Part 3 of 3
By Bernard Freeman
Spring Skin Care
Warmer weather means more sun and that means you will have to take extra care of your skin. This section will go into teaching you how to take better care of your skin during the spring and summer months.
Exfoliate
Cold weather can really do a number on your skin and dry it out. Use a gentle exfoliating scrub to get rid of the dry, dead winter skin. You should exfoliate your face as well. Local pharmacies and grocery stores will sell body and face exfoliants for you to use.
Remember, you will need to buy separate exfoliant for your body and face. You’ll want to use a more gentle exfoliant for your face than you would use for your body. You can also find face masks that will help get all the dead skin off your face without having to use a scrub that could cause tiny skin tears.
Sunscreen is Self Care
The sun’s warm rays can be very harmful to your skin. As the temperature begins to rise, people want to be outside and enjoying the sun. You should always be careful exposing your skin to sun without sunscreen. It’s crucial to apply a good sunscreen during the spring and summer months. Apply sunscreen with at least a good SPF 50 to both your face and your body.
Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
Cold weather dries your skin out and your skin may have soaked up the heaviest of moisturizers you may have. During spring and summer, you’ll want to switch it up to a light moisturizer that won’t leave your skin feeling greasy. Find one that makes your skin feel hydrated and healthy.
Find a hyaluronic acid or water-based formula. Your skin seems to hold more water during the summer and spring months, so you won’t need as much moisturizing protection as you would during cold months.
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
Applying sunscreen and moisturizer are great ways to liven your skin up during the warmer weather, but there are also dietary things you can do to help your skin. Eating nutrient rich food packed with vitamins and minerals such as fruits and vegetables also work wonders for your skin.
Fruits and vegetables such as blackberries, guavas, kiwi fruits, cucumbers, oranges and strawberries are just a few examples of the kinds of fruits and vegetables to aid in skin care. Drinking a lot of water not only hydrates your body but it also hydrates your skin as well.
Getting Good Sleep
Getting good, quality sleep is essential to a healthy life. Not enough sleep can cause many mental and physical issues. Here are some tips to help you get better quality sleep at night.
Make a Sleep Schedule
You should sleep for no more than eight hours each night although the recommended amount for adults is seven hours. Most adults in the United States don’t even sleep seven hours. Setting a sleep schedule begins with setting a time to go to bed and setting a time to wake up. Creating a sleep schedule also creates a sleep cycle in your body; being consistent will help your body’s sleep cycle line up.
How to Fall asleep
Have you ever tossed and turned in bed struggling to sleep at night? If you don’t fall asleep within 20 minutes of lying down in bed, leave your room and do something that relaxes you.
You can read a book, listen to soothing music or sit down and draw. As soon as you feel tired, go back to bed. Repeat this as many times as it takes for you to finally fall asleep. Do not watch television. Although this can be relaxing, it is easier to be tempted to stay up and watch whatever series you may be binging.
Limit Naps
If you ever find yourself tired throughout the day and feel the need to take a nap, don’t. Daytime naps can interfere with your sleep cycle, causing you to be wide awake at night. If you do need to take a nap, lay down for 30 minutes. Avoid napping if it’s close to whatever time you are scheduled to go to bed.
Get Your Worries Out
Sometimes your thoughts and stress can keep you up at night. Try to get rid of those thoughts or worries by solving them or writing your feelings down into a journal to get them out of your head.
Find a relaxing activity such as reading, drawing or painting that you can do close to when you are scheduled to sleep to help relax you and destress you.
