As the start of the school year is fast approaching, it’s time to make sure you put your best face forward! A summer full of increased exposure to the sun, irregular sleep schedules, and perhaps a bit of sweet indulgences may have left your skin a little worse for wear – so follow these easy and surefire tips to get your skin back-to-school ready!

Facial Skincare

A person’s face is often what we first notice about them, and first impressions can only be made once! To help your skin be at its healthiest for the new school year, we recommend a few simple tweaks to your current routine.

First, give your skin a break. Likely you’ve spent a fair amount of time outdoors this summer, or have gone a bit overboard in testing out new summer beauty trends. While it’s absolutely fine to get some natural Vitamin D and express yourself, your skin might be a bit unhealthy or worn out as a result! So as the school year approaches, try to have “days off” for your skin – this might include make-up free days (but still wear a light, oil-free moisturizer), staying out of the sun or upping the SPF (go for 30 or 50 instead of the 8 or 15 you might have been using to build your base tan!), and just taking better care of yourself. Which brings us to the next tip!

Use a soft face brush to cleanse your skin every night before you go to bed. You don’t need to scrub hard, but every day your face (especially during the warmer months) builds up lotion, sunscreen, and the day’s activities. Take a few minutes each night to simply clean all of that off of your face. Our face brush is perfect for all skin types – especially sensitive skin – as it is ultra soft. The thousands of tiny microfibers will help deeply cleanse your pores. Simply add a small amount of your favorite gentle foaming soap or facial cleanser and using circular motions, clean your entire face. You can avoid your eyelids and use a mild oil-based makeup remover if you prefer. Or if you don’t have any on hand, you can simply choose from almond oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, olive oil, or grapeseed oil. You can also safely wipe off any eye makeup with a slice of cucumber or even with cotton swab soaked in milk.

Did you know that sleep has a real, tangible effect on our skin? Taking the time to get enough quality rest can ensure that you get rid of those bags under your eyes, and simply improve the general health of your skin. Late summer nights can wreak havoc on our sleep cycle, especially if you’re working long hours at that all-important summer job. So as the school year approaches and you know you’ll have to get re-accustomed to those early morning hours, try to gently wean yourself back onto your normal sleep schedule. You can do this in baby steps by going to bed a half hour or hour earlier than usual, upping the increments until you’re back at your normal bedtime, and cutting back on your caffeine intake can help ensure you’re tired by the time the sun sets, making it all the more natural to get back on track – and wake up with a healthy face!

Total Body Skincare

While we often think of our face as the most important part of our skin to take care of, don’t forget the rest of your body! For teenagers, acne and other skin problems rarely just occur on the face – so be sure to follow these other tips to get the healthiest skin possible all over your body.

Remember that your skin is a living, breathing organ that ultimately manifests what you’re putting into it. For instance, during the summer, it’s easy to get dehydrated – this means that your body lacks the water it needs to keep your skin healthy, fresh, and clear. While we might be familiar with the several serious health issues caused by dehydration, it can also impact the general appearance of your face: are your pores more clogged than usual? Does your skin seem a bit dried out? Are you looking a bit more dull than tan? All of these symptoms can indicate you’re dehydrated and need to start chugging that water!

Finally, it’s important that you cleanse your skin thoroughly. Just as you would wash your face with precision and care, make sure you’re giving the rest of your body that same treatment! Before showering, use a dry brushing body brush all over your body to get rid of dry skin cells, improve circulation, and help remove the toxins from your body. Work in a rhythmic, upward circular motion from your feet to your thighs to your torso and along your arms, making sure that you reach even those hard-to-get spots. Your whole body will be glowing afterwards!

We hope that you use these fantastic tips to make an “A” in skincare this year and go back to school in style!