Trade Secrets: 5 Tips For Loving The Skin You're In
In the Trade Secrets series, I will share tips and tricks for a well-lived life and a well-run business. Enjoy!
I’ve struggled with my skin since puberty and have always found a way to nit-pick my body. Whether it was my acne, my stretch marks, or not being snatched, something was always wrong and worthy of criticism. Even when others would try to reassure me that my skin or body was perfectly fine, I took this as my friends and family just being kind. However, I’m finally in a place where I feel like I’ve made peace with my body and my skin and I wanted to share some tips on how I got to this point and how you can too.
Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself
One of the most important things I’ve learned in life is that you have to practice kindness with yourself. The amount of times I’ve called myself ugly (jokingly or not) is truly atrocious and I would never say that to anybody else that I cared about. I’ve also claimed the label “bad skin”, when really I have skin that reacts to hormones, genetics, bacteria, the environment, and stress, just like everybody else. This past year, I’ve worked on eliminating the harsh criticism and labels I’ve assigned to myself, which were only ever unhealthy defense mechanisms disguised as self-deprecating humor and self-awareness. One of the ways I practice kindness with myself when it comes to my skin segues into my second tip…
Focus On The Positive
One of the best ways to practice self-love is telling yourself all the good things about you. We have to look past what we deem to be our flaws and focus on what we love about ourselves. I have a great smile, big, brown eyes, and excellent cheekbones (thanks Nana!), so why am I only ever thinking about my oily skin and acne? My stretch marks are proof that my body has grown and shrank and once housed my beloved baby boy. I should wear them with pride instead of shamefully hiding them. This is not an overnight process. It takes time to learn to be more positive (see tip 1). If you don’t have a journal, I encourage you to start one and write down all of the things you love about yourself, your skin, and your body. Thank your body and skin for all of the things that they can do, how they’ve protected you, and all of the years that they’ve brought you through.
Get Acquainted With Your Skin Type
Do some research online or see a licensed, reputable esthetician about what skin type you have and what treatments are best for your skin type. Whether you have oily, dry, or combination skin, knowing how to treat your skin is a game-changer for letting your skin be at it’s best. Concerns like hyperpigmentation and acne can be treated, but you have to know what ingredients are actually effective before pouring tons of money into expensive products and it’s also important to address the cause of these skin issues so that you can make the right choice for your skin.
Develop A Simple Routine
It can be daunting to go down your favorite beauty aisles, and see all of the options and want to try any and everything. The key is to pare things down at least for a little while and get back to basics. Hydration is important for all skin types so wash your face with the appropriate, non-drying cleanser (double cleanse with cleansing oil or balm if you wear makeup), splash on a hydrating toner, and moisturize every morning and every night. That’s it! On days when you’re feeling like you can do more, add a serum, essence, mask, or an exfoliation step. Exfoliants and masks should be limited to once or twice a week anyway.
Protect Your Skin
Once you have a routine that works for your skin, you will want to do everything you can to keep it healthy and protected. This means not picking at your skin, making sure you sleep on clean bedding, and for the love of all that is good in the world, WEAR SUNSCREEN! The sun will age and damage your skin so apply sunscreen every time you leave your home. Even if it’s a cloudy day and even if you have dark skin. EVERY. TIME.
I hope these tips help you on your journey to loving your happy, healthy skin. Have you been there and done that and have some tips of your own? Let us know!
Yours truly, masked up circa 2015
