Here’s Why You Should Ditch the Make-up for Flawless Skin

If you thought make-up was the only way to get gorgeous skin at all times, you couldn’t be more mistaken.

Katrina Kaif looks gorgeous without make-up. (Photo: Twitter/@KatrinaatCannes)

Everyone who thinks flawless skin is a myth, say aye! You can rub all the potions and lotions you want, follow a carefully crafted beauty regime and give the good doctor a regular visit, but you will still spot that single blemish that is out to ruin your flawless skin dreams.

But what if we told you that there are simpler ways to achieve flawless beauty without losing a good night’s sleep? It’s true! We rounded up these natural #solutions that require almost no effort, yet give you golden results! #TrueStory

Don’t Rub-a-Dub-Dub

Pat your skin dry, instead of vigorously rubbing it like you do! (Photo: iStock)

Meet Your Vice: This unassuming bathroom accessory can be rather dangerous. Surprised? Most of us assume that vigorously rubbing yourself dry with a towel is the fastest way to clear off any water or persistent suds. But turns out that can cause your skin to dry faster, chafe and loosen up.

Kill the Vice: Rather than rubbing yourself dry, pat your skin dry. This allows it to lock some moisture in, and prevent premature ageing.

All That’s Grainy Doesn’t Shine

Quit over-scrubbing – keep face scrubs only for special occasions. (Photo: iStock)

Meet Your Vice: Exfoliation is that quick-fix to clear skin, but did you know that over-scrubbing can actually do more damage than good? It peels off your top layer, can cause scarring and even loosens up your skin.

Kill the Vice: Reserve a scrub down for special occasions or maybe just weekly sessions. And rather than rubbing it into your skin, use gentle circular motions to delicately massage it in.

Plug the Oil Reserves

A greasy scalp and hair can give you pimples. (Photo: iStock)

Meet Your Vice: A greasy scalp is one of the biggest causes of breakouts. The grease on your hairline heads for your skin and clogs your pores – causing blackheads, breakouts and eruptions.

Kill the Vice: Keep your hair clean and style it away from your face. Also, regularly wash your face to take off any excess grease and dirt.

Go Nude

Remove that lipstick and mascara before you go to bed. (Photo: iStock)

Meet Your Vice: After a hard night of partying, the last thing you probably want to do is spend time taking off your make-up. You may think that a cleanser might work just as well as a make-up remover, but the truth is that it doesn’t. It only washes off the visible make-up, while there is an invisible layer that clogs your pores and prevents your skin from breathing.

Kill the Vice: Never ever go to bed with make-up. Use a facial make-up remover to wipe your face clean and use a separate eye make-up remover to clean your eyes. The area around your eyes is very delicate, so ensure that you lightly wipe it off rather than rubbing or pressing too hard.

Sleeping Patterns

A soft pillow (and a deep snooze) are the first secrets to flawless skin. (Photo: iStock)

Meet Your Vice: Turns out that your sleeping pattern might be the number one cause of premature wrinkles. Unbelievable, right! Sleeping on one side of the face or your chest can cause the delicate skin on your chin and décolletage to age faster.

Kill the Vice: The trick is to try sleeping on your back. It’s a toughie but investing in a memory foam pillow that can cradle your head and neck can help. You can even try placing a pillow under your knees to coax your body to sleep facing upward.

(Sholeen Damarwala is a journalist from Mumbai who started out as a News Correspondent with CNN IBN and went on to write for multiple publications like Elle Decor, Strut120.com, Femina and Popxo.com. She is currently the online editor of Grazia.co.in)