“That dude definitely spent too much time on his biceps and not enough on his abs. Totally old school.”
Disney’s The Lizzie McGuire Movie is arguably one of the best teen films of the early 2000s. Many people might have forgotten Ethan’s side comment about a little souvenir statue’s biceps and abs because of more iconic quotes — cue Paolo’s sweet “you shine like the light from the sun,” which probably made 14-year-old you swoon. Or Kate’s cold “you are an outfit repeater,” which forced you to recall every outfit you wore in the last few weeks. Or Lizzie’s vindictive “sing to me, Paolo” on cinematic live television.
Other notable quotes aside, Ethan’s comment about the little statue is a great fill-in-the-blanks statement for when you’re having difficulty choosing between two things. And, if you are a twenty-or-thirty-something-year-old, it is definitely applicable to the way you treat your face:
“This lady (or dude) spends too much money on makeup and not enough on skincare.”
Yes, it is a fact: If you wish to have smooth and radiant skin, makeup is not the ultimate solution. Yes, it can cover blemishes and add more color to your cheeks. But it cannot replicate the glow of healthy skin. So from making adjustments to your skincare regimen to investing Korean skincare brands like COSRX, you really have to redirect your spending and focus on products that take care of your skin.
Make Some Changes to Your Routine for Healthier Skin
Kojic acid, papaya, tea tree oil, witch hazel extract — these are some of the most famous home remedies for problem skin. You might be guilty of simply using a kojic acid soap, dabbing tea tree oil during acne breakouts, and letting makeup hide the rest. This is probably not the best way to address skin concerns.
As you grow older, your natural collagen production decreases. As such, wrinkles and dark spots are more difficult to get rid of. But why wait until then when you can avoid irreversible skin damage, now?
Toss out your drugstore-brand soap cleanser. Instead, pay attention to what you put on your skin.
Research on which type of cleanser best matches your skin type. Invest in a skin toner that effective balances your skin’s pH levels. Use a moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated (regardless of how oily you are — dehydration actually causes excess sebum production). Apply sunscreen even if you can’t see the glaring sun. And exfoliate once or twice a week to get rid of dead skin cells that make your skin look dull.
This might seem like a lot of work at first. But the results will be worth your time and money.
With Dedication, You Will Get Your Dream Skin
Maybe you got used to washing your face with a generic cleanser, putting on tinted sunscreen, and layering it with powder foundation. Or maybe you got used to layering different makeup products on your face to hide wrinkles and blemishes and to make your face look airbrushed.
Old habits die hard. But if you make an effort to break free them for your skin’s health, then you will get beautiful results — literally. You can’t expect to have clear skin overnight but if you stick to a strict skincare regimen long enough, you will start to see its smoothening and brightening effects.
Great skin is the result of hard work and, as Lizzie McGuire says, “is what dreams are made of.”