ICYMI, the term “glass skin” basically refers to those with poreless, translucent, illuminated skin — just like glass — and it kinda looks like this:
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Unfortunately, not all of us are born with perfect, flawless skin. Some of us may naturally have silky smooth, healthy skin while the rest of us need to have strict facial regimens daily. Needless to say, this can be quite a tedious routine, and if you’re reading this, you probably know what we’re talking about. Well, fret not because we’ve gotten some of our friends who have been blessed with “glass skin” to share their secrets with us:
1. Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning
“Only lemon juice and water by the way! No adding sugar or honey. My mum was the one who made me drink this every morning and although I hated it (because it was so sour), I think it actually helped clear up my face and body acne.” – Su Xian, 21
Drinking water the moment you wake up is already a health boost for your body simply because it re-hydrates you, helps flush out toxins, and kick starts your metabolism, to name a few. Add a squeeze of lemon into it and you’ll be getting a good dose of Vitamin C. In addition to that, lemon contains plant compounds known as flavonoids that have antioxidant properties in them. These antioxidant properties have been found to encourage blood circulation as well as reduce oxidative stress and damage. Sounds pretty good to me!
2. Using a charcoal sheet mask every three days
“Many people use sheet masks to pamper themselves and give their skin that extra boost every once in a while. For me, I specifically use a lot of Charcoal sheet masks because I feel they help my face feel much cleaner and fresher. My skin doesn’t act up like it used to anymore.” – Khye Erne, 20
For many of us, we’re probably familiar with the type of charcoal used for the BBQ grill or the charcoal tablets for stomach upset issues. However, did you know that it’s actually good for your skin too?! Similar to how charcoal pills absorb toxins in the stomach, activated charcoal in face masks helps to remove pollutants and clears your skin too. That’s why if you’re ever looking for sheet masks next time, look for the black-coloured ones!
3. Drinking Soya Bean often
“I used to order carbonated drinks when I ate out at coffee shops or restaurants. Obviously, because these drinks are so high in sugar and gas, my stomach always felt uncomfortable after meals. This past year however, I switched to ordering Soya Bean instead (only IF it’s made fresh and not the canned ones). I would also ask for kurang manis, if possible. Since then, besides not facing anymore stomach issues, I noticed my face looking more supple and my complexion improving as well!” – Chow, 28
There have been many studies on Soy and how it can be extremely beneficial (ask any Yoga enthusiast who orders a soy milk latte from Starbucks and they would agree). One reason it’s so good for the skin is because it contains isoflavones which can mimic or block oestrogen in your body. This helps to improve your overall health, especially your skin. A study done on adult women who had Soy for 8 to 12 weeks found that it helped to reduce wrinkles and improve skin elasticity. Another study found soy to improve skin dryness and increase collagen in post-menopausal women. Looks like it’s time to start ordering some Soya Bean kurang manis.
4. Eating lots of Indian food!!!
“I LOVE INDIAN FOOD. Especially those that come with turmeric, milk, spices and/or yogurt. All these ingredients are legit the key to good skin; plus, they’re delicious! Of course, try to avoid the fried stuff lah. Those can cause havoc if taken too often.” – Brian, 28
Living in Malaysia gives us a chance to try all sorts of delicious cuisines. The main ones being Malay, Chinese and of course, Indian! Well, if you’re a lover of Indian food or anything packed with spices, we’ve got great news for you! Ingredients and spices like turmeric, star anise and so forth have amazing anti-inflammatory properties that help fight off acne and slow down signs of ageing. It can also help to deeply hydrate and revitalise the skin from inside out. Some even use these herbs and spices in the kitchen to create a face mask!
5. Bringing a three-litre bottle of water to work every day and finishing it before leaving
“I’ve always had pretty good skin, but when I started working, the breakouts started happening, so I made it a point to drink at least three litres of water at work, and it actually helped!” – Lee, 26
Everyone knows water is crucial for the body. Besides being able to reap plenty of health benefits, it also helps clear out your skin a great deal! This is simply because our skin is made up of cells which are made up of water. Without sufficient water, these cells cannot function to their best ability. That means they won’t be able to repair themselves and this can cause even more acne and breakouts.
6. Exfoliating two to three times a week!
“Not only for the face, but I’ve found exfoliating head-to-toe can be extremely beneficial too! I have less acne breakouts on both my face and body which at one point used to be a common occurrence for me. It also helps clear the skin and open up the pores too. If you don’t want to spend too much on exfoliating products, you can DIY them yourself! That’s what I do, I mix brown sugar with coconut oil, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ground ginger, allspice and nutmeg.” – Tan, 26
Exfoliating is definitely something everyone should add into their skincare routine. This helps to effectively buff away all the dead, dull-looking skin on the surface to make way for newer skin and a fresher-looking complexion. Just make sure you don’t scrub too hard! Do it gently and in circular motions.
7. Using gentle skin cleansers no matter how oily or “dirty” your face feels at times
“I’ve always preferred cleansers that made a lot of lather because it made me feel cleaner, but the more I used them, the drier my face would feel. When it gets really bad, the skin around my nose would get flaky and peel. Because of this, my pharmacist recommended a gentle skin cleanser and it actually helped!” – Chloe, 24
One way to know if your cleanser is “gentle” or not, is through its scent and lather. Gentle skin cleansers usually come with minimal to no scent as well as very, very little lather. This is a good telltale sign of whether or not your cleanser contains a lot of chemicals or artificial fragrances. So the next time you go skincare shopping, make sure you know what to look for!
One gentle skin cleanser you can try is from Cetaphil. After all, the product itself is called “Gentle Skin Cleanser”. Do note that this cleanser isn’t as foamy as your other everyday cleansers though! It also doesn’t come with fruity fragrances. BUT, rest assured that it gets the job done just as well, if not, even better as it won’t leave your face feeling tight and dry after.
In fact, Cetaphil’s Gentle Skin Cleanser comes with countless of other benefits too, such as:
- Free of soap, lather, foam and fragrance (which are ingredients in skincare products that usually cause breakouts)
- pH balanced, meaning the pH value is very close to the skin’s pH reading, thus ensuring it isn’t too alkaline
- Clinically proven to be non-irritating
- Dermatologist recommended
And although it says “Gentle”, Cetaphil is able to effectively remove impurities and light makeup without over-drying the skin! Omg, dream come true! Don’t just take our word for it; a study actually found that 99% of Malaysian women agree that the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser gently cleanses and moisturises without stripping the skin of its natural oils!
If you’re interested, find out more about the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser here!