Ok, let’s talk skincare everyone!!!!! Is anyone else obsessed with trying out skincare tips and tricks, or watch YouTube videos about DIY face masks, or try every oil known to man? No one? Just me? Well if you relate, I am so glad you’re here. Before we get into the details, let’s start with the most important detail of all: water. If you don’t already regularly drink water, you need to start ASAP. There is an ongoing debate on whether drinking water directly affects the quality of your skin. Well, let’s start with the facts. Drinking water regularly is important for overall good health because it aids in digestion, circulation, absorption, and even excretion.
Your body is made up of trillions of cells, and these cells are composed of water, inorganic ions, and carbon-containing (organic) molecules. In fact, water is the most abundant molecule in cells, accounting for 70% or more of total cell mass.
Your skin is an organ, and just like every organ in your body, it is made up of cells. Without water, organs will certainly not function properly, or at their best. If you do not drink enough water, that means your skin is not getting enough water. This lack of hydration will manifest itself by drying out your skin, and even making it tight and flaky. Dry skin has 
less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling. The unfortunate truth about drinking water is that it reaches all other organs before it reaches the skin, which means you must replace it regularly. How do you replace it and keep it hydrated? Well, the obvious is by drinking at least 8 cups of water a day, and on a hot day, even more than that. Drinking water rids the body and the skin of toxins, but please don’t expect to see results overnight. Have several good weeks of increasing your water intake, and this should be enough to see how hydration helps your skin.
Ok, now that we’ve gone through the most important thing, let’s get through the basics:
1. Sunscreen. Yes, even during the winter. Yes, even if you’re inside all day. Yes, even if it’s not sunny. Sunscreen helps keep your complexion even; sun damage can cause uneven skin tones, and regular application of sunscreen helps prevent against those effects. Overexposure to sunlight can increase your 
appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, and age spots. Essentially, sunscreen can drastically help protect against the visible signs of premature skin aging. Make sure you are using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
2. Go makeup free. No foundation, no concealer, no bronzer, no eyeshadow. Nothing. Just do it for a month, and see what happens. There are so many benefits to going makeup-free, like allowing your skin’s surface to become balanced again, less chance of having acne flare-ups, exposing your skin to less bacteria, and your fine lines will be less prominent. Just let your skin breathe.
3. CHANGE YOUR PILLOWCASES REGULARLY. Things like dirt, oil, and bacteria can transfer from your skin to your sheets, and it’s even worse if you are not regularly washing your face before bed. Dirt and oil on your 
pillowcase can clog your pores, which can lead to pimples. However, if you are washing your pillowcases regularly, and if you have sensitive and/or acne-prone skin, make sure you use fragrance-free detergents. If the detergent does not get fully rinsed out of the pillowcase, it can build up within the fabric and cause irritation to the skin, which can lead to itchiness, redness, and/or peeling. It is recommended that you change your pillowcases at least every 2 weeks.
If you were expecting a longer list, well that’s another tale for another time. There are a million other significant things you can do, such as changing your diet, working out, getting rid of dairy and sugar, regulating your sleep/getting more sleep, etc. However, these are all lifestyle changes, and these changes obviously don’t happen overnight. If you have a more positive and healthier lifestyle, this will undeniably have positive effects on you mentally and physically. Hopefully, this list has helped if you want to improve your skin, or if you’re simply just interested in learning about skin. Just remember, skincare takes time, and you will not see results overnight. I cannot stress this enough. It’s common for people to quickly just give up on products and/or practices because they don’t immediately see a positive effect. Your body and skin need time to adjust to your new habit. Just be patient, and even if it does not work, it’s ok. A lot of skincare is just trial and error, but as long as you stick to the essentials above, you’re already way ahead of the game.
