How to Make Your Skin Healthy At Home
When we think about healthy skin, we often think about glow — that vibrant, alive, lit-from-within look. But did you know that healthy skin is also a sign of overall vitality? Taking care of your skin not only keeps it looking beautiful, but it can also help reduce the risk of skin cancer, support oxygen and nutrient flow, and even lower your chances of certain skin diseases.
And here’s the best part: you don’t need to book an expensive spa appointment or invest in a $500 skincare regimen to start. There are SO many ways to make your skin healthy at home — using simple items you already have in your pantry, kitchen, or bathroom cabinet. Plus, creating a skincare routine you actually look forward to is a powerful form of self-care. (Trust me — there's a reason I consider my nighttime ritual sacred.)
Today, I’m sharing a guide packed with easy, effective, and soulful ways you can care for your skin at home. Let’s glow!
How to Make Your Skin Healthy At Home
Before we dive in, a quick note: every skin type is different. Whether you have sensitive skin, dry skin, or an oilier complexion, the tips below are universal enough to tweak to your needs. Think of this guide as a blueprint for boosting your natural beauty — no matter where you're starting from.
I remember being 18 years old with a face covered in acne. My parents had recently gotten divorced and my life had been turned upside down. I felt so out of control that I channeled that desire for control into an eating disorder. My eating disorder combined with the stress I was experiencing made my face break out horribly. My mom, brilliant woman that she is, went to our local holistic shop and asked the manager what I could do to clear up my skin. Until that point, I had been using really harsh cleansers and acne treatments. My face was oily and dry at the same time and my pimples were just so big and painful.
I remember her telling me that the holistic practitioner said I should cleanse my face with olive oil. My mom could have spoken to me in Chinese and it would have made more sense. Cleanse my face with oil? What? I thought it was going to make my acne worse.
Unfortunately, I did not listen to my mom’s or this holistic practitioner’s advice. I kept using the harsh acne treatments for many more years and kept struggling with acne.
It wasn’t until I started to treat my skin gently, and respect it, that everything changed for me.
✨ Pro tip: Skip the aggressive scrubbing. Your face isn't a stovetop that needs a steel wool pad.
Tip 1: Oil Cleansing — The Game Changer
If you're still using harsh foaming cleansers, it’s time to have a little heart-to-heart: oil cleansing will change your skin’s life. Instead of stripping your skin barrier, oil cleansing works with it — dissolving makeup, dirt, and even sebum without drying you out.
I have been oil cleansing for over a decade. I think I started in 2011 if I remember correctly. My favorite oil cleanser is Best Skin Ever Seabuckthorn from Living Libations. It smells amazing and I’ve been using it for years. I even had the founder, Nadine Artemis, on my podcast (episode 81). If you have on makeup, you may need to oil cleanse for 2 rounds to get all of it off, but it works and it. will. change. your. skin.
Directions:
Start with dry skin and rub cleansing oil into skin. Gently massage.
Take a warm wash cloth and gently wipe makeup and the day’s dirt off.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 if you were wearing a lot of makeup.
If you want a bonus, you can use hot water and place the towel on your face for 30 seconds or so and steam your pores. This feels amazing and will make your skin GLOW.
✨ Oil cleansing is magic for improving blood flow, which helps bring more oxygen and nutrients to the surface of your skin!
Tip 2: Drink Plenty of Water
You already know this, but it bears repeating: drink plenty of water! Hydrated skin is happy skin. When you're well-hydrated, your body can more easily flush out toxins and deliver essential nutrients to your skin cells, supporting that plump, dewy look from the inside out.
Fun way to remember: Every time you sip, think, “I’m watering my houseplant… which just happens to be ME.” 🌱
Tip 3: Protect Your Skin From the Sun (kind of)
Here’s the truth: the sun is good for us. It’s like a battery charger - we need it to have high frequency energy and we need it to produce Vitamin D. However, being in the sun can really age us if we aren’t careful. Ultraviolet (UV) rays are one of the main culprits behind skin aging, pigmentation, and — more seriously — the risk of skin cancer. It’s important to consider several factors that I will address below.
Ask yourself: how much time will I be spending in the sun today? And then act accordingly. I apply a clean sunscreen on my face when I know I will be in the sun - whether that’s via dropping my son off at school or when I know I’ll be sitting in the car getting incidental sun, etc. I’ll apply suncreen to my hands and body when I know I will be in direct sunlight for longer periods of time and I’m not wearing long sleeves or more protective gear. Look for a mineral sunscreen that is not loaded with harmful, carcinogenic chemicals. I like the Skinny Confidential caffeinated sunscreen and I also like Sky & Sol beef tallow sunscreen for the face, and I like Maui Vera and Everybody Loves the Sunshine Zinc lotion from Living Libations for the body. When choosing a clean suncreen, you generally want the first ingredient to be zinc oxide, because it provides a physical barrier from the sun.
Check the UV index on your weather app often, then act accordingly. What the UV index does is track the amount of ultraviolet radiation the sun is emitting at that time of day. The scale goes from 0 to 11+. 0-2 is great, 3-5 is moderate (meaning wear protective suncreen and clothing), 6-7 is moderate risk, 8-10 is high risk, and anything above 11+ is considered extreme. I love being in the sun, but I try to keep my time in the sun specific to the AM and PM, so I can avoid when the sun is at it’s harshest and potentially most damaging. Go out when the UV index is at 1 or 2 with very little risk, wear protective sunscreen and clothing between and index reading of 3 and 5, and then avoid being directly in the sun when the index is harsher at 6 and above. It goes without saying, but wear protective clothing like wide-brimmed hats and long sleeves when you’re spending extended periods of time in the sun. It’s personal preference, but I generally cover my face because I am vain and don’t want to invite premature wrinkles and sun spots.
