Four Skin Facts That You Need To Know

The skin is the largest organ of the body when it comes to surface area. Generally, it serves as a barrier between us and our harsh external environment. It keeps us warm during cold nights, keeps us cool under the sun's heat and keeps most bacteria out of our system. It's quite a tough job; hence, it is only right that we take extra measures to take care of it. Here are a few facts that we need to know about our skin and a few more tips to keep it in the best condition.

1. Cleanse, moisturize, moisturize and moisturize. I won't mind if I say this all over again. Yes, moisture is that important to your skin. Never forget to clean your skin before going to sleep. Dirt and grime tend to accumulate on your skin's pores and when left there overnight, could irritate the area. And believe me, you wouldn't want that zit unexpectedly popping out of nowhere.

After washing, essential oils from your skin are also washed away. Hence, replenish that loss by moisturizing. Not only does it help preserve your skin's water content but also it also acts as a protective barrier and promotes proper shedding of dead skin cells. An additional tip, drink water as much as you can. This also helps your skin nourish the water lost through sweating and evaporation.

2. Your skin is constantly shedding off everyday, renewing itself completely every 28-30 days. This means that these are the best times to exfoliate. This would help shed off those excess dead cells and reveal the more radiant skin beneath. But heads up girls, there is such a thing as over-exfoliating. Exfoliating too often can cause your skin to redden and even be irritated. But again, it would depend on your skin type. Dry skin should be exfoliated every 14 days or so. And remember, after exfoliating; always follow it up with a good moisturizer to keep your skin from drying.

3. Human skin can only tolerate a certain amount of UV rays from the sun an excess of which can lead to premature skin aging and even skin cancer. The solution: use lotion with UV protection. A few tips for buying sun screen. Pick the ones with a high amount of zinc oxide. This active compound has the ability to filter both UVA and UVB rays allowing greater protection of the skin. Another tip would be to pick sunscreens with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 and above. This is now the recommended minimum protection by dermatologists considering the increasing amount of UV rays the earth's atmosphere is now allowing in.

4. Always be picky with the products that you put on. Be familiar with the ingredients, read all you can about a product before buying it. And finally, know your skin type. Lotions and moisturizers come in various types, all designed to fit your specific needs from dry, sensitive to normal skin. There are some active ingredients in your lotion that could do more harm than good. So be extra vigilant and know what you need.

Radiant healthy skin does not come to you by chance. It takes hard work, proper exercise, a balanced diet and an extra mile of pampering to achieve. But it is comforting to know that your efforts will always be rewarded!