Keeping Your Skin Calm And Reducing Redness

I've always been a sensitive-skinned babe. It's not fun at all, but it's something I have grown to live with. Incredibly cold or hot temperatures affect my skin, spicy foods are a huge no-no, and I need to thoroughly read the ingredients on every product before I even think about buying it. It's important to take care when it comes to what we put on our skin and what we do in our daily lives if we want to ensure that our skin remains happy and healthy. It may seem as though red, sensitive skin is out of our control, but let me tell you; it is absolutely controllable. Here are the ways I keep my skin calm and clear.

1. Chug Water - I know, I know, I know. You guys have probably heard this one dozens of times, but it really truly does work. Try going above and beyond and drinking even more than the recommended eight to ten glasses. Hydrated skin is far less susceptible to irritation and sensitivity. Try herbal teas as well; they're great for keeping you hydrated while additionally providing antioxidants.

2. Take Lukewarm Showers - Hot showers are notoriously terrible for drying out your skin. On that note, cold showers too can be too much of a shock and therefore irritating. I recommend taking lukewarm showers. They're great for your skin, and once you start, I guarantee you'll notice a huge difference.

3. Try Camellia Oil - I have recently become addicted to Camellia oil. It's an oil derived form green tea flowers, and it is really such a beautiful oil. It is nourishing, calming, reduces redness and even promotes wound-healing. I really like this one from Pure + Simple, a great company based in Toronto.

4. Avoid Harmful Chemicals - One of the best ways to ensure that you're skin remains calm is to stay away from chemical laden products that contain harsh ingredients which will only strip your skin and further irritate it. I suggest avoiding products containing sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, artificial fragrances, mineral oil and products with lots of drying alcohol. Perhaps try going more natural; your skin will thank you.

5. Avoid Harsh Essential Oils - While I do believe that natural products are very effective for those of us with sensitive skin, I believe it's also important to steer clear from natural products with astringents ingredients, such as peppermint, lemon, ginseng, or high amounts of vitamin C. These ingredients may be natural, but they too can irritate your skin, and are better suited for those who have normal or oily skin types.

6. Clean Up That Diet - Try to limit your intake of processed foods, fried foods and excessive amounts of meat, dairy and sugar. These common foods can trigger rosacea, eczema and acne, so if you want you complexion to remain calm and clear, do try to reduce your intake of these foods. Instead, try to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and clean proteins. You are what you eat.

7. Don't Smoke - Need I say more? We should all know by now how smoking is not only detrimental to our health but also to our skin.

8. Ditch The Alcohol - Drinking alcohol creates inflammation in the body, thus inflicting inflammation to our skin. You've probably noticed how red people can get when they consume too much alcohol. Theres nothing wrong with a glass of wine here and there, but try not to drink to excess if you want to improve your skin.

So there you have it! I hope you have enjoyed these tips to help keep your sensitive skin happy! What do you guys do when you want to reduce redness and keep your skin calm?