The Dos and Don'ts of Taking Care of Your Skin

One of the best things that you can do for your skin right now is start a skincare routine. Having healthy, radiant skin is a major confidence boost and the routine itself allows you to pamper yourself for a few minutes every night, and let's be honest. Who doesn't need a little pampering at the end of a long day?

Having healthy skin starts with a few simple choices, from the amount of water you drink to the types of foods you eat. The products that you use are secondary. They will help you along the way, but no product is going to completely transform your skin overnight but the right products can gradually change your skin, even in only a few days, especially when combined with healthy lifestyle changes.

No single product is going to completely transform your skin overnight, but the right products can gradually change your skin...

Maybe you want to reduce breakouts, increase elasticity or just provide some much needed moisture to your thirsty skin. No matter what it is that you want to achieve, there are things that everyone should and should not do to maintain healthy skin. 

Do stay hydrated.

Did you know that your skin is an organ? It's the largest organ to be exact. When your body is lacking water, your skin will be dull and lackluster. Chronically dry skin loses its elasticity — there is very "bounce back" so it may look saggy or even more wrinkly than usual.

It's important that you drink enough water on a daily basis, not just for your skin, but for your entire body as well. The amount of water you should drink is based on body weight. For example, a 200-pound person should drink approximately 100 ounces of daily. Learn how to calculate how much water your body needs by weight and start drinking that much everyday to maintain a healthy complexion.

Don't keep touching your face.

We touch a lot of things in our day to day lives without a second thought — door knobs, chairs, food. As a result, we pick up lots of dirt, grime, and even bacteria and viruses on our hands. You definitely don't want to transfer these things to your face. Not only can dirt and grime clog pores and cause breakouts, but bacteria can cause skin infections. So, keep your hands off your face as much as possible to keep your skin looking smooth and blemish-free.

Do wash your face.

As mentioned previously, we transfer a lot of nasty stuff to our face when we touch it. Not to mention, our faces sweat and produce oils that can also clog pores which is why it's so very important to wash your face at the end of a day — even more so if you're wearing makeup!

It's so easy to just jump in bed without washing your face, but when you do that, you're allowing the makeup, dirt, oils, and sweat to sit on your face for seven or more hours, which is just asking for breakouts. Choose a gentle facial cleanser and take two minutes out of your day to wash your face before you go to sleep at night.

Don't forget sunscreen.

Many people forget to apply sunscreen to their face. This is not only a poor choice but it's a potentially dangerous one. Going out into the sun without sunscreen can lead to detrimental skin changes, including skin cancer. Sunscreen helps fight against the sun's damaging rays — rays that are still dangerous in the winter — so it's incredibly important that you implement SPF into your skincare routine every single day.

If you don't want to apply regular sunscreen directly to your face, opt for a primer or foundation that contains SPF. There are even products like facial moisturizers that contain sunscreen which will protect your skin while nourishing it.

Do moisturize everyday.

Moisturizing your skin helps replenish moisture lost throughout the day, helps maintain skin elasticity, reduces the risk of fine lines and wrinkles, and keeps your skin looking radiant. It's ideal to moisturize after washing and toning your face to lock in moisture, especially in the morning and before you go to bed at night.

If you don't like using moisturizer, then at the very least use a night moisturizer. Use it after cleaning the skin and always use clean hands. Applying a moisturizer at bedtime will keep skin hydrated as you sleep and minimize transepidermal water loss.

Don't exfoliate too often.

Exfoliating too often can lead to microabrasions on the skin which lead to an increased risk for infection. It's recommended that you exfoliate up to three times per week. If you noticed increased redness or skin sensitivity, then you should reduce the number of times that you exfoliate.

There are many different types of facial exfoliants, including mechanical exfoliants. Mechanical exfoliants use tiny pieces of material, whether it be apricot pits, walnut shells, or what-have-you, to rub the skin and slough off dead skin cells. Mechanical exfoliants are pretty popular, but they also cause tiny tears in the skin which is not ideal for a healthy complexion. Instead, many skincare experts recommend acid exfoliants.

Acid exfoliants like LEXLI's AloeGlyC contain ingredients such as glycolic acid which are similar to chemical peels but not as harsh on the skin. I can vouch for this exfoliant, as it improved the look of my skin after one use. Be sure to check out my LEXLI skincare review for more information and to find out why I love this product so much.

Keep in mind that acid exfoliants and chemical exfoliants can increase photo-sensitivity which means you're more susceptible to sun burn and sun damage after use. ALWAYS use sunscreen immediately after using these types of products.

Do be gentle to your skin.

I'm a sucker for a steaming hot shower, but did you know that extremely hot water can damage your skin? That's right. Hot water upsets the skin's natural moisture balance, strips the skin of natural oils, and can cause redness, inflammation, dryness, and even cause your skin to become dry and flaky.

To avoid damaging your skin in the shower, keep your showers warm, not hot, and don't scrub your face too hard. Also, avoid washing your face more than twice per day and always moisturize afterward to avoid transepidermal moisture loss.

Don't slack on the eye cream.

Our eyes are such an important part of communication. You may not notice on a regular basis, but our eyes do a lot of work when it comes to conveying a message. We squint when we're thinking, the corners of our eyes crease when we laugh, and if we cry, our eyes become puffy and red. Naturally, our eyes take a lot of damage, so it's important that we take care of them.

Many people assume that we can use a regular moisturizer around the eye and that eye creams aren't really necessary. While it probably is better than nothing to use a regular moisturizer, the reason eye creams exist are because they're formulated for use around the eyes. The skin around the eyes is thinner and more sensitive and therefore, some products simply don't work as well. Thick moisturizers might work great on the face, but around the eyes, they seep into those fine lines and can make wrinkles look even more defined.

Invest in an eye cream that helps provide the extra care that your skin needs.

Do remove makeup before bed.

In a perfect world, at night, you would remove makeup, wash your face, apply moisturizer and eye cream, and then go to sleep. Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world. We live in a busy, hectic, chaotic world, so it's understandable if washing your face isn't high on your priority list at the end of the day. However, at the very least, it's wise to invest in makeup wipes. Makeup wipes can be set next to your bed at night so that you can wipe off the makeup, toss it in the bin, and then hop in bed. It's not an ideal skincare routine, but it's better than sleeping in a face full of makeup.

On days when you have the energy to remove makeup completely and keep up with your routine, invest in a gentle cleanser, like LEXLI Aloe Vera Facial Cleansing Lotion. It's gentle and it helps prepare the skin for the products that follow.


It may seem like a lot to take in, but the basics of skincare are simple. As long as you're staying hydrated, washing and moisturizing your face, exfoliating weekly, using the right products, and being mindful of your skin, you're on the right path to a healthy looking, radiant complexion.