Skin Protection
Have been reading up about skin care lately and thought it will be fun to pool tips together.
From research, I’ve jotted down a list of bad habits which will stress the skin. These habits are applicable to most Singaporeans, whether you are studying or working (:
1. Smoking
Due to the chemical compounds in cigarettes, there are actually 4,000 components involved where 200 are poisonous. Side effects of smoking include premature aging and wrinkles, as well as a slight yellowing of skin. Of course, I believe smoking is a personal choice, but do take care of your skin if you smoke… maybe take more collagen-boosting food!
Prevention: Quit smoking!
2. Dehydration
Dehydrated skin causes poor circulation and detoxification, which in turn leads to acne problems and an uneven skin texture.
Prevention: Increase your daily water intake (very important!) and of course remember to moisturise your face and body daily.
3. Lack of Sleep
This is increasingly Singapore’s #1 skincare killer! Everyone I know sleeps later and later, there’s always something to do on the Internet and on weekends. Reading, surfing, movies, hanging out with friends… the list goes on and you don’t want to waste time just sleeping.
However, lack of sleep means you are more prone to skin breakouts, rashes and eczema, due to lower immunity to the environment’s threats, irritants and dirt.
Prevention: Sleep 8 hours every day, regularly! While you sleep, your skin regenerates and you will feel better and look better. It also increases your skin’s ability to repair itself… it’s a habit that just gives and gives!
4. Exposure to the Sun
I tend to think that I am allergic to the Sun. My family gets a lot of freckles very easily and now, I have more freckles than I care for. This happens despite my staunch habit to stay out of the sun! Your skin ages so much faster when it is exposed to the Sun.
A simple test is to take your arm and stare at it… then flip it over to the side that is least exposed to the sun and look at your skin. Our skin is supposed to stay nice and taut, as you can see on the underside of your arm. However, at least for my arm, the part that’s exposed to the sun is brown and unhappy-looking.
Prevention: Use a good sunscreen, even when you’re indoors!
I’ve also been reading about good ‘skin food’. I’ve narrowed it down to these four which I can really work on:
1. Aloe Vera!
I apply aloe vera on my skin via the Banana Boat aloe vera gel. It’s bright green in color and usually used by people who are suffering from sun burns. I use it on dry patches on my skin and find it very nourishing on my skin. You can find this at Watson’s or Guardian.
2. Avocado!
I buy avocado (the fruit itself) from the supermarket and blend it into a avocado shake by adding milk. I’ve only tried it once or twice at home, but it’s something I drink from fruit juice stalls. It’s a good alternative for a light lunch, it’s yummy and extremely filling. It helps your skin and hair, don’t underestimate this power fruit! Plus it’s pretty cheap, about S$1.50 for one. You can mash it on its own and put on your face as a mask as well.
3. Olive Oil!
I just decided this works, I haven’t read it anywhere but my skin is definitely softer after this. What I do is I use 100% virgin olive oil (the cooking type) and I put it into a little container. Then I do a 10 minutes hand and nail rub. I started doing this because I had a disaster with acrylic nails some time ago and my nails became crazy brittle. The olive oil rub/soak leaves my nails feeling much better and I do this twice a week on average now. It softens my cuticles and also leaves my skin more hydrated as well. This is on top of using Sally Hansen’s complete nail care treatment and it’s Nail Quencher Cuticle Creme.
4. Acai Berry (power fruit!)
This fruit, previously unknown to me, has worked miracles on my skin. I currently use it as a skin serum, I got it from Kiehl’s and it’s absolutely powerful. It has 15 times more antioxidants than red grapes and has even more antioxidants than pomegranates! It brightens and leaves my skin smoother than before. It’s also the first serum that I am addicted to. It’s for day and night usage and I like it so much that I use it in the afternoon too, three times a day.
If you have reviews about the Acai series for Kiehl’s or any other skincare brand, please recommend in the comments section!
I am so sold on Acai anything now, I’ve been trying to look for acai juice as well, for consumption.
So here’s what I am wondering:
Do you know where I can get Acai juice in Singapore?
What is your favourite ‘skin food’ and how has it helped you?
Let’s swap tips and discuss in the comments section, girls and boys!
