We all want soft, touchable, silky-smooth skin. And while the beauty industry may have you believing that you’ll get there by sinking boat loads of cash into extra spa treatments, pricey creams, and granular scrubs that literally scratch your skin away, your peeps at Fleur and Bee are here to tell you that with some simple lifestyle changes and affordable, botanically-based skincare, you can say buh-bye to a rough and tough exterior and hello to the smooth-as-a-baby’s-bum complexion you’ve always craved!
IN A NUTSHELL
Main Takeaways: Getting smoother skin is much more about caring for yourself and your complexion in simple, actionable ways than it is about doing anything super extra. Love your skin and it will love you back.
Good to Know: Many products that promise a smoother complexion work by way of physical abrasives. Users should be cautious with these types of exfoliants, as repeat application of granular exfoliants may actually perpetuate textural issues.
Recommended Products: All Fleur & Bee products are formulated to help you get smoother skin.
Causes of Rough Skin
The Elements
The primary cause of an undesirable skin texture is exposure to the elements, particularly the sun. UV exposure eats away at your complexion, making it more susceptible to roughness and visible signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles, age spots and even laxity or sagging. Certain climates and extreme weather conditions can also cause a rough exterior, with things like harsh winters and arid air compromising skin barriers and impacting the skin’s smooth-factor.
Dryness
A different but related cause of roughness is dryness, as lack of moisture and/or hydration can not only inherently compromise smoothness, but also your skin’s ability to protect itself against skin-roughening elements.
Buildup
On the opposite end of the spectrum is excess oils and dead skin cells. These can cause clogged pores and lead to unevenness and even breakouts; be sure to keep skin free of problematic debris with proper cleansing and the regular application of a gentle exfoliant.
Changing Hormones
While repeat and unprotected sun exposure is the primary cause of the visible aging that leads to skin roughness, a change in hormones is also a major contributor. As individuals age, especially some women, a change in hormones and a declining ability to produce the bodily elements that keep our skin taught and smooth, particularly in the form of collagen, compromises our skin’s firmness. This makes our skin appear less smooth.
Genetic Conditions
Genetic conditions like eczema and psoriasis are notorious for causing rough and even scaly skin. Genetics also play a role in one’s proneness to acne and chronic blemishes. And while having any of these, or other conditions that affect skin texture similarly, can feel like cruel and unusual punishment, it is important to remember they are more common than you think. More importantly, with the help of a good dermatologist, symptom management is possible. So if you and your skin are challenged by a genetic condition, or if you think genetics may be responsible for your rough skin, be sure to consult with your physician.
Harmful Ingredients and Poor Skincare
Harmful additives and harsh chemicals, like skin-drying alcohols, can wreak havoc on your skin’s lipid barrier and lead to roughness. Be sure to always read your skincare ingredients to avoid things that harm your skin and derail your pursuits.
How to Smooth Skin
Use Proper Sun Protection.
If you do only one thing for your skin, do NOT leave the house without your daily dose of SPF. Sun damage is one of the primary culprits of roughness… and most other skin-related woes. So as a rule of thumb, sunscreen or bust!
Hydrate.
To prevent roughness caused by a lack of hydration, be sure to get in your daily dose of H2O. To further amp up the amount of water in your skin cells, consider using a humidifier and don’t pass on the intermittent and regular use of a hydration-rich toner for as-needed midday hydro-boosts!
Care for You; Care for Your Skin.
You may be surprised, but as your body’s largest organ, your skin benefits from all the things your whole body craves as well. Maintain good sleep habits, eat a rainbow, and exercise regularly. Also remember to care for your mental health (practices like therapy and/or meditation can prove invaluable) to prevent cortisol levels from messing with your skin’s texture.
Apply Quality Skincare.
Using solid products made of mild botanical ingredients will save your skin from harsh ingredients that will roughen it. Applying a gentle cleanser to rid skin of debris and excess oils, followed by a nutrient rich moisturizer to seal in hydration and protect your skin barrier, can do wonders for your texture. And definitely deep clean with a great detox mask and/or exfoliant regularly. Just be sure to avoid anything too harsh or granular, as this can scratch the skin, make texture issues way worse over time, and even cause premature aging.
Ingredients for Smooth Skin
To help you map out a skin-smoothing skincare routine, look for products with ingredients notorious for their smoothing benefits. Things like hyaluronic acid, vitamins A, B, C, and E, glycolic acid, retinol, sea buckthorn oil, and niacinamide all can help preserve, and in some cases even restore, a smooth texture.
OR, make it easy on yourself and go with these winners…
Products for Smooth Skin
So Clean! Facial Cleanser
This mild cleanser helps keep buildup under control for immaculate pores and a smoother texture. And don’t stop at so clean; be so protected, with this antioxidant-infused cleanser to help you stave off elemental damage for smoother skin. Perfect for all skin types.
Rose and Shine Rose Water Toner
Want to stay high on hydration for smoother skin? Rose and Shine will help boost the water content in your skin and is perfect to incorporate into your regular routine (after cleansing and before any serums or moisturizers), as well as using it on the go for a midday hydro-boost!
Just Dew It Hydrating Serum
Made of teeny tiny moisture magnet molecules, and featuring B vitamins and sea buckthorn oil, Just Dew It obliterates dryness to smooth your complexion in a flash with a fast-acting formula that can’t be beat.
Nectar of the C Vitamin C Serum
Skin smoothing vitamin C is the star of this food-for-your-face serum that beats back textural issues with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and a blend of skin-loving moisturizers.
‘A’ Game Retinol Serum
Retinol, a highly potent form of antioxidant vitamin A, is known for its ability to clear pores and rid of dull, dead surface skin cells, revealing smoother skin. We’ve combined 0.1 % retinol with rosehip oil and vegan superfoods to gently, yet effectively transform your complexion.
Youth Fairy Retinol Moisturizer
This retinol moisturizer is crazy packed with all the super-smoothers. A gaggle of vitamins, sea buckthorn oil, nutritious oils, antioxidants, and retinol (obvs). You name it, we included it. Retinol is scientifically proven to help stimulate collagen production and increase cell turnover for a smoother complexion.
H2 Oh Yeah Hydrating Moisturizer
A blend of humectants, emollients, and noncomedogenic occlusives for dry or mature skin. Full of moisture-rich botanicals like jojoba oil, and featuring sea buckthorn oil, vitamin E, and a blend of B vitamins, you can support your skin barrier while effortlessly smoothing out your texture.
Crème de la Cream Brightening Moisturizer
A smooth as silk, nutrient-rich cream, perfectly formulated for all skin types. Rich in antioxidants to help you defend against the elements, and featuring niacinamide and Vitamins B, C, and E, you might even see skin-smoothing results in as little as a week!
Eyes Eyes Baby Anti-Aging Eye Cream
Packed with 21 nourishing actives, our best-selling formula not only smooths, but moisturizes, brightens, and firms your skin’s most delicate area. A must-have for any complete skin-smoothing routine.
One Lip Wonder Lip Treatment
Keep your lips smooth and well hydrated with a lip treatment. One Lip Wonder features peptides and plant stem cells to plump your lips, and coconut oil and castor seed oil to protect and lock in moisture.
Prince Charcoal Detox Mask
Detox your skin with coconut charcoal for a radical clean and smooth texture without stripping the skin. Best of all, it features a blend of nutrient rich moisturizes, glycolic acid, and vitamin E, for an instant tightening and smoothing effect that will only get better with routine application.
