Taking care of your skin should be a daily part of your health care routine. Healthy skin is vibrant, full of life and better able to protect you from the harsh elements present in our everyday world. Skin care doesn’t have to involve a long, cumbersome routine. Just follow these simple steps and you’ll take care of your skin in no time, leaving you ready to start your day.

To avoid drying out your skin you should stay away from harsh chemicals and cleansers. Those cleansers with exfoliating beads can be bad, too. A gentle cleaner is all you need to wash away makeup and oil that has built up throughout the day. If you use other products with harsh chemicals, you run the risk of irritating your skin or drying it out, as they contain ingredients that can cause excessive drying or inflammation.

Exposure to fresh air and sunshine can help improve your skin’s appearance and minimize acne. Some ways to get more sun in during the day include going for a walk during your lunch break or taking your kids to the park. You need to get outside because the sun helps your body make vitamin D. This vitamin is essential for healthy, glowing skin.

If you are a female, be careful with the type of makeup that you use. Try not to use a makeup with a lot of chemicals, which can harm the surface of your skin and starve your pores of oxygen. Find a mineral makeup that is made up of natural, breathable ingredients.

Use a shaving cream or other lubricant when you shave. This goes for both men and women. Shaving is harsh on your skin, with thin metal scraping across it. Failure to use a lather will result in razor burn or possibly ingrown hairs which can be difficult to treat.

You should protect your skin not only with lotion but also with clothing. If it is sunny outside, make sure your clothes protect your skin. Do not wear clothes that fit too tightly to allow your skin to sweat and avoid irritation. If it is cold outside, protect yourself accordingly to avoid dry and chafed skin

Vitamin B3 helps improve red blotchy skin. Vitamin B3 is a great protectant, locking in moisture and offering a barrier against irritants. After using it regularly for a few weeks, you will notice a difference in your skin.

If you are prone to hangnails, and you have difficulty refraining from picking at them, keep them at bay by moisturizing your hands. This skin loves rich shea butter. Though you may find it necessary, infections can occur and lead to irritated fingers.

To get rid of old, dead skin, use an exfoliating facial scrub. Dead skin cells will build up and make your skin look dull and dry. By exfoliating about once a week, these dead cells are removed letting the new, more radiant skin to emerge. Also, exfoliating is a great way to clean your pores and minimize their appearance.

Suffering from psoriasis is quite common and there are a lot of chemically made products out on the market. If you would like to try a more natural approach, try using capsaicin cream which is produced from cayenne pepper. There will be initial discomforts, as it is a hot cream – avoid getting it into your eyes at all costs! Yet the healing properties of capsaicin cream is well worth it due to it’s long-term benefits.

Although there are plenty of skin types, such as combination skin, oily skin or dry skin, one thing that all skin types have in common, is the need for moisturizer. But how much do you need to moisturize? Your skin will tell you! If your skin feels tight, then lather up!

Moisturize your skin at least daily. Dry skin can lead to advanced skin aging and cracking. When the top of your skin (the outer layer) becomes dry, you may suddenly look older. Moisturizers are most effective when applied onto wet skin. Keep in mind, the amount of moisturizer each person needs is different.

So to wrap things up, make skin care a regular part of your routine. It is important for many reasons and need not be a time consuming ordeal. Follow the simple steps presented in this article and you’ll be on your way to a happy, healthy, and glowing complexion in no time.