Watch out for seed oils/avoid seed oils whenever possible. Seed oils are the enemy. From what I understand they turn rancid and oxidize in our bodies - making our skin more susceptible to damage over time. Don’t want sun spots? Don’t eat seed oils. Read this article for more detailed information.
Be choosy with sunglasses. I love sunglasses and I love a good fashion statement, but did you know that sunglasses interfere with our bodies natural ability to protect us from sun? Sunglasses block our eyes from telling our brains we are in the sun. This stops our bodies from doing whatever chemical processes they do to protect us from getting burnt. Not allowing sunlight in our eyes also interferes with the body’s ability to produce essential hormones. You can learn more about sunlight and how it affects our hormones here.
Be aware that wearing self-tanning products in the sun can damage our skin. They contain DHA which can react with UV radiation and create free radicals. This increases the risk for sun damage when in the sun. You can read more about it here along with a safe alternative option.
Slowly acclimate your skin to sun exposure. To me, this means going in the sun when the UV index is mild or low and then covering up or going inside when your skin begins to flush. Our bodies are so intelligent. They send us signals when they’ve had enough. Our bodies need Vitamin D to function, and the sun is the most direct, healthy source available to us. You can read more about acclimating your body to sun exposure here..
Tip 4: Exfoliate... But Don't Overdo It
Gently exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells and boost blood flow, leaving your skin smoother and more radiant. But go easy — sensitive skin types especially need to limit exfoliation to 1–2x per week to avoid irritation.
I like the Froya Organics exfoliant a lot. You can find it here.
Tip 5: Feed Your Skin with CLEAN Nourishing Oils and Serums
After cleansing, nourish your skin with oils and serums packed with antioxidants and vitamins. Look for ingredients like:
Rosehip oil (amazing for elasticity and brightness)
Sea buckthorn (for a boost of antioxidants)
Hyaluronic acid (for mega hydration)
My favorite oil and toner are from indie brand, The Golden Secrets. It’s their Youth Beauty Oil and Aura Beauty mist. I’ve been using these for about 4 years and I keep going back to them over and over because nothing is better. I’ve also had the founder of the brand, Jesse Golden, on the podcast (episode 102). She’s MAJOR.
Visit thegoldensecrets.com and use code: BECKON for 10% off site wide. You can thank me later.
Tip 6: Eat close to Nature
The closer you eat to nature, the more your skin will show it. Ultra processed and processed foods are really bad for us and they tend to show up on our skin. Our skin is our largest organ and it helps us detoxify. Acne and other skin ailments are often caused by our body trying to get rid of toxins. The less toxins we eat, the less our bodies will have to get rid of them.
Rather than focusing on what to avoid, though, I like to focus on what will nourish my body that I enjoy eating. And a crazy thing happens when your body gets used to whole foods - it craves them! The more nutrient dense food you eat, the more you will feel averse to foods that are not good for your body.
As a bonus, clean eating results in clear skin. I find when I am eating and drinking close to nature, my skin glows from the inside out. Fruits, vegetables, green juices - these all fortify our skin with the nutrients we need resulting in a beautiful complexion.
How To Start A Skincare Routine
Building a skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s a simple, easy-to-follow structure:
Step 1: Cleanse
Use a mild cleanser or, even better, oil cleanse, to remove makeup, dirt, and impurities.
Step 2: Tone
Apply a gentle toner to balance your skin’s pH. Rose water is a lovely natural option. My favorite as mentioned above is the Aura Mist by The Golden Secrets.
Step 3: Serum
Target your skin goals with a vitamin C serum (for brightening) or hyaluronic acid serum (for hydration). My favorite face oil/serum is the Youth Beauty Oil by The Golden Secrets and the Rose Glow Serum by Living Libations.
Step 4: Moisturize
Lock in hydration with a lightweight moisturizer or your favorite natural oil. I love Living Libations Rose Glow Crème for warmer weather and I’ve been liking Froya Organics balms for colder weather.
Step 5: Sunscreen (When You Will Need It)
Apply sunscreen when you know you will be spending time in the sun. I generally only do this for my face because I want to prevent premature aging.
✨ Remember: It’s not about perfection. It’s about creating a daily ritual that feels like self-love.
Taking care of your skin is a beautiful way of showing your body how much you love and appreciate it. When I use clean products that are packed with amazing ingredients and essential oils, I feel like I am hydrating and nourishing my skin in the most high frequency way possible. My skincare routine is a self-care ritual and a non-negotiable.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a 10-step K-beauty regimen to have healthy, vibrant skin. You just need consistency, a few nourishing habits, and a little love.
And remember, taking care of your skin isn't just about beauty — it's about honoring your body, your health, and your energy. (Bonus: it’s also a beautiful way to slow down and reconnect with yourself.)
If you want even more ideas for creating a healthier home environment inside and out, check out our post on how to make your home healthier.
✨ Here's to your glow-up — inside and out!