SKINCARE BASICS
Skincare doesn’t have to break the bank and it doesn’t have to be difficult either but it must be done to maintain healthy & happy skin. I once found skincare to be extremely overwhelming. I didn’t understand the products I was looking for and I didn’t understand what to put where and when.
I’m hoping to clear things up with you today by discussing how to simplify your skincare in 4 steps & what to look for in products so that you don’t waste your money or your time.
This is a great habit to pick up in 2022 if you’re looking for some positive change in your life!
STEP I: DEEP CLEANSE
This is the most important step as it helps to remove dirt and debris from your pores & allows the other products we’re using to be able to deeply interact with our skin therefore giving us the greatest benefit.
Cleansing is important no matter what you feel your “skin type” is. I also wouldn’t give too much thought to skin type or always sticking to products for that specific skin type because your skin changes. It’s an organ. It changes with the seasons, stress, diet - you name it. So pay attention to your skin.
The most important thing to look for in a cleanser in my opinion is gentleness. You want a cleanser that you can use a couple times (especially at night) without worrying about it drying out your skin or causing imitation.
+ Cleansing should be done morning and night with your night wash being the most important because you’re washing off ALL the gunk of the day.
+ Always be sure your skin is wet with lukewarm water before applying your cleanser. Not doing so can dry out your skin and causes irritation.
+ Use lukewarm water to wash your face and always pat dry with a clean towel.
STEP II: TONE
After cleansing you’ll want to use a toner. Toners act as a broom and a guide behind your cleanser. The pick up any remaining dirt & debris your cleanser may have missed within your pores and then guide the next product you apply right into your pores. Toners also help to lock in whatever we apply - very important for the hydration of your skin.
Some toners have exfoliating properties (AHAs) so you get one product for multiple things which I love. You’ll want to use your toner with a cotton pad in an upward motion from your neck until you no longer see any dirt or debris. This is how you know you’re ready for your next step. If your toner is exfoliating I wouldn’t suggest you do what I mention next…
I also recommend applying your toner in between each product from here on out but that’s only if you’d like. You’d simply let your product sit for a while on the face to be sure it’s absorbed and then apply toner. Then you’d let the toner dry slightly then the next product etc.
STEP III: SERUM
Serums take care of issues you have with your skin. Things like unevenness, redness, wrinkles, & hyperpigmentation. You may also choose to wear some serums during the day and other serums at night.
For hydration, you’ll want to look for a serum with hyaluronic acid. This is especially good for those of us who live in very cold places right now!
For help with your skin becoming oily you can look for products with vitamin C.
For anti-aging serums you want to look for antioxidant serums.
For hyperpigmentation, you’ll want a serum that works for reducing dark spots and has glycolic acid (in small amounts).
STEP IV: MOISTURIZERS, THEIR CLASSIFICATIONS, + SUNSCREEN
Moisturizers help our skin to maintain its elasticity and assists in it maintaining its ability to protect our body from the outside world. Could you imagine if your skin let anything and everything into our bodies? We’d be chronically sick!
Moisturizers come in a few types: humectants, occlusives, and emollients.
Humectants
These are key in maintaining the skins moisture because they work by attracting and then attaching themselves to the water in our skin. They are great for reducing fine lines because they firm up and plump up the skin. Like filing a balloon with water.
But you also have to be careful because they can further dry out the skin due to their ability to bind to not only the moisture in the products you previously applies but to the water deeper in your skin as well which can lead to dryness. Basically - don’t over do it. Use them regularly.
List of Humectant Ingredients To Look For: glycerine, hyaluronic acid, hexanediol, butylene glycol, sorbitol.
Humectants are GREAT for the summer and hot climates because they are very lightweight! But what about the harsh winter?
Occlusives
Occlusives prevent water loss from the skins surface & act as a barrier to keep things from getting in. They work very well but the drawback is they are VERY greasy in formulation. However, I enjoy them in the winter when you need that extra protection and have the heat blasting sky high.
With a lot of occlusive products a little really goes a long way so I love that about them too. You really get a lot of bang for your buck.
Ingredients to look for: dimethicone, shea + cocoa butter, propylene glycol, petrolatum, paraffin, lanolin.
Emollients
Emollients fill the gaps in our skin cells. Ingredients to look for: dimethicone, ceramides, linoleic acid, caprylyl glycol.
Putting It All Together
A lot of moisturizers will have so many of these ingredients from each group so assess your skin.
Are you struggling with oil lately due to living in a warmer climate? - look for a moisturizer higher in humectants. Looking to protect your skin in the rough winter? - look for a moisturizer higher in occlusives or emollients.
Moisturizers can even be EXFOLIATING in small amounts which is SUCHa benefit. Look for ingredients like glycolic acid - or the moisturizer may even say AHAs. I would use a moisturizer with an exfoliator during my night time routine for best results.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is an absolute MUST in skincare. It should be apart of your DAILY skincare for both protection and prevention. The sun is responsible for MOST of our skin concerns. Some moisturizers contain sunscreen BUT if you’re in a sunny climate - use a regular sunscreen everyday on top of your products.
I like to use a thicker sunscreen in the winter and a lighter gel based sunscreen in the summer. Common sense right?
For your face you’ll want to use an SPF from 15 - 50 with UVA (it should say). The darker your skin-tone the lower SPF you can use and vice versa.
+ Look for sunscreens that are BROAD spectrum meaning they protect against UVB and UVA
+ Use an actual sunscreen after your moisturizer. We don’t apply cosmetic products enough to get the SPF benefits from them
CLOSING SUMMARY:
+ Cleanse with a gentle cleanser for 60 seconds, wetting your face first with lukewarm water, and use circular motions to lift debris - and don’t forget your neck!
+ Tone using a clean cotton pad in upward motion from the neck. Repeat until the cotton pad is clean.
+ Apply serums to your problem areas and use as instructed on the box. Apply serums for time of day. Night time is great for exfoliating and heavier serums because they have time to get to work.
+ If toning in between steps, all previous product to dry lightly before toning again.
+ Apply the moisturizer for your environment and time of day. If it’s night time, apply your exfoliating moisturizer. Day time, apply something a little lighter. Winter go heavier. Summer go lighter.
+ Sunscreen - apply it separately! Look for a broad spectrum sunscreen with UVB and UVA protection. The lighter your skin tone the more UVA protection you need. (SPF 15 vs SPF 50g
[ Sources: Skincare Bible, Beauty Geeks Guide To Skincare, Life, NCBI.NLM.NIH.GOV, Pubmed ]
It is almost fall everyone which means the weather will be cooling down if it hasn’t for you already. Be sure to STILL wear your sunscreen and to add occlusives and emollients to combat drying brisk weather. ☁️🤍
