College students are possibly at the peak of their beauty, having made it through the confidence-busting puberty era and far in advance of the sagging, wrinkled appearance to come. But not all college students use this time to the best advantage.
Independence, new things to try, late-night study sessions, lack of time for healthy cooking and eating, and many other things can zap your energy and hamper your good looks. Fortunately, beautiful skin can be maintained with just a little preparation and care.
If you develop a simple beauty regimen, it will serve you well even as you move into adulthood. Here are five simple ways to keep your skin beautiful.
1. Keep it clean
Cleanliness ought to go without saying, but it’s a practice that busy college students can easily ignore. Wash your face before bed and again upon waking.
Use simple, safe products, rinse thoroughly, and pat dry without heavy scrubbing or rubbing. Never go to bed with makeup on.
In hot weather, especially, carry a pre-moistened facial cleansing cloth to freshen up after exercise or walking outdoors. If you’re prone to acne, be sure to adopt a quality acne-cleansing routine.
2. Watch your nutrition
Eating properly is one of the best things you can do to keep your skin healthy and beautiful. But eating healthy can be hard to do when you’re in college.
It’s too easy to grab some fast food every day when you’re in a constant rush to classes, study groups, and a part-time job. Resist the temptation to go for a burger or pizza and choose fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and as little processed food as possible.
There will be times when you want to go out with friends, or there’s just no time to cook a meal. The more healthy foods you can manage daily, the less your health and complexion will take a hit when you choose those not-so-healthy foods.
3. Hydrate and moisturize
All skin craves moisture, even oily skin. Moisture starts from the inside. Drink plenty of water. Avoid drinking too much caffeine, which is a diuretic and can cause dehydration.
Moisture can also be applied to the skin. According to instanatural.com, a good, light moisturizer that doesn’t clog your pores, such as argan oil, is essential to keep your skin beautiful.
4. Exercise
Working out improves your overall health, including circulation, which improves the look and tone of your skin. It’s hard to fit exercise into your busy college schedule, but it can be done in small increments.
Walk whenever you can, join an inexpensive gym that’s nearby, and ride a bicycle. There’s evidence that skin improves even for people who start a program later in life.
5. Get protection
No matter what your complexion, protect your skin from the sun. Ultraviolet rays damage everyone’s skin. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you can afford a little sun worship, because you can’t.
Start a lifelong habit of applying sunscreen every day. You will see fewer spots, lines, and wrinkles and you’ll have fresher, moister skin.
These practices may seem impossible when you’re rushing to classes and pulling all-nighters. However, these simple yet life-changing tips are easy if you plan ahead.
Make some healthy snacks each week that you can grab on the go, and carry a bottle of water with you to class, the library, and on other outings. Washing and moisturizing your face twice a day can fit easily into any schedule; no long routines are needed.
