The Skin Commandments

Last week master aesthetician Jillian Wright revealed the six skin sins that people perpetrate against themselves…Now she shares with us her ten skin commandments for a glowing complexion…

1. Exfoliate at least once or twice a week. “Your skin, being the largest bodily organ, goes through a lot to protect you internally and externally,” Jillian said. “We are constantly shedding dead skin cells that sit on the surface and dull our complexion. The skin can look gray, sallow and dull. A simple solution is to exfoliate once or twice a week–depending on your skin type–to reveal fresh, healthy skin.” By helping the proliferation process, you are keeping your skin vibrant, youthful and energized. The right exfoliation balance will ensure your skin’s beauty.

2. Eliminate excessive amount of sugar, dairy, salt, alcohol and caffeine. Anything in excess can throw off your balance in life, love, work, family, and even your skin. Keep a mental or written diary of what is going on in your life down to everything you are consuming. If you have concerns about your diet, consult a clinical dietician who can help ween you off certain triggers that may be causing your skin to react.

3. Do not touch and pick at your face. Want zits? Go ahead and touch your face! You bring bacteria to the surface when you pick or touch which will spread and cause unnecessary acne especially around your mouth. In the morning, after you apply your skincare and makeup, don’t touch your face until you are ready to take it off and prepare for bed.

Don’t pick at your face either. It is difficult to restrain from this nasty habit, but it is doable. You have to WANT to stop this habit. Scarring, discoloration and acne are all results of picking your skin. Give it a try, and after three months of keeping your paws away from your face, you will see a visible difference in your skin.

4. Drink lots of water. Water is hydrating and helps to flush toxins from the body. If you don’t like the taste of straight water, Jillian recommends adding Pure Inventions to it. Pure Inventions is a liquid water enhancer that comes in delicious flavors that will make water taste refreshing and yummy.

5. Eat the colors of the rainbow. By including in your diet a variety of bright fruits and vegetables you are ensuring better nutrition. “My mother always says just put out a bowl of fruit or veggies and the kids will eat it,” said Jillian. “It is true, if you cut up lots of colorful food, it is nearly impossible for you and your family not to eat it. We call cucumbers, “cucumber cookies” and if my son is playing, I’ll hand him a yellow pepper.  It’s not forced, it’s natural and if you adapt that mentality into your diet, you are more likely to grab a cherry than a cookie if it is there waiting for you.”

6. Be your own skincare detective. “A journal of your skin functions can be a very good indicator of why your skin is behaving badly,” Jillian said. “If you write it down, it may come to you why you are have a flaky nose, or acne, or fine lines going across your forehead. When you sit down and think about it, that trouble-shooting will pay off,” she added. You can figure out why your skin may be unbalanced by simply reflecting on your daily habits.

7. Wear sunscreen every day. Even when you are walking around in cloudy weather, or making a quick dash to the market, your skin is exposed to UVA and UVB damaging rays. This weakens your elasticity causing wrinkles and fine lines, discoloration, age spots and redness. The sun is producing free radicals that damage your skin. It’s much harder to reverse the damage than it is to prevent it. Wearing an SPF of 30 or higher every day will slow down the aging process.

8. Know your hormonal cycle. This is one of the biggest culprits of skin behaving badly. If you know your cycle you can plan for certain activities that may or may not impact your skin’s health. For example, don’t plan a facial a few days before your cycle or ovulation. Your skin is overly sensitive and producing more oil than it normally does. Wait until you’re a few days into your period or afterwards because your skin tends to be less sensitive. Same goes for your ovulation. You’re apt to get cystic acne during this time so don’t pick. You can use a spot treatment or mask to help purge your skin of impurities.

9. Sleep well. Start a positive bedtime ritual for quality sleep. Light a candle or read a good book before you drift off. Avoid sleeping with the television on. Take care of and nurture yourself. Make the bedroom into a pleasurable haven where you can relax. Get into a sleep habit. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. A rhythmic ritual such as this is good for your skin. Become a back sleeper. Stomach sleeping presses your face into the pillow, causing fine lines and creases.

10. Make happiness. “Sometimes it is difficult to carve out time to just be happy,” Jillian said. “We have so much going on in our busy lives–family, friends, work, school and other responsibilities that take us away from taking care of ourselves.” Jillian advises finding something to look forward to, that only involves you. It doesn’t have to be complicated…it can be a movie, a pedicure, a massage, a good book or a play. Minimizing stress in your life will eliminate some of the mental clutter and ultimately benefit your skin’s overall health and aging process.