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keys to good skin

MyDoorsAreOpen

MyDoorsAreOpen

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Aug 20, 2003
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Has anyone here found a regimen for getting very nice skin that has a healthy glow, doesn't droop, doesn't scar easily, heals quickly after sunburns and cuts, and has a good sense of touch?

I find alpha lipoic acid does wonders, personally. We should get a list of ideas going. I think looking out for your skin is the key to aging gracefully and can therefore do a lot for a positive life outlook.
 
At the risk of having my sexuality questioned:

I use the Garnier, Lancome and Nivea Visage range of products. But I'm also fairly young (23) so haven't really noticed any aging effects yet.

I have noticed since excercising that the darkness around my eyes has definatley lightened up (isn't "puffy" like before either).

Normally use the Garnier Facial Wash, Lancome Emergency Facial Mask (very occasionally), Nivea Visage "Young" Facial Moisturiser, and Nivea Visage Facial Scrub (twice a week).

The Nivea SPF 15+ Moisturiser if I'm out in the sun. UV exposure ages you fairly quickly, I have some friends who tan often and they look a good few years older than me...
 
Evening primrose oil is good. I take an Omega 3-6-9 combo that also contains EPO. I take ALA but not for skin - it's just a great supplement.

Water is essential and dehydration is a huge cause of skin issues. I always drink tons of water (at least 3-4 litres a day).

Not overwashing your skin is important too - I used to only cleanse & moisturise once daily but now that I live in a hot, humid climate, I do it morning and night.

I have very sensitive skin and I travel between wildly varying climates a lot, so my skin is a mix of oily/spotty/red/flaky at any time. I have several product regimens that keep it under control, which I think is probably excessive but it's like a form of meditation for me, I find it relaxing.

Oh FYI ruski, you'd be surprised how many men have a full skin care regimen these days. There's nothing effeminate about not looking like you just crawled out of a coal mine. My boy and I spend one night a week doing facial masks and scrubs together, it's just good fun :)
 
I think my comments were for the benefit of any readers, not my own personal experience but having said that I shouldn't have disclaimed it if thats what I actually thought :)

As its starting to warm up here (mid twenties.. celcius) I've noticed my skin becoming a little more oiler.
 
Genetics, unfortunately, are 90% of "good skin" IMO (a bit like weight really).

I'm lucky, my mum had beautiful skin, my nanna had beautiful skin - both didn't start to show wrinkles until way into their 40's.

Still, just like the genetic predisposition to weight gain, there are definitely things you can do to improve your fate skin-wise.

Omega 3 and 6 oils as mentioned before are the best way to internally care for your skin. Take an Omega supplement if you can't eat enough oily fish, avocado and nuts - these oils moisturise your skin from within and improve the cellular structure and elasticity. Omega 3 oils (fish and flaxseed) also have the added benefit of calming inflammation -perfect for psoriasis or eczema sufferers. They also help heal acne scars.

Water is most definitely right up there with Omega fatty acids as one of the most important skin helpers. If you drink no water and only soft drink and coffee/tea, you're probably committing the greatest skin sin; dehydration is a killer.

STAY OUT OF THE SUN! The cardinal sin of skin "don't"'s is sunbaking - it will wrinkle and damage your skin horribly. I've heard some skin experts say that the best beauty secret they can ever divulge is to wear a 15+ sunscreen every day (including in winter).

Ditto with smoking. Yeah - I smoke, I can't judge ;)... but it will create little lines around your eyes and lips. Stress and lack of sleep will also wreak havoc on your complexion.

finally I'd say invest in a good moisturiser (guys too) at least from the age of 25 onwards. By "good" that doesn't mean top-notch brands, because you're buying the brand name and advertising as well. But a middle-priced, reputable brand which has hydrating effect - like with vitamins C and E, is a good investment. Use at night, and use a lighter less expensive brand in the morning. It just helps create a moisture barrier, if nothing else, so that the environment around you does not suck out the moisture in your skin.

Later down the track, some alpha-hydroxy acids and so on in your moisturisers can help lift those dead layers of skin so that the ingredients get down further... I also think that exfoiliation is great for this purpose.

But yeah, in terms of importance:

1. Sunscreen
2. Water
3. Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids
4. A good moisturiser
 
As SLM mentioned, omega 3 fatty acids. They havent really helped me out with my acne situation but Ive noticed my skin hair and nails have been very soft since using them, and my skin seems to have a better moisture balance (not too oily, not extremely dry) since using them. Drinking a ton of water seems to help with this as well, Ive been doing that since I was 18.

Not smoking too much is important too..I only smoke once a week at the most..and Ill probably cut that out too soon enough. I notice a difference in my skin after a night of smoking the NEXT morning, so I know it does something.

