Geeks on a Budget: Your Skin on a Budget
Last week, I wrote about inexpensive ways to take care of your face without breaking the bank. This time, I’m going to talk about the skin in general and how to take care of it better, not spend too much money, and use your skin to improve your life (not just with cleavage). There are a few tips on keeping the skin healthy that won’t cost much, if any, money at all.
1. Don’t Over-wash
I’m not saying don’t wash ever. What I’m saying is that it’s truly not necessary to scrub your skin raw every day. Taking a long hot shower might feel amazing, but the hot water breaks down lipid barriers in the skin, and over-use of soaps can also dry out the skin, leave a filmy residue if not properly rinsed, and even lead to skin irritation. If you’re prone to dry skin, skipping a bath or only bathing what’s been dirtied is actually good for the skin, leaving natural oils in place. Just rinse with cool water to refresh and hydrate the skin.
2. Moisturize
When you do shower, be sure to follow up with a good moisturizer to lock in that good hydration. As I mentioned in my last article, I use baby oil, which costs about $3.50 for the large bottle. I use it on freshly damp skin, either right after I’ve gotten out of the shower or bath or after I’ve spritzed my skin with water. In fact, spritzing with water and then using a lotion or oil afterwards is a great way to not only keep skin healthy, but hydrate the skin as well.
Tip: A small bottle of peppermint oil is also a good purchase. Mixing a few drops in a spray bottle of water provides a good cool burst to make one feel more alert.
3. Exfoliate
I know, I said that over-washing was a bad thing, and it is, but regular exfoliation is very good for the skin. It helps shed flaky skin, keeps it healthy, and also is great for keeping callouses to a minimum. I paid $2.00 for a pumice stone that I use on my feet and elbows once a week, and then I bought a long scrubbing bath cloth at Ichibankan in San Francisco for $1.50. (It can be used gently for regular washing, or used more vigorously to exfoliate.) A good bath brush costs about $5.00 and can last for at least a year with proper care.
4. Get Unfiltered Sunlight
What? Doesn’t sunlight give you cancer? Well, not if you’re careful about it! Research is showing that an insufficient amount of Vitamin D increases the risk of some cancers as well as positively affecting a number of other health issues. Speaking from personal experience, a Vitamin D deficiency can make one feel exhausted and sluggish and have on-going muscular weakness and soreness. Vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption. Thankfully, it’s easy to get enough Vitamin D by spending 15 minutes in direct sunlight without sunblock. Best of all? It’s free.
5. Watch the Diet
Your skin is the largest organ of your body, and what you eat totally affects it. Not getting enough good fats is a sure-fire way of doing damage to your skin. (See this list of 10 Foods for Better Skin.)Taking a good supplement is a great way to also make sure you get the right vitamins for your skin. You have to eat, right? That’s part of your budget. Make sure what you’re eating counts!
There they are, my tips for great skin without a lot of money spent. Now, I’m not going to mention actual skin conditions that are made worse by sunlight or diet; I’m not a dermatologist. If you have a condition like psoriasis, rosacea, or eczema, see a dermatologist and follow your doctor’s advice. There’s some who’ve seen results in switching to a vegetarian diet, others who swear by increased proteins. The best thing is to make sure you take care of your skin, feed it right, and then your skin will take care of you.
Geeks on a Budget is a weekly column about saving money without sacrificing the geek lifestyle.
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