No one’s really going for dry, flaky, rough skin… but somehow, it still happens.
Whether your skin is dehydrated, dull, or interrupted by fine lines, acne scars, or enlarged pores, chances are your goal is the same: to achieve smooth, glowy skin, using reliable, clinically tested solutions that will fit right into your busy lifestyle (and your carefully curated skincare routine).
If you’re a dry skin girly who’s trying to be a hydrated, touchably-soft skin girly, read on to learn how to get smooth skin on your face and body.
How to Get Smoother Skin on Your Face
The current state of your skin and the specific issues you want to target will determine the best, most effective skincare treatment for you. After all, “smooth” can mean a lot of different things – wrinkle-free, blemish-free, supple, soft, even-textured, moisturized, etc, or all of the above.
Here’s our best advice to help you achieve your specific smooth-skin goals.
For Even Texture:
You wish your dry skin would feel soft, without any rough patches, bumps, or significant texture variations.
Try →
- Sunscreen. Sun-damaged skin = uneven skin. Wear SPF 30+ on your face every time you go outside.
- Exfoliate. Use a gentle chemical exfoliant once a week to remove dead skin cells and clean pores.
For Smaller Pores:
You wish your pores would look smaller so the surface of your skin would look more uniform.
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- Clean your pores. Get a pore-cleaning routine based on your skin type.
- Use a sonic facial cleansing brush. Devices like Petal 2 penetrate deep into pores to remove 99% of dirt, debris, and makeup.
For Balanced Moisture:
You wish your skin was neither too dry nor too oily – just touchably smooth.
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- Auditing/swapping out your moisturizer. Use a moisturizer that’s appropriate for your skin type, ideally with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides.
- Try double cleansing. Start with an oil cleanser to remove makeup and debris, then follow with a gel-based cleanser for a deeper clean.
For Fewer Blemishes:
You wish your skin was clear of acne, scars, and significant marks.
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- Don’t touch your face. Picking and popping only ever makes things worse – leave any new blemishes alone.
- Use spot treatments. Use hydrocolloid patches or other acne treatments on any new zits. Popular ingredients like retinol, tretinoin, niacinamide, and vitamin C can all help with acne scars.
For Healthy Elasticity:
You wish your skin could go back to having a firm, supple quality, bouncing back easily when touched.
Try →
- Sunscreen. We’ll say it again – wear SPF 30+ on your face whenever it’s exposed to the sun.
- Anti-aging skincare. Use products with ingredients like retinol and peptides to improve skin elasticity.
- Facial massage. Use a sonic facial cleansing brush or other massaging tool to promote circulation and lymphatic drainage.
For a Radiant Complexion:
You wish your skin had a natural glow and vibrancy.
Try →
- Vitamin C. Apply a brightening vitamin C serum after cleansing and before moisturizing.
- Face masks. Use a brightening face mask once a week or whenever your skin could really use a boost.
For Hair-Free Skin:
You’re desperate to get rid of PCOS-related facial hair.
Try →
- Permanent hair removal. Use Lumi IPL to get rid of unwanted facial hair for good in just 8-12 weeks.
How to Get Smooth Body Skin
If you’re interested in getting smooth skin all over, the same basic principles apply. Exfoliation, hydration, and sun protection are key. Here are a few of the most important steps for achieving smooth body skin, along with some highly effective tools to help you out.
- Exfoliate. Use a physical exfoliant like the Glow Glove in the shower once or twice a week to sweep away dead skin flakes and reveal glowy, smooth skin. Just add water!
- Moisturize. Use a gentle, soothing, aloe-based body lotion after every shower and IPL treatment to keep skin smooth all over.
- Protect. Prevent damage by protecting exposed skin from the elements, using sunscreen whenever you’re outside and protective clothing whenever appropriate.
- Intentional hair removal. If your idea of smooth skin = hair-free skin, how you get rid of unwanted body hair matters. Ditch your rusty razor and opt for hair removal that leaves skin soft, smooth, and permanently hair-free, like Lumi.
Related: How to Exfoliate Legs
Getting Smooth Skin Looks Different for Everyone
Here’s the thing: there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for smooth skin. A product that leaves your friend’s skin super smooth and clear might leave you with an oily breakout. The best method of getting smooth skin depends on so many factors, including skin type, age, diet, and even the time of year and where you live.
There’s no miracle product that will magically work for everyone – consider your overall health, your skin type, your age, where you live, etc when creating a smooth skin regimen. (And on that note, don’t just look for products – drinking more water, sleeping with a humidifier, and staying out of the sun can contribute as well.)
Related: Sustainable Skincare
When to See a Dermatologist About Skin Texture Issues
Most skin-texture issues are, well, only skin-deep – they’re not necessarily a sign of a bigger problem. But beyond just affecting how you see yourself when you look in the mirror, it can be uncomfortable, itchy, and even painful to have skin texture issues. And you deserve to love your skin!
If you’ve noticed changing moles, you’re experiencing persistent rashes, dry spots, or itchiness, or you’re simply fed up with the skin discomfort you’re dealing with, it may be a good idea to see a dermatologist. It doesn’t hurt to be careful – getting a skin screening can help you detect any adverse conditions early and treat any significant issues.
