10 Ways You Can Repair Skin Damage Naturally
Whether it happened because of acne scars, sunburn, cuts, or dry cracking – among other things – the skin gets damaged all the time.
Although skin damage is hard to avoid (and at times seems somewhat inevitable), there are concrete steps you can take to repair skin damage naturally, without exposing your skin to chemicals and sulfates.
Let’s divide this list in two: we’ll start by going over five of the most restorative ingredients for damaged skin, and then detail five practices you can implement into your daily routine to help repair damaged skin.
5 Natural Ingredients for Restorative Skincare
Here are some of the best plant-based and naturally occurring ingredients to include in your restorative skincare routine.
They can be used either as essential oils or beauty products, and are anti-inflammatory, anti-irritation, and promotes skin regeneration.
1. Aloe Vera
One of aloe’s most distinctive benefits is its ability to soothe and repair sun damage.
If you’re suffering from sunburn, an aloe infusion is one of the fastest ways to get your skin back to a hydrated, elastic state.
Aloe is a fantastic anti-inflammatory agent and a healing, moisturizing ingredient in many skincare products.
2. Lavender
Lavender oil and other lavender-based skincare products can have incredibly beneficial antibacterial and antifungal properties.
It’s notably used to help treat skin irritation from conditions like eczema and psoriasis and can be helpful for preventing inflammation.
Lavender also promotes the healing and regeneration of wounded skin tissue – it’s often effectual for reducing scarring.
3. Shea Butter
Shea butter is one of the main building blocks in many natural skincare products aimed at repairing and hydrating skin.
The use of shea butter has been proven to reduce scar tissue – fatty acids present in shea butter give it a regenerative effect on damaged skin.
Shea butter also reduces the effects of ageing (wrinkling, pigmentation, etc.) and strengthens the skin.
4. Jojoba
Jojoba, similar to lavender, is a powerful anti-irritation ingredient in skincare.
It’s used to soothe the effects of sunburn, eczema, psoriasis, and temporary irritation relief for issues like chapped lips.
Jojoba is also a hydrating element and can prevent the dryness that often comes along with (and perpetuates) skin damage.
5. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a comprehensive skincare tool that acts as a general restorative agent for damaged skin.
I can halt or slow the effects of ageing and work as an exfoliating, hydrating ingredient to brighten up and strengthen the skin.
When used on dry or acne-scarred skin, Vitamin C can moisturize and exfoliate to strengthen the skin barrier and repair any scars or inflammation.
5 Methods to Help Repair Skin Damage
Here are some activities that you can to your behaviour that will promote skin health and skin restoration.
Skincare is only half the battle in exterior health – in order to really take care of damaged skin, some quick, easy lifestyle habits may be of huge help to you.
1. Staying Hydrated
Skincare products with moisturizing effects are always important when trying to create a natural beauty routine.
However, one of the most effective ways to ensure that your skin doesn’t dry out it is by drinking enough water and staying hydrated.
When you’re experiencing skin damage, your skin is going to automatically require more hydration to keep its strength – by making sure you’re staying hydrated, you’re providing your skin with the necessary ammunition to repair itself.
2. Exercise
There are two effects of consistent exercise that make it good for your skin: sweat and continuous blood flow.
When you sweat, you’re clearing out anything clogging your pores and doing a deep cleaning from the inside-out.
Additionally, when your blood starts pumping during exercise, your body can get restorative nutrients to your skin quickly and effectively.
Just make sure to wash your face after exercising – you don’t want to let the sweat stay on your skin and leave everything on it to be absorbed again!
3. A Diet Full of Antioxidants and Vitamin C
As previously mentioned in the exercise tip, your body needs nutrients to repair skin damage and restore it to its natural glow.
Vitamin C is a collagen agent and an antibacterial ingredient in food. Antioxidant-rich foods and beverages carry with them restorative properties.
Much of the time, these ingredients should also be used in skincare routines and in exfoliating scrubs.
When consumed, they can be equally effective when combined with frequent hydration and consistent exercise.
4. Frequent Exfoliation
Exfoliation is one of the most important things that you can do to repair damaged skin, and it should be the first thing you look into when attempting to counter acne scars, irritation, and dry cracking.
By removing the excess skin cells and cleaning out pores (as is the process of exfoliation), you’re allowing your body to regenerate quickly and produce more collagen (the chemical within the skin that flattens out wrinkles and strengthens skin elasticity).
For damaged skin, exfoliation can help you remove damaged skin particles and aid in the reproduction of healthy skin.
5. Protect Your Skin from the Sun
If left unprotected, your skin will fall victim to sun damage.
While sun damage doesn’t necessarily only occur from sunburn – the sunlight naturally dries out and damages the protective barrier of skin regardless of how severe the burning shows up.
That’s why it’s important to have SPF protection at all times (even in winter) when you leave the house!
Protecting your skin from the sun will preserve the youth of your skin and keep the effectiveness of the efforts made repair skin damage naturally.
Combining Two and Two
Repairing skin damage is most effective without subjecting your skin to chemicals (hence damaging it further).
The key to effective skincare, in most cases, is to find a healthy, helpful way of combining ingredients with technique.
For instance, when implementing your skincare routine into your life, finding a few ingredients listed here to look for in your products can be the first step to promoting skin restoration.
Then, once combined with the techniques listed, the ingredients have the opportunity to work more effectively and produce the best results possible.
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