If you’ve spent most of your life under the myth that a bar of soap and some warm water is all it takes to have clean and healthy skin, you’re not alone. It’s this kind of skincare routine, though seemingly easy and makes sense on the surface, that leaves so many with dry and dull skin. With so many trends and routines out there, it’s hard to tell the good from the bad and the products that take your skin from dull to healthy and glowing. 

It’s also no surprise that you’d want to make sure your skin is healthy and glowing. After all, your skin is your largest organ. Consider the fact that adults carry around 8 LBS and 22 square feet of skin. That’s a lot of surface area you’re showing off to the world, and when it appears dull or oily, that’s a lot of weight to carry around, weight you’re fully aware of. With a couple of our top tips, you can turn your dry or oily skin into healthy glowing skin you’re proud to show off…all 22 square feet of it!

Tip 1: Embrace a healthy lifestyle + stay hydrated

Ok, technically this is not a beauty secret, and it doesn't require any beauty products (not just yet, at least). Hydration and healthy glowing skin go hand-in-hand. While you can (and should) drink enough water to keep yourself hydrated, you should also ditch things like alcohol, which dehydrates your skin. Don’t take it from us. Brendan Camp, MD, says, “Habitual drinking can accentuate fine lines, broken blood vessels, sun spots, and puffy eyes.” To keep your skin healthy and hydrated, grab a mocktail or limit your alcohol intake. If you do drink, consider drinking a glass of water between alcoholic beverages, and don’t forget your skincare routine. Use a moisturizer with ingredients like Aloe Vera—a humectant that pulls moisture from the air, soaking and locking it into your skin—before you hit the sheets to make sure your skin stays hydrated. 

Tip 2: Cleanse your skin properly

While it might sound simple to wash your face, let’s stop right there. It’s not as simple as you think. You could be using the wrong products for your skin type, and you could be leaving residue on your skin, causing blackheads and clogged pores. To make sure your beauty routine is on point, let’s start with washing your face. Since some research suggests that melanin skin loses moisture more quickly, you want to make sure you aren’t stripping your skin of essential oils, so let go of cleansers that contain things like sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, and alcohol. 

Instead, look for great cleanser ingredients like: 

• Aloe Vera
• Cucumber Extract
• Licorice Extract

Tip 3: Fall in love with humectants

If you’re thinking, “I came here for beauty tips, not a science lecture,” we hear you, but don’t shy away from humectants. Even skinfluencer Michelle Wong says, “I started using humectant moisturizers and this stopped my skin from being dehydrated. Instead, it became plump and soft and smooth.” And one of her favorite humectants? You guessed it…Aloe Vera. Apply a daily moisturizer and cleanser that has a humectant—like Aloe Vera—in it to give your melanin skin a healthy, dewy glow.

 

Tip 4: Include toner in your skincare routine

If you feel like hydration might be number one to your skin, you’re not wrong. As skinfluencer Angela Mavalla says, “Never forget: your skin will ALWAYS thank you for keeping it hydrated as there is no such a thing as too much hydration!” And that, my friends, includes adding a toner to your skincare routine. Here we go with humectants again, but if humectants had a best friend, it would be your toner. Why? Well, a good toner leaves all those bad things behind (you know, the ones we mentioned in tip two), and instead adds more humectants into your routine. Long story short: Toners help add moisture into the skin. 

After you cleanse your skin, add a toner, and then moisturize away. 

It’s this one extra step that will make all the difference. Looking for the perfect toner for your skin? Shop our balance and hydrate toner.

Tip 5: Don’t skip the serum

Now that you’re in the skincare routine, up the ante by adding a serum. A serum has larger amounts of active molecules, allowing it to penetrate the skin’s surface and show results more quickly. If you’re wondering if you can use a serum vs a moisturizer, research suggests that you want to use both. A serum is your secret weapon to doing away with that dull complexion.

 

Looking for a full skincare routine in one powerful line? Shop our 4 Step Skin Quench

The only thing left? Go get your glow on…like now! The steps are simple, and the main key is hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate! That means more than just drinking up that H20. Your skin’s main purpose is to protect, so why not help it do its job that much easier. It’s a win-win, and your melanin skin will be healthy and glowing from the inside out!