Win the Skin Care Game with These Epic Tips

The lust after radiant skin is real, and most of the time, we are going in the wrong direction for proper skin care. Not only do we usually get the wrong types of products for our skin, but sometimes we apply products chock full of harmful chemicals that will irritate your skin. The best way to get your skin in perfect shape is to use products that are easy on the skin, but still able to work miracles. Here are some tips to reach the peak of perfect skin without all the additional problems your regular skin products may be causing you. 

Introduce Your Skin to Charcoal!

The first step to radiant skin is getting rid of those stubborn blemishes. Blemishes usually show up at the worst possible time, and the best way to get rid of them is with activated charcoal. Activated charcoal has become a popular ingredient in face washes recently. The charcoal draws out impurities and unclogs pores, not just on your face, but anywhere you are prone to acne.

Yes To Tomatoes makes a facial cleanser with charcoal, as well as other ingredients, to help your skin be clear as day. The tomato extract provides you with a daily dose of antioxidants, salicylic acid to get deep into your pores, and jojoba spheres to gently exfoliate your skin. This product is great not only because of how well it works, but because it is 97% natural, and it is also paraben, SLS, silicone, and cruelty-free.

If you’d rather have a much more natural approach to skin care, creating a small mixture of activated charcoal, which typically comes in capsules, and 100% aloe vera (which is even better if you take the gel straight from the plant) into a paste and use that as a spot treatment.

Wash Your Face Every Day!

This may seem obvious but it’s often overlooked. There have been plenty of times when we think we can get away with one night of not taking off our makeup, or mornings where we simply forget. Washing your face is important if you want to give your skin that perfect glow, so find a will and way to develop this habit. 

You can go the easy route when it comes to removing your makeup at night. Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes are the best solution to lazy makeup removal as their ingredients live up to their name--simple. Unlike other facial wipes, these don't contain any harsh irritants or perfumes, so they are great for sensitive skin. 

But if you do find the time to give your face a gentle scrub, try Gentle Daily Wash by Kate Somerville. Using this cleanser is great for all skin types, as it also doesn't contain any irritants. This cleanser contains lavender oil (lavandula angustifolia), which not only calms and soothes the skin, but alleviates redness that blemishes can cause.

Always Moisturize!

For those with oily skin, this may seem counterproductive, but adding moisturizer to your skin care routine will help your skin retain its natural oils. However, before you choose a moisturizer, it's best to figure out your skin type. This can be done by washing and drying your face, waiting about an hour, then determine how your skin appears. 

If you notice that it's even slightly oily, find a moisturizer that is water-based or oil-free. Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel is a hydrating gel that helps your skin maintain a balance of moisture without looking oily. This moisturizer is for oily to combination oily skin. Clinique also has your dry skin covered. Their Dramatic Different Moisturizing Lotion is similar to the gel, but the lotion is petroleum and oil-based to give your skin the hydration it needs all day long. This lotion is made for very dry to combination dry skin. 

These moisturizers are not only great for your face, but for any other problem areas your have on your body. With these products, a little goes a long way, so even the smallest dollop can change how your skin feels.

Get Yourself a Good Toner!

The appearance of pores is annoying, and they are so stubborn. The best remedy is to get a toner. After you've washed your face and before you apply your moisturizer, put a small amount of toner on a cotton ball, and gently wipe your face. This will remove excess oils and shrink those pesky pores. Toners also help with the pH balance of your skin while moisturizing, refreshing, and preventing ingrown hairs.

A lot of facial products, especially toners, can contain harsh chemicals. Just because it initially feels like it’s working that doesn’t mean it’s good for your skin. You’ll find it’s best to stick with products that are more on the natural side, or your own DIY concoction with just a couple of ingredients. Raw apple cider vinegar is the best natural cure to most skin problems. When using it as a toner you must dilute it because the vinegar alone is too acidic for your delicate skin. You will want to dilute the vinegar with distilled water, depending on your skin type. For sensitive skin, add more water than vinegar. If you have oily skin, have equal parts water, and vinegar. 

The downside of apple cider vinegar is the god awful smell. Some love it, as it reminds them of kombucha, but others can’t open the bottle without gagging. If you’re one of those people, feel free to spruce up your mixture with lavender or tea tree oils. Again, lavender oil is great to soothe redness, and tea tree oil is used to cure tons of skin ailments.