It seems like everyone is always searching for the newest and most innovative ways to achieve great skin. Some brands have even come out with expensive “miracle” products that promise model-looking skin; in my opinion, these brands are taking it to the extreme. Healthy skin does not have to cost a lot of money. For those who want to achieve beauty on a budget, follow these essential skin care tips.

Healthy skin starts from within

The body is only as healthy as the food that feeds it. I am not suggesting that in order to achieve healthy skin, one must only eat fruits and vegetables. My advice is to cut back on greasy foods whenever possible, limit the intake of soda and sugary drinks and most importantly, drink lots and lots of water. Water flushes out toxins from the skin and body, resulting in healthier feeling skin.

Different skin types

What skin needs depends on aspects such as water intake, oil content of the skin, sensitivity and genetics. Depending on certain skin types, different products will work better than others. For oily and combination skin, I recommend moisturizing with a gel-based face lotion because gels offer hydration to the skin without any of the leftover greasiness from cream moisturizers. When it comes to makeup for oily skin, I recommend anything that advertises a matte finish or is targeted specifically for oily or combination skin. Maybelline New York’s Fit Me Matte and Poreless foundation does a great job at keeping the skin matte and lasts all day, plus it’s super affordable and available at any drug store. For dry skin, use moisturizers and serums with skin-replenishing and skin-restoring ingredients. Keeping dry skin hydrated is extremely crucial in the long term. As for makeup, stick to products that advertise hydration, and anything with an SPF is an added benefit. From the same line of makeup I mentioned earlier, the Fit Me Dewy and Smooth Foundation works really well for dry skin and is also available at any drugstore.

Sensitive skin is a different beast altogether. When trying out any new product, always test a small patch of skin before applying and wait a couple of hours for signs of redness and irritation before applying to the face. Next, reading labels is crucial. Look for products that are free of fragrances and parabens as these two things are usually the most common causes of irritation. Choose a cleanser formulated for sensitive skin, but not something too gentle that won’t get rid of dirt and makeup.

Skin care accessories

Accessories are important additions to your skin care routine. Number one on the list of accessories is a facial cleansing brush. Cleansing brushes have a myriad of benefits, such as thoroughly cleaning pores, exfoliating the dead skin cells away, decreasing fine lines (like smile lines and under eye wrinkles) and helping the appearance of acne. Amazon sells many different brands that are a fraction of the price of more expensive brands on the market and do the exact same thing. Next on the list, face masks, while these aren’t really an “accessory,” they are an important part of your skin care routine. Face masks are a great way to help resolve impurities. The right face mask adds hydration and diminishes the looks of pores. However, in order to see results, consistency is key, and it’s recommend applying a face mask once every week at the most. A face mask I really like for clearing my pores is in the above video. However, because it is a glue-based mask it pulls at the skin and may irritate sensitive areas of the face. To get the most benefit out of it I recommend only applying it to the problem areas of the skin, i.e., chin, nose and T-zone.

Cleaning is key

Over time, things like makeup brushes and pillowcases collect dirt, oils, old makeup and dead skin cells that will transfer onto anything they come in contact with, including the face. It is important to keep bed sheets and makeup brushes clean because as time goes on all of the built-up dirt and oil will clog pores and cause breakouts. A good rule of thumb is to clean bed sheets once a week, and switch out pillowcases more than that if need be. The easiest and cheapest way to clean makeup brushes is to run them under water with the brush hairs facing down so water doesn’t get into the roots of the brush hairs and ruin the glue holding them together. Swirl them around on a bar of soap and repeat the process until the water runs completely clean.  

SPF

Harmful UV rays damage the skin no matter what time of year it is. Along with preventing sun damage, sunscreen prevents brown age spots and discoloration in the future and slows down the development of wrinkles. Apply a moisturizer with SPF year round to avoid discoloration and an uneven skin tone. Companies have improved their formulas in almost everything, so anyone can find something that works for their skin type and decreases the risk of skin cancer at the same time.

Check out my previous Katherine’s Kosmetics here.