We know what you’re thinking—naturally glowing skin isn’t real. If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and wondered why your skin isn’t as radiant as those Instagram models or celebrities strutting down the red carpet, you’re not alone.
There’s no doubt Photoshop does wonders, but we’re here to tell you that you can get healthy, beautiful, and glowing skin—and it’s not as difficult as you might think. If anything, it’s quite attainable. So wipe away those preconceived notions about your skincare routine and listen up. These at-home skincare tips and tricks will have your skin glowing in no time.
1. Get yourself an oversized chug jug and hydrate like water’s going out of style.
You’ve heard it time and again, but we can’t stress this enough—irrigation is key to avoid irritating and itchy dry skin.
As your body’s largest organ, your skin requires some serious upkeep. All those cells are thirsty, so give ’em what they want: copious amounts of H2O. Drink at least 2 liters of water each day or half your body weight in ounces.
Yep, that’s a lotta liquid. Thankfully, SheKnows has some solid recommendations on the best large water bottles.
2. When it comes to your diet, antioxidants pay dermatological dividends.
Free radicals are the enemy of healthy, glowing skin—and a formidable one. When your body metabolizes food and drink, oxidation releases these unstable molecules that have been linked to cancer, Parkinson’s and other biological baddies. They may also be linked to aging. Translated: crags, creases and wrinkles.
That said, oxidants are your best ally in the fight against free radicals. Think berries (blueberries are a known powerhouse), sweet potatoes, avocados and walnuts. Really, anything high in vitamins A, C and E will up your skin’s glow quotient.
3. Face it—you’ll get a deeper clean with a double cleanse.
There’s so much skin to care for on our bodies, but our faces are almost always on display. Keeping them clean is tough. To complicate things, they’re notorious dirt magnets, oil rigs and sweat diffusers. And if you wear makeup, sheesh.
A quick splash of soap and water at the end of the day isn’t going to cut it. Consider a double facial cleanse. Start with an oil-based cleanser to do the dirtiest work and then use a water-based one to more effectively unclog those pores.
There’s plenty of science to support this savvy skin care routine. Don’t take our word for it—Vox did a deep dive that’ll surely make you a double-cleanse convert.
4. If your skin is to glow, those dead cells must go. Be sure to exfoliate.
At BabyFoot, we’re a bit biased when it comes to exfoliation. Our one-hour foot peel treatments are synonymous with smooth, great-looking feet. The magic lies within our proprietary formula that blends 16 natural extracts. Just don’t forget to moisturize after the foot peel is finished with our Moisturizing Foot Mask.
There are two categories of exfoliants—physical and chemical. Both offer unique benefits. Physical exfoliants like face scrubs have small grains in them that manually dislodge the muck stuck in your pores. Chemical exfoliants derive their strength from the periodic table, using alpha and beta hydroxy acids to dissolve dirt, makeup and oil.
Exfoliate two or three times a week for best results. If you have sensitive skin, here’s a list of exfoliators recommended by dermatologists.
5. Here’s the real skinny on glowing skin—more sleep.
Don’t discount some of the more obvious—and less expensive—ways to keep your skin looking its best. Sleep doesn’t cost anything, which means the cost-benefit analysis for your skin is off the charts!
Science strikes again with this tip. There are numerous studies that back up the correlation between sleep quality and skin health. One of the most recent found that sleep replenishes thinner collagen fibers that take a beating from ultraviolet radiation, pollution and alcohol.
Collagen is what gives our skin its natural glow, so get to bed earlier and reap the restorative rewards.
6. The seasons change … and so must your skincare routine.
As you’ve probably realized by now, skin can be finicky. Skin types run the gamut from oily to dry to porous to blotchy and react differently to seasonal swings. Whether it’s the cruel winter cold, harsh summer heat or spring allergy onslaught, your skin rarely gets a break from the elements.
Sadly, there’s no such thing as a year-round skincare solution. Your routine has to shift with the ever-changing environmental conditions. That means ditching long, hot showers in the winter, wearing plenty of sunscreen in the summer and, for many, popping allergy relief pills in the spring to combat swelling and puffiness.
Read up on these seasonal skincare challenges and suggestions for keeping your skin shimmery no matter the time of year.
7. If you don’t have naturally glowing skin, maybe it’s time to try “glotion.”
If you’ve tried all the tips above and that natural glow is still elusive, don’t give up. There’s a whole world of “glotions,” or lotions designed to make your skin lustrous.
These hybrid makeup products blend moisturizers with highlighters to soften your skin and give you that instantaneous glow up. Humectants are what give glotions their luminosity. These miracle workers draw moisture into your skin, giving you a dermis that’s to die for.
There are oodles of glotions to choose from, but L’Oreal’s True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer is known for its loyal disciples. Seems fitting this beloved glotion gets plenty of glowing reviews.
Using these simple, yet effective skincare tips and tricks can be done in the comfort of your own home. We’re confident you now have everything you need to get the glowing, beautiful, healthy skin you’re looking for. We wish you the best of luck in your quest for glowing skin, but don’t forget your feet. Our entire line of foot care products, which includes our Original Exfoliation Foot Peel, will ensure you glow from head to toe.
