Want to Look Healthier? Start with One Simple Trick
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We don’t write clickbait at Packer’s Pine, so we’ll tell you the trick at the top of the article. Are you ready? The simple trick to look healthier (and, dare we say, hotter?) is to wash your face. We’ll wait while you pick your jaw up off the floor.
We know that the men reading this may be in shock, and women may scoff at how banal this advice seems, but it’s good advice, as most adults are not nearly as dedicated to their skincare as they should be. We’re here to convince you why.
What are the benefits of washing my face?
The most obvious benefit is cleanliness. Do you know how dirty your face gets during the course of a day? While you may not see any obvious grime, dirt, or soilage in the mirror, your face is creating its own mess during every moment of every day. Sweat, sebaceous glands that secrete oils, and an entire ecosystem of microfauna create an environment on your face that is nearly guaranteed to cause acne and other blemishes on the skin. The only way to stop the onslaught of oily grime monsters is to wash your face often.
How often?
This depends a bit on your activity level, but most people should cleanse their face with a gentle soap at least once each day. We like to cleanse in the evening, as it washes away the day and prevents the accumulation of oil and dirt onto our pillows. Sleeping on a dirty pillow night after night is one of the easiest ways to start a breakout, which we prefer to avoid.
Some people tend to have especially oily skin, which may benefit from being cleansed both morning and night. For people who use cosmetics like foundation, eye shadow, highlighters, and more, cleansing is especially important. Washing your face before applying makeup will give you a clean palette to work on and prevent your face from looking greasy. Cleansing in the evening will give you a chance to remove your makeup, give your skin a chance to breathe, as well as remove the cosmetic products that may potentially clog your pores and cause blemishes.
What kind of soap should I use?
This is the part where Packer’s Pine has a unique hint. Pine tar soap makes for a perfect facial cleanser. Pine tar soap is mild enough that it can be used for washing the sensitive skin of the face without worrying about causing irritation. Additionally, while synthetic soaps can dry out the skin too much, the natural ingredients in pine tar soap hydrate the skin and keep it smooth.
Additionally, pine tar soap is antibacterial and a natural remedy for inflammation, which gives it an extra boost against blemishes like acne or redness caused by sunburn or harsh cosmetics. The soothing power of pine tar can make skin feel less inflamed, while its antimicrobial power prevents acne from forming. This keeps your face looking soft, clear, and healthy.
After washing, be sure to use a simple, unscented moisturizer that can add hydration to your skin or, at the very least, keep it from drying out. Keeping your skin adequately hydrated with moisturizer (and drinking plenty of water) will prevent it from looking weathered or flaky and from cracking. This is especially important for people with skin that tends to be dry to begin with, as washing will remove some of the protective oils from your face (though you should still wash at least daily).
What else can I do to keep my face looking healthy?
Besides daily hygiene care, you can make your skin look better today and 30 years from now by using sunscreen each morning. The sun produces powerful UV rays that will weather and wrinkle your skin over time.
In addition to making you look better by reducing inflammation and premature aging, using daily sunscreen will protect you from developing skin cancer, a potentially fatal condition. This step is particularly important for men and women who work outdoors, live in particularly sunny climates, or live at high altitudes. Daily exposure to intense UV rays puts them at particular risk for developing skin cancer, especially on their faces, which typically receive more sunlight than those parts of the body that are covered by clothing.
You can also reduce your risk for skin cancer and sunburn by wearing long sleeves, hats with a brim, and limiting your time outdoors without sunscreen.
Timesaver tip: Remember when we talked about moisturizing after face washing earlier in the blog? Make sure to use an SPF moisturizer. This time saving combo will help you protect your skin from the sun and seal in moisture in just one daily shmear.
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Many men might raise eyebrows at this advice, and women could dismiss it as simplistic. However, it's undeniably essential. A vast majority of adults, surprisingly, don't give skincare the attention it deserves. It's more than just a routine; it's about overall health and confidence. Let us delve into its significance.
