You’ve heard rumours that she’s possible to catch.
You’ve even dared to dream of having her for yourself.
Everyone’s after her.
Who is she?
Smooth skin.
And sure, while the perfect picture of smooth, literally poreless skin is a dream just a little too good to be true, it is possible to get close. How close a person can get to smooth skin will vary across the board - we are all on our own skincare journey - but there are techniques we can employ to improve our skin texture!
Let’s unroll our map and reflect on where we’ve been.
How do I know if I have an uneven skin texture?
Gently run an index finger across your skin, if it feels rough or bumpy to the touch, you’ve got an uneven texture to take care of.
Uneven skin texture is commonly a result of excess dead skin cells that build up on the surface of the skin. Natural ageing of the skin can also make your skin look duller. Lifestyle factors like stress, pollution, sun exposure, eczema, and dry skin can make your skin even more prone to roughness, wrinkles, age spots, and sagging.
One or a combination of these goings-on could be what makes your skin feel rough and textured and your makeup (if you choose to wear it) to look cakey which can be an even bigger giveaway to your rough patches.
How can we take on the baddies?
Here’s how we can equip ourselves for battle.
Cleanse and exfoliate to smooth things out
Daily cleansing is the first step of all skincare routines. Considering that your skin is constantly exposed to the elements, some days more than others, cleansing your face at least twice a day (double-cleanse if you wear makeup) facilitates the removal of dirt, oil, and other unwanted debris to leave you with a smoother, more radiant appearance. It’s basic, but it’s crucial. A quick splash of water on your face in the shower won’t cut it!
If skin-cell buildup is the issue, your remedy could be as simple as sloughing those dead skin cells away. Exfoliation is vital to remove dead skin cells and unclog your pores. You have a few options here - you can mildly exfoliate up to twice a week with a scrub, be it a physical or chemical exfoliator to target those especially uneven areas. Working this habit into your routine will help to thoroughly remove dead skin cells with ease while refining your skin texture.
Remember to apply SPF every day
Textured skin can also be caused by sun damage. It’s no secret that UV-radiation can do a world of harm to your skin. Even on an overcast day, the sun’s UV rays will come down and damage your skin. Going out in the sun without protection can damage the collagen layer and connective tissues of your skin. As a result, your skin loses elasticity and starts developing wrinkles which causes sagging and a rougher skin texture. So don’t let yourself forget, even when you’re indoors!
Boost hydration with the right moisturisers
Moisturisers are key to a healthy skin. Whether you have dry or oily skin, moisturising is needed to balance your skin’s sebum production. When your skin is too dry or too oily, common issues like acne start to appear. The right moisturiser can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with the added benefit of protecting your skin from premature ageing. In addition to preventing loss of moisture from an external level, it’s also important to hydrate your skin from within! The more water you drink, the more hydrated and plumper your skin cells become - to give it an even smoother appearance.
Now what?
We’ve fought the good fight, and the battle is won.
Put away your weapons.
It’s time to rebuild and retexturise.
My rebuilder of choice is retinol.
Retinol is a type of retinoid well-known across the kingdom. It’s famous for increasing skin cell turnover and boosting collagen production. It’s also notorious for being super harsh on the skin. You gotta be careful when using highly effective skincare products. If you grab a tool you don’t yet know how to use, you might hurt yourself!
A great retinol for beginners is the innisfree Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule. This is the best retinol product for me because of its low retinol concentration (just 0.015%). You may be surprised to hear that it’s precisely this low concentration formula that allows this product to work so gently yet effectively. Retinol Cica helps to tighten pores, retexturise skin and lighten blemishes.
Its formula is milder thanks to cica, a mixture of Ceramide NP, Centella Asiatica, and Jeju Green Soybean Hyaluronic Acid). Instead of once or twice a week, this product can be used daily - up to twice a day. (Be careful not to mix it with exfoliants or acidic products so as not to overwhelm your skin.)
This repair ampoule also contains niacinamide, which will help with rough, patchy skin - evening out your skin tone and keeping it firm and healthy.
Blemish-free, smooth skin may continue to be a white whale for many of us.
But our only chance of catching her comes from an arsenal of the right tools.
Ready to suit up?
Let’s go!
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