillows out for new ones every one to two years. To go the extra mile and really get that beauty built into your beauty sleep, opt for a silk pillow case to reduce friction on the skin and hair, helping to prevent wrinkles and minimize hair breakage. This Lilysilk silk pillowcase was voted best 19 Momme silk pillowcase by Glamour this year.

Focus on Gut Health

So much can be said for this one, and the saying rings true: you are what you eat. You might even notice that your skin reacts badly to certain foods and it goes without saying that those trigger foods should absolutely be avoided, at least until further testing is done. Nevertheless, the latest studies suggest that each individual's microbiome is unique, so what may cause inflammation for you and wreck havoc for your skin, may be totally different to the foods that trigger your partner for example. There are however some general guidelines that wouldn't hurt to follow to help you optimize skin health. In general, aiming for whole, non-processed foods, most of the time, is a great starting point. Getting a little more specific, a diet rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and omega 3 fatty acids will help your skin maintain collagen, boost hydration, and protect your skin cells from damage. According to MD Amir Karam, copper and zinc are also important pillars of skin health. Read The Inside Scoop on the Gut-Skin Connection for more details on this topic!

Prioritize Your Sleep

Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night is crucial. When we sleep, our body gets to work on cellular turnover. More specifically, our dermis layers begin to shed corneocytes (dead skin cells), making way for fresh new cells—this process being even more effective with the use of retinoids. Interestingly, this regeneration process really ramps up between 11 PM and 4 AM, so try as much as reasonable possible given your circumstances to be asleep during those hours. In addition to cellular turnover, our bodies are also working hard to repair cell damage from UV rays, pollution, and toxins during this time. Taking this into consideration, and although sometimes easier said than done, prioritizing your sleep throughout the week is sure to do wonders for your skin.

Invest in a Humidifier

A huge part of skin health is the health of it's natural moisture barrier and it's ability to retain moisture. Without this, you might find yourself with dry, dull, or even dehydrated skin. Now depending on where you live, climate conditions and seasonal changes might make it tough for you to retain moisture in the skin despite having the best skincare practices and lifestyle habits. Here's what you can do to improve this: first, check your home and office's humidity level and make sure your systems are set anywhere between 30% and 50%. Next, to help maintain humidity and keep dryness at bay, invest in a good humidifier, especially for the colder and dryer months, and have it running by your bed while you sleep. I love Canopy's line of humidifiers as they're aesthetically pleasing and offer a wide range of colors to choose from, making them a practical and a great decor accent at the same time.

Disinfect Your Phone

Lastly, just in case you needed a friendly reminder: disinfect your phone, regularly! In our world of constant connectivity, our phones go everywhere with us, meaning they also carry a ton of germs. Regularly wiping them down with disinfectant wipes or alcohol not only keeps them clean but also helps prevent transferring bacteria to your skin, promoting clearer, healthier skin overall. So, while you're taking care of your skin, don't forget to give your phone a little TLC too—it can make a big difference!

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