Healthy Skin Month: 7 Good Skincare Habits to Start Now

While November usually marks the start of the holiday season, and for many of us the start of cold weather, did you know it's also skin healthy month? In honor of the occasion, we've rounded up seven good skincare habits you should start doing right now! Consider this an early New Year's resolution!

Start taking shorter showers

Sure, those long, hot showers are amazing when it's freezing outside, but you can actually do more harm than good...especially when it comes to your skin. Try to limit the time you spend in the bath or shower, and do your best to keep the water warm, not hot. Evaporating water can potentially dry out the skin.

Learn to love hydration

Another quick way to dry out your skin? Jump out of said shower and moisturize your skin from head to toe. It is best to moisturize your skin while it is still slightly damp, as this will help retain moisture. After showering or washing your face, use a moisturizer for your face and body.

Treat yourself to moderation

Cookies, smoothies, and lots and lots of flavored coffee are what the holiday season is all about... but these vices can wreak havoc on your skin if you indulge too much. Enjoy them all in moderation and don't forget to stock up on healthy holiday foods rich in vitamins and nutrients. And while you're at it, make sure you're drinking a healthy amount of water every day!

Exfoliation

If you haven't already, be sure to add exfoliation to your weekly routine. You can opt for a chemical exfoliation with an alpha hydroxy acid or enzyme product, or a physical exfoliation with a gentle scrub. As we get older, our skin's natural flaking process—the shedding of dead skin cells to reveal brighter new skin—slows down. This, in turn, can cause dead skin cells to build up on the surface of the skin, leading to dull skin tone, dryness, and other skin care issues.

Protect yourself

Think sunscreen is just for summer? Wrong. Wearing a broad-spectrum SPF—that is, an SPF that protects against both UVA and UVB rays—every day, rain or shine, is one of the most important steps you can take when caring for your skin. Not only are you protecting yourself from harmful UV rays that can cause skin cancers like melanoma, but you are also taking steps to stop the signs of aging before they show up. Yes folks, when Mr. Golden Sun shines on you and you don't use sunscreen every day, you are asking for wrinkles, fine lines and dark spots.

Skin care under the chin

While you may have spent quite a bit of time focusing on your face, did you know that some of the first places where signs of skin aging show up aren't even on your gorgeous muzzle? Fact: Your neck, chest and arms are some of the first places where wrinkles and discoloration can appear, so they need to be looked after just as hard as you take care of your face. Extend creams and lotions below the chin as you go about your routine, and keep a small hand cream on your desk or in an easily accessible place to remind yourself to moisturize your hands.

Stop popping pimples

We understand pimples, pimples, bumps and blemishes are never a welcome addition to your face, but squeezing them out won't make them disappear any faster. Touching an offender with a clear complexion can leave you with an indelible scar, so patience is key when it comes to acne. Keep your face clean, use a spot treatment for acne, and give it some time.

Looking for more healthy skin care habits? Check out our 10 Anti-Aging Commandments!