For acne, using benzoyl peroxide in large amounts to clear the skin works wonders. I follow the regimen outlined on www.acne.org . Nothing has helped my acne more and as most sufferers know, acne has a huge effect on your self esteem and the acne itself damages the skin sometimes permanantly, so its important to treat it asap. I was also reading recently that acne can cause premature aging because it messes up the areas of the skin that produce collagen.

On top of that the only other two things I can think of right now are aerobic excercise and eating right, TONS of fruits and veggies. Working out brings fresh blood to the skins surface, which means more oxygen.

Great thread!! Im all about the skin care..hell Im obsessed! :)
 
I don't do too terribly much with primping and preening my skin. I'm out and about and very busy usually so I don't really have a ton of time for a skin care regimen.

But moisturizer is always a bonus. It definitely helps to stop getting wrinkles from dry skin and it seems to firm it up a bit.

Otherwise...I don't like spending loads of money on cleansers and facial scrubs. Baking soda makes an excellent exfoliant. Just sprinkle a small mound into your hand and wet the other. It makes a scrubby paste that you can massage all over your face and then wash off.
 
Deep breathing, meditation and other stress reducing things might help too. At least I know, as an acne sufferer it gets a lot worse a day or two after a stressful event.
 
Yes.

If your over 30, the answer is HGH and other hormone replacement therapy combined with the below.

And if your under 30 just the below works great man

1) Exfoliate in shower. Dont get that 'bead' exfoliating crap, its gotta be something really rough, steel whool works LOL j/k just get a loofa thing.

2) when you get outta shower PAT your skin just once per area leave alotta moisture on the skin. Then you wanna use some special moisturizer. I use a homemade combo of chineese silk peptide, freshly extracted coconut oils and vanilla, sodium hyaluronate, and antioxidants. Gives the most incredibly perfect skin ever, and smells insanely good.

Then you wanna re-moisturize at least once more in the day. If you live in a very sunny place where you get alotta of sun exposure, re moisturize almost hourly. ITs really all about the moisture. The better your skin feels the better it looks. If your skin doesnt feel like brand new high priced flawlessly supple leather, you better moisturize.
 
^^Could you please post the exact recipe and possible net sources for the ingredients? I am very interested in this one...Cheers
u_n
 
All I do is take 6g of fish oil, 3g of lecithin, and live in a place that's cloudy all the time pretty much. I've never been happier with the results.
 
I've noticied when I take my multivitamins my skin seems to clear up. I think it might be the B-vitamins?
 
Sphinx (Afterlife) said:
1) Exfoliate in shower. Dont get that 'bead' exfoliating crap, its gotta be something really rough, steel whool works LOL j/k just get a loofa thing.
Click to expand...
Whoa! For your body maybe, but you should never use anything as harsh as a loofah on your face. I have very sensitive skin, so the exfoliant I use doesn't contain "beads", it uses alpha hydroxys. I exfoliate really infrequently.

Anyhoo I used to have great skin but it sucks lately, my skin just hates the combination of stress and humid weather that's come with living in a new climate.
 
Yeah I've also heard being gentle to your face is the way to go. A really forgiving wash like original Phisoderm, that doesn't take away any essential oils that keep your skin elastic.
 
aunty establishment said:
Whoa! For your body maybe, but you should never use anything as harsh as a loofah on your face. I have very sensitive skin, so the exfoliant I use doesn't contain "beads", it uses alpha hydroxys. I exfoliate really infrequently.

Anyhoo I used to have great skin but it sucks lately, my skin just hates the combination of stress and humid weather that's come with living in a new climate.
Click to expand...

Good call. I was about to say the same thing. Dont get me wrong, if it works for you, thats all well and good, but anyone who suffers from acne or just sensitive skin in general should stay away from skin scrubbing in any form.
 
Jojoba oil is a really good, totally natural moisturiser . it doesnt obsorb into your skin like some other oils and it leaves your face feeling and looking really fresh and glowy. a bottle will probably cost you about $8 and it'll last you forever. a little goes a long way with this stuff.
 
^Ive heard a lot of good things about that stuff.
Something else: My mother recently recommended to be to take ascorbyl palmitate. Its a type of vitamin c thats supposed to be fat soluble so it actually gets absorbed into the skin easier. Also known as ester c, although not all ester c is ascorbyl palmitate. My mom is big on anti aging stuff and she read this book by some anti aging guru guy who recommended it. I just barely started taking it today, hopefully it will make a difference in my skin.
 
natural non-hydrogenated oils... jojoba, almond, etc, and SHEA BUTTER... my skin really likes it! ... and evening primrose both externally and internally... just internally, I found that ingesting provitamin A (betacarotin) makes me look WAY more tanned.

diet also goes along way. plenty raw food is nice for the skin, fruit, veg . . .
 
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