Remember how you used to hear your mom’s advice and brush her off? Now you may realize that when it comes to taking care of your skin, your mom had the inside scoop. This Mother’s Day, we’re bringing back the best tips and tricks mom used to keep her looking young.
Always wear sunscreen
When you were younger, you likely wanted to have bronzed legs ready for the beach. But your mom would always ask as you were leaving, “Did you remember to put on sunscreen?” She knew that slathering on SPF was the best way to stop skin from aging. UV rays break down collagen and elastin, which gives skin its lift and volume. In addition, UV damage can cause hyperpigmentation on your face, otherwise known as age spots. Spending too much time in direct sunlight without sunscreen can give you a leathery complexion as you get older – and who wants that?
Don’t touch your face
Your mom knows how much stuff we touch during the day: We grab onto the handrails on public transit, we click-clack away on our keyboards and we are constantly on our smartphones. So no wonder she would try not to touch her face after washing it in the morning. We can catch the flu from rubbing our eyes, noted Marie Claire. Additionally, the constant face-touching could lead to acne breakouts (yikes!). Leave acne where it belongs: in the high school yearbook.
Mother knows best: Taking off your makeup before bed can help you look younger.Take off your makeup before bed
After a long day of work, we want nothing more than to go face first into a pillow. However, we know our moms were right about this too: It’s worth it to wash away our makeup before going to bed.
“Dirt and makeup trapped against your skin cause environmentally-induced oxidative damage,” noted Dr. Annie Chiu in Good Housekeeping. “This leads to a breakdown of the skin barrier and prematurely ages your face.”
Break out the cold cream and take the extra five minutes to keep yourself looking and feeling your best. Which brings us to the next point…
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
The benefits of moisturizing seem endless: It creates a barrier to keep skin hydrated during the day – and depending on your moisturizer of choice, it can have antioxidants like Vitamin E, which keep pollutants away that can age skin. You can use all-natural ones like coconut oil after stepping out of the shower (to lock in as much moisture as possible) or those with a mild sunscreen as part of your morning beauty routine. Don’t forget your neck! The skin is thinner there than on your face, so it will be more likely to show wrinkles.
Mom always does know best – especially when it comes to taking care of your skin. Follow her tips for skincare to look and feel your best this year.
