How to Get Smoother Skin at Home
As a 32-year old woman who takes her skincare routine very seriously, having smooth skin is quite important to me. I hate to admit it, but my confidence gets turned down a notch when I see textured or sagging skin. Of course, this is a natural response to aging and environmental factors. Still, one of the most important things I’ve learned recently is how to get smoother skin on my face. The best part? I don’t have to spend copious amounts of money or even leave my house.
It’s worth noting that rough skin is quite common, whether that’s caused by dryness, acne, acne scars, or even the environment. Luckily, there are a handful of options to smooth your skin out, and boost your self-esteem in the process. Considering that time and money are scarce resources, we’re only including skin texture-improving methods that you can do at home. This means that you won’t see in-office treatments like chemical peels or microneedling.
Instead, you’ll find practical and affordable tips—like maintaining your skin barrier and removing dead skin cells. Keep reading to learn how to get smoother skin, what smooth skin looks like, and what helps keep a good skin texture.
How To Get Smoother Skin
Smooth skin isn’t the only type that’s beautiful. The old cliché to love the skin you’re in is cliché for a reason, and you should live by it. That said, you can love the skin you’re in and want to make tweaks to it to feel like your best self. Below, we’ll provide helpful tips and insightful answers to frequently asked questions about textured skin.
What Does Smooth Skin Mean?
When someone refers to “smooth skin,” they’re probably talking about how it looks and how it feels. For example, every time someone has told me my skin looks smooth, I don’t have any blemishes, pimples, or cuts. It’s literally smooth to the touch. (Not that I spend a lot of time touching my face, since that can cause acne.)
Additionally, it looks smooth to the eye. When I get compliments on the smoothness of my skin, it’s usually plump, dewy, and free of any obvious wrinkles. (When I smile, my crow’s feet are pretty visible, though. This is completely normal when you’re 32 and have never gotten any fillers.) My skin doesn’t always look like this, but I know what steps to take to get it to that level.
What Causes Textured Skin?
- Aging
- Allergies
- Acne scars
- Damaged skin
- Dry weather or dry skin
- Skin conditions like eczema or rosacea
Can Textured Skin Be Fixed?
Yes, most textured skin can be made smoother through skincare and medical treatments. However, there are some cases of deep acne scars that may not ever fully go away. Pitted, ice pick, and boxcar acne scars are unlikely to go away completely. But it’s still worth the try because you could see significant reduction in uneven skin. If your skin is textured due to acne, blackheads, or other blemishes, you have high chances of smoothing that out. You just need the right approach. For instance, someone who has dry skin will have a different approach than someone who needs a skincare routine for acne scars.
What Helps With Skin Texture?
Keeping your skin hydrated
Hyaluronic acid is one of my all-time favorite skincare ingredients. I’ve often heard it referred to as a “hydration hero,” and hydration is the name of the plump skin game. Well-hydrated skin looks smooth, firm, and glowy, a.k.a. not textured.
You could look for creams or moisturizers with hyaluronic acid, but my go-to is a hyaluronic acid serum. Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum, to be specific. It’s a lightweight, water-based serum that layers easily under moisturizer, sunscreen, and makeup.
Exfoliating on a weekly basis
Regardless of your skin type, it’s important to exfoliate at least once a week. People with oilier skin can exfoliate two to three times a week. On the other hand, dry skin types should consider once every 10 days.
The beauty of skincare is that there’s usually more than one way to achieve a skincare goal. Exfoliating is no different, considering that you can use a scrub or chemical exfoliant. Honestly, I’m a big believer in budget beauty, so I just use the microdermabrasion scrub from Trader Joe’s.
That said, I went through a months-long phase of using the Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore Cleaning Toner religiously. It’s made with beta hydroxy acids that reach into the pores and get all the gunk out of skin before it has a chance to turn into a blemish. My skin has never been smoother and my pores have never been smaller.
Applying and reapplying sunscreen
This is one of those low-key tips that you might not realize was the missing piece in your skincare regimen, especially as it pertains to smooth skin. Sunscreen helps protect you from harmful UV rays and may also reverse and prevent dark spots. This may not be textured, but they’re still visible—and that means your skin doesn’t look as smooth as it could.
How To Get Smooth Skin
On your face
Keep your skin clean and protected from environmental aggressors.
By now, I know how crucial it is to keep my skin clean and protected if I want it to appear smooth. Though everyone’s skin is different, I’ve found a pretty good approach for my combo skin. I’ll wash my face once or twice a day with CeraVe Foaming Hydrating Cleanser; once if I didn’t workout and twice if I did.
To protect my skin during the day, I’ll wear at least SPF 30. I’ve tried tons of products, but my two favorites have been Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen (which is a bit oily) and Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aquafresh (which is like a lightweight moisturizer).
Focus on increasing cell turnover.
If you don’t want to prematurely age, increasing your cell turnover is a wonderful way to prevent that. When you boost turnover, you’re removing dull or dead skin cells and improving texture. However, none of the practices I mentioned above will be of any use if you don’t take care of yourself from the inside out.
Lead a healthy lifestyle.
Taking good care of yourself from the inside out means getting proper rest, managing your stress, and avoiding smoking or alcohol in excess. Regular exercise and a healthy, balanced diet is also key for youthful-looking skin. The former rids your body of harmful organisms, and the latter keeps them from getting into your body in the first place. Aim to eat foods rich in collagen and omega-3s, as these are foods that contribute to overall health but also skin health specifically.
On your body
Since the skin on your face and the skin on your body are pretty similar, you’ll want to follow the steps above. That said, the skin on your body isn’t as sensitive as the one on your face. And this means that you can take a few extra measures to slough off dead skin. For instance, you can use a lotion that contains alpha hydroxy acids.
My absolute favorite is the Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion, which is fragrance-free and keeps your skin moisturized (a.k.a. smooth!) for hours. Fun fact: This lotion was my saving grace in 2022, when I had terrible eczema flare-ups. Since I’ve been using it, my skin is as smooth as ever.
