If you’re doing all the right things but still don’t have flawless skin, you’ll be eager to know what could be causing blemishes, dry patches or a shiny T-zone. No matter what your skin issues are, they can be easy to resolve, providing you know what’s causing them. To pinpoint the cause of your breakouts, fine lines or itchy skin, take a look at the surprising things that can affect your skin:
Your Phone
Most people spend hours a day using their mobile phone, but you might be less inclined to do so when you find out what it could be doing to your skin. If you regularly talk on the phone, you’re holding your handset to your ear for an extended period of time. For most people, this means having the phone pressed against their cheek and jawline too.
With today’s touchscreen smartphones, the likelihood is that you’re putting a handset covered in bacteria directly on to your skin. No wonder it could be the cause of pimples and breakouts! To prevent this from happening, use a wireless handsfree earpiece to talk on the phone and clean your device regularly with antibacterial phone wipes.
Air Quality
If you live in an urban area, you’ll be disappointed to learn that pollution could be wreaking havoc with your skin. While you can’t directly reduce outdoor air quality, you can use skin products that are designed to offer extra protection from exhaust fumes and other types of pollution.
However, it isn’t only outdoor air quality that you need to be concerned about. When you’re indoors, stale air, dust, animal fur and even pollen could be triggering allergies and causing your skin to flare up.
To ensure poor air quality isn’t contributing to your breakouts, aim to keep your home well ventilated. Take a look at the benefits of an ac vs dc ceiling fan and decide which one is right for you. Similarly, using an air purifier can help to improve air quality and enhance your skin.
Your Pillowcases
Every night, you spend hours with your face lying directly on a pillowcase. This means you’re transferring bacteria and dead skin cells on to it for an extended period of time. Still want to sleep on last night’s pillowcase? Thought not!
Aim to change your pillowcase everyday and you’ll be amazed at the impact it can have on your skin. Remember – using natural, unscented washing powders and fabric softeners can be kinder to your skin too.
Caffeine
If you can’t function without a morning cup of coffee or you rely on a mid-afternoon fizzy drink to keep you awake, you aren’t going to be happy to hear the effect that caffeine has on your beauty. The reason you feel more alert after a dose of caffeine is because it triggers your body’s stress response. The subsequent increase in stress hormones can prompt your sebaceous glands to release more oil, which leads to shinier skin and potential breakouts.
Furthermore, caffeine can dehydrate the skin, which results in a loss of collagen and inflammation. Collagen is responsible for keeping our skin plump and wrinkle-free, so you might want to cut down on the caffeine if you notice fine lines developing on your skin.
Bad Eyesight
Having poor eyesight doesn’t directly lead to having bad skin but squinting can have an impact on the sensitive skin around your eyes. If you’re wearing glasses or contact lenses with an old prescription, be sure to visit an optician and see whether you need something new.
Squinting to see your screen or struggling to see things that are far away means you’re scrunching your eyes up on a regular basis. This puts more wear and tear on the skin around your eyes, which increases the likelihood of developing fine lines and crow’s feet.
Get Flawless Skin
If you’re more motivated than ever to achieve flawless skin, then you’ll need to figure out what triggers your breakouts. By doing so, you’ll know exactly what changes to make and what to avoid. From ditching your afternoon coffee to getting new glasses, there are numerous ways to enhance the appearance of your skin.
In addition to this, take the time to experiment with products and skincare techniques. What works for one person won’t necessarily work for you, so don’t be scared to try new things. With an effective daily skincare routine and the right combination of products, you can enhance your complexion and finally achieve the flawless look you’ve been aiming for.
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