Ways To Improve The Appearance of Your Skin’s Texture

A common skin issue that many deal with is rough skin texture. One of the ways that some manage this issue is by using foundation to cover or conceal, but oftentimes, adding layers of makeup can further accentuate the skin’s texture. And we completely get it—it’s a frustrating experience when many of the solutions you’ve explored to combat bumpy or aged skin lead you to a dead end. Some may have experienced this issue for most of their lives, others may have had perfectly smooth skin until puberty, then everything went up in smoke. The quest to learn how to improve your skin texture for smoother skin is a never-ending journey for many of us.

And unfortunately, sometimes, having a consistent skin care routine can only get you so far. Many factors can contribute to this skin problem—elements in the environment, your diet, hormones, harmful skin care products, skin care products that stop functioning as usual—and the difficulty in narrowing down the trigger can cause a sense of worry.

But rest assured, we’ll cover several effective tips and tricks you can introduce into your life to improve the texture of your skin! With a few good habits and the use of high quality, non-toxic skin care products, your path to smooth skin is just a few steps away.

What Are Skin Texture Issues?

Skin texture involves anything that can make your skin appear less smooth and luminous, like bumps, rough patches or enlarged pores—most of the time, having these textures on your skin results in redness or discoloration. Uneven skin texture and residual skin discoloration come hand-in-hand. But you should know that you can get rid of textured skin once you know the cause.

What Causes Textured Skin?

Many factors can cause rough skin texture. These include:

• Pollution: Dirt and environmental stressors cause stress on our skin leading to uneven skin texture (1).
• Overexposure to the sun: Spending a lot of time in the sun without adequate sun protection can really chip away at your complexion, leaving your skin vulnerable to wrinkles, roughness, dark spots and sagging (2).
• Genetics: Some people struggle with genetic conditions like eczema, keratosis pilaris, ichthyosis and psoriasis, making them prone to dry and rough skin.
• Environment: People who live in dry climates with low humidity tend to have dry and rough skin (3). 
• Age: As you age, your body produces less and less collagen (4). Collagen is a protein that gives the skin firmness and support. When a woman reaches menopause, her collagen production reduces by 45%.  
• Residual discoloration: When you pick your skin (typically as a response to decongested pores and the like), it often leaves a dark mark from the agitated area, which results in discoloration and uneven skin tone. 
• Flaky skin buildup: The most common cause of uneven texture is not exfoliating or removing surface impurities from the skin, which leaves the skin looking rough and dull. 
• Smoking: Smoking is as bad for your health as it is for your skin. It will deny you smooth looking and feeling skin.

Best Way To Improve Skin Texture

1. Add vitamin C or other antioxidants into your skin care routine

Vitamin C and other antioxidants protect against the pollution your skin is exposed to throughout the day, working with the skin’s natural defenses for healthier looking skin. Vitamin C is also a wonderful ingredient for brightening, which helps fade the appearance of dark spots for a more even-toned complexion. Looking for a potent vitamin C elixir? Shop our Concentrated Boosting Elixirs, which comes with Brighten, a pure vitamin C with sea buckthorn!

2. Use SPF daily

Before leaving your house every morning, make sure you apply sunscreen. The rays from the sun can cause a lot of damage to your skin when exposed for long periods, even on days when it looks too gloomy for there to be enough sun. Always apply a reliable sunscreen with high quality natural ingredients that will offer full coverage so that it acts as a shield and your skin gets ample protection.

3. Drink a lot of water and nourish your body with real, whole foods (organic when possible)

Hydration is key for glowing skin. Drinking enough water will keep your skin hydrated for a plump and smooth appearance. And as you up your water intake, reduce the processed foods that could be wreaking havoc on your skin and replace them with real, whole, nutrient-dense foods. Our diet undoubtedly plays a role in how our skin appears, so nourishing ourselves with healthy foods is one of the best ways to improve skin texture and get glowing skin!

4. Boost your collagen production and massage your face with facial oils more regularly

Unfortunately, with age comes the decline of collagen production in the body. You can boost its production by eating a clean and healthy diet, taking collagen supplements and/or increasing vitamin C levels in your body. To further collagen’s visual effects, you can accompany what you ingest with stimulating facial massages for a sculpted, smoother look. A tip to improve skin texture: before massaging, apply a facial oil, which will allow for easier gliding movements, as well as help restore skin by reducing the appearance of wrinkles and any signs of aging. 

5. Exfoliate 2-3 times a week with different exfoliation techniques

There are many different ways to improve skin texture when you exfoliate—you can use chemical peels, exfoliating facial brushes or facial scrubs. Any one of these will assist in eliminating impurities and debris from the pores. Our masks & scrubs collection provides two types of physical exfoliants—our Ayurvedic Facial Scrub is a dry herb exfoliant (wonderful for sensitive skin), and our Kaolin Micro Exfoliant is a cream exfoliating facial scrub (wonderful for all skin types, excluding sensitive skin). 

If your skin is too sensitive, it may not respond well to physical exfoliants that have a rougher grit, so instead, try out a chemical exfoliant, which can give you that deeper exfoliation without physically agitating the skin. 

We do recommend patch testing before applying fully and always read the instructions for how long you should keep your peel on for best results. (Please note: when we say chemical exfoliant, we are referring to the process of exfoliation, as we do not recommend using harsh toxic chemicals on the face. If you are looking for a gentle, non-damaging chemical exfoliant, check out our Resurfacing Facial Exfoliant, which is a pure honey-derived lactic acid).

6. Introduce chemical peels/exfoliants into your regimen

Once you get older, the skin starts having difficulty shedding the remnants of dry skin,  leaving behind the uneven texture. Chemical peels help by resurfacing and exfoliating the skin, leaving behind smoother skin. You can do chemical peels at home or at the salon. Do note that it is necessary to shield your skin from the sun using SPF after you’ve used a chemical peel. Your skin will be more exposed than usual with that deeper exfoliation that comes from a chemical exfoliant, so use the product in the evening and try to avoid direct sunlight the following day by using sun protection or wearing a hat.

7. Use a moisturizing facial oil

Sometimes the skin produces too much sebum because you are stripping your skin of its natural oils, and it feels the need to replace it by making more to compensate. Studies show that using a facial oil on the skin can help it create a protective seal, prevent skin irritation and ultimately improve moisturization—resulting in soft, supple skin.

Conclusion

There are so many things that could cause your skin to have a rough texture, from environmental stressors to a buildup of debris on the surface of your skin. If you never exfoliate or don’t exfoliate regularly (which is one of the primary causes of textured skin), we highly recommend introducing a non-toxic scrub or gentle chemical peel. Exfoliate 2-4 times a week (1-2 times a week if you have sensitive skin). 

Additionally, support your skin care routine by taking care of your diet, incorporating exercise and shielding your skin from the sun. Once you have a great daily skin care routine and eliminate bad habits that worsen skin conditions (like smoking or drinking too much alcohol), your skin will thank you for that becoming smoother with a luminous glow.

It is possible that your skin care routine can stop working like it once did with time. It is important to really familiarize yourself with your skin so that you can adjust your products and match your skin’s needs accordingly to find the best way to improve skin texture. We are, of course, big proponents of using non-toxic, effective, high quality skin care, so use safe products you feel really good about putting on your skin. And once you have mastered your skin, it will be easy to keep it smooth, well-hydrated, moisturized and radiant.