Acne, Eczema, Hyperpigmentation, Wrinkles, Age Spots, Dry Patches, Rosacea, Hormonal Acne, Cystic Acne, Scarring, Dermatitis…….
Most of us can relate to experiencing one of more of the above conditions at some point or another. That doesn’t mean we have to become victims of self-deprecation for not having perfect skin. What if we changed the way we look at ourselves and all of our skin’s imperfections? What if we embrace them?
Here are 7 best ways to improve our skin’s appearance:
1. Love & Acceptance
We must first love and accept ourselves fully in terms of how our skin looks right now. Embrace every wrinkle, age spot and acne scar. We are much more than our physical appearances. We tend to sometimes have a distorted view about how we think our skin should look in comparison to someone else or what is fed to us in advertising images. Note to self: there is no such thing as having perfect skin.
2. Evaluate Root Cause(s)
While acceptance is key; to begin improving on our current skin condition, we must first determine the root causes. What is causing my flare ups or acne breakouts? First let’s evaluate our diet, possible hormonal imbalances, allergies, stress levels, smoking, quality of sleep, exposure to pollution, current skin routine etc. If your condition is severe and prolonged, it is recommended that you seek a good dermatologist and nutritionist first for detailed skin and allergy consultations.
3. Set A Realistic Goal
Once you have narrowed down the root cause of your current skin condition; set a realistic goal and make the necessary adjustments in small incremental steps. For example, start drinking more water for better hydration; eliminate processed foods from your diet; update your skincare routine by using products that specifically target acne marks and hyperpigmentation; get better quality sleep; or buy a humidifier for better air quality control.
4. Monitor Skin Changes
Once you have implemented your goal; monitor and keep tabs on your skin’s condition over a two to four week period to see if there are any changes – good or bad. Getting to know what your skin is telling you helps determine what further changes can be made for optimal results. Just change or adjust one thing at a time and see what happens.
5. Do Your Research
Knowledge is power. There are so many accessible resources about every type of skin condition. Books, articles, podcasts, skincare bloggers, etc. Alternatively, you can seek out a good dermatologist or aesthetician for advice.
6. Enjoy The Journey
The Korean philosophy to skin is that skincare routines are to be enjoyed. 50% of the Korean population have very sensitive skin. Other prevalent conditions include eczema, rosacea and allergies due to environmental pollution are all very common in Korea. Koreans achieved the best results in skin condition improvements compared to North Americans because they have fine-tuned their holistic approach becoming experts in adjusting quickly to their skin’s needs.
7. Become Your Own Expert
- If you have dry patches? Your skin may be dehydrated. Try drinking lots of water and using a richer formulated face cream.
- If you see hyperpigmentation and/or acne scars? A good quality Vitamin C oil, sheet masking and skincare ingredients formulated with snail mucin could be adapted.
Fully embrace one skin issue at a time. Be consistent and patient about the results while continuing to love the skin you are in along the way.
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Please feel free to reach out to me if you would like a free skin consultation. Please leave a comment below with your feedback; we would love to hear from you.