The best things in life really are free, even when it comes to your beauty routine. But taking care of your skin can be a big investment (hi, lasers and serums), so we’re always down for skin care tips that don’t take a huge bite out of our paychecks.

Which is what led us here: We’ve asked top skin care experts to give us their best advice. And the part we love the most? Not one thing below costs a single penny (assuming you already have most of these things in your kitchen).

Give Yourself a Face Massage

Got puffy eyes? No problem. Sure, you could stock up on eye cream…or you could use your fingers to give yourself an under-eye massage. “Use your ring fingers to press gently on the orbital bone, moving from the inner to outer corner of your eyes and repeating two to three times,” says celebrity facialist Cecilia Wong. “This will not only stimulate circulation, but it also helps minimize fine lines and reduce inflammation.”

Celebrity facialist and La Mer global skin care advisor [Georgia Louise] is also a huge proponent of massage all over your face to stimulate collagen and activate product. “Your hands are your most powerful weapon,” she says.

Chill Out

Literally. Louise loves her signature Facial Freeze Tools to depuff and sculpt your face, but if you’re looking for a budget option she loves this Old Hollywood trick: wash your face using ice water.

“I think it’s awesome to have a mega rinse with cool water if your skin is in need of refreshing,” she says. Not only does the chilly temperature make you feel more awake, it can quickly reduces puffiness, tighten pores, and calm inflammation.

Switch Your Pillowcase

We hate to add to laundry to your to-do list, but keeping your pillows clean is a top beauty secret. Pillowcases can hang on to dirt, oil, and bacteria from our faces, hair, and environment, and can become a breeding ground for acne. Try to swap out you pillow at least once a week to reduce the risk of a breakout.

Louise recommends a silk pillowcase to “really ensure your products are penetrating and won’t escape from your skin.” Sure, it’s money, but if you are looking to invest in a solid option, we’re huge fans of Slip’s Silk Pillowcases ($85), which not only helps ward off wrinkles (no creases in your pillow equals no long-term creases on your skin), but also make your hair shinier too.

Sleep on Your Back

Don’t worry. We’re not going to tell you to get eight hours of sleep, which is probably the oldest free skin care tip in the book. Because as essential as how much sleep you’re getting is the position in which you sleep. It really does matter. “After UV exposure, the second most common cause of wrinkles is squishing your face into a pillow at night,” says celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau. “It’s like ironing wrinkles into your skin.” Sleeping on your back is ideal, since even pressing your cheek into a pillow can cause lines.

Put Some Salt on It

You’ve got two options here: You could ice a zit to help bring the inflammation down or even better (and maybe more comfortable): You could salt it. “Sea salt has powerful antibacterial properties and works to pull oil from the pore,” says Karen Young, founder of Oui Shave. She recommends combining one teaspoon of sea salt with enough water to form a paste. Dot this on the offending zit, let it dry for up to an hour (10 minutes for sensitive skin types) and then rinse it off.

Wash Your Hands

Source link