All of us yearn for smooth, soft, glowing skin. But for many, it is definitely not so smooth sailing once puberty hits.
Hormonal acne, sun spots, skin discolouration, and cumulative wrinkles, will accompany our running clock during our lifetime. However, all is not lost. Here are 5 simple life hacks we can add to our routine to unlock the secrets of how to improve skin texture and complexion.
5 Ways on How to Improve Skin Texture and Complexion
1. Go religious on sunblock
Photo: iStock
Sunblock is never enough, especially in our hot tropical sun. UV causes our skin to thicken and age. When it comes to skin texture and youth, a high SPF sunblock is the single most important skincare product you can apply. By using sunblock regularly, we can help slow down the onset of wrinkles and reduce an uneven skin tone, keeping our skin supple, soft and bright longer.
2. Exfoliate
Exfoliation is a process that helps rejuvenate our skin by removing loose dead skin cells from the surface of our skin, revealing healthier and younger skin beneath. By performing regular chemical or gentle physical exfoliation and cleansing with cosmeceutical products, you can say goodbye to dull skin.
3. Try a chemical peel
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Chemical peels, although scary-sounding, is actually less scary than it is. They work by using diluted acids that penetrate the surface of the skin and is slowly neutralised either by the skin, or using an alkaline base. Chemical peels help to remove sun-damaged skin and stimulate regrowth which evens out texture and pigmentation on the skin while promoting our own natural collagen production.
4. Stocking up on the Vitamins A and C
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If you’re thinking of how to improve skin texture and complexion, then, the vitamins are one of the essentials that cannot be excluded from your routine.
Vitamin A (retinol, or its synthetic cousin tretinoin) may help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots and signs of ageing by increasing cell turnover. This helps dead skin cells slough off more rapidly and skin is left looking radiant and youthful. Vitamin C helps improve skin texture by repairing and defending skin from environmental damage while reducing pigmentation, scar tissue and age spots. By incorporating serums and moisturisers with Vitamins A and C into your skincare routine, it can help your skin stay younger, fresher, and more supple.
5. Pick the right moisturisers
Moisturisers, which are also emollients which soften the skin, help regulate sebum production in the skin. With a compatible emollient with your skin type, your environment and your lifestyle, it can make your skin more supple, smoother, and acidity balanced.
However, if your skin has deeper textural issues such as acne scars, enlarged pores, you may require more intensive medical grade treatments such as lasers, injectables, and energy-based devices. Speak to your doctor about the best approaches for your skin.
This article was contributed by Dr Kwan Yuan Dong, a resident doctor at S Aesthetics Clinic.
Dr Kwan obtained his medical degree from the University of Edinburgh before spending a number of years practising a wide range of specialities in London. He has attended aesthetic courses around the Asia Pacific region, and is accredited in procedures including dermal fillers, Botox, laser treatments as well as non-surgical contouring and rejuvenation techniques.
Lead image via iStock.
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