You can achieve an always fresh, smooth and radiant skin with a few tweaks to your normal routine. No magic needed. It’s merely a matter of changing daily habits. There are numerous opinions on what you should and shouldn’t use that it can become overwhelming. Even though skin care is personal, there are a few things you should keep in mind to help you wade through the noise.
When it comes to beauty, you cannot afford to be lazy. Start by washing your face twice a day (in the morning and evening, daily). Sleeping with your makeup on, not only gets your pillowcase marred in makeup and all the dirt and toxins your face collected throughout the day but can also lead to blindness. It would be best if you got rid of all impurities that have accumulated on your face at the end of the day.
To create a working beauty care routine, first, know your skin type. Having a sensitive skin means that it stings, itches or burns after applying makeup or any other products. To cleanse it, use a gentle cleanser and pat it dry after rinsing with warm water. Avoid products with alcohol, acid, fragrance or soap. Go for products with ingredients like aloe, green tea polyphenols, chamomile and oats for a calming effect.
Oily skin is greasy, shiny and with big pores. Use an oil-free foaming cleanser and after rinsing with warm water make sure to use an astringent or toner to remove excess oil. If the cleanser irritates your skin, change it. Dry skin is scaly, rough and flaky. To cleanse dry skin, use one without fragrances or alcohol. These ingredients tend to dry skin even more. If possible, exfoliate once a week to rid your skin of flaky cells.
Normal skin is clear, balanced and not sensitive. When cleaning normal skin, find a cleanser that works great for your skin. You don’t have to buy expensive products or scrub your face. Apply a gentle cleanser, rinse and pat your face dry. If it makes your skin dry, find another.
After cleansing, moisturize when skin is still damp to help seal in moisture. If you have oily skin or there’s acne, use an oil-free and lightweight moisturizer to avoid blocking the pores. If the moisturizer does not have sunscreen, apply some. Sunscreen protects your skin from harmful UV sunlight rays. Find one with at least 30 SPF and wear it daily.
After moisturizing, wear makeup that is noncomedogenic or non-acnegenic to avoid clogging pores. Use water-based and not oil-based makeup. Remember to check your make up for expiry dates before applying and avoid using mascara for more than four months.
Do not tan your skin because exposure to the UV rays can cause skin cancer. It also leaves the skin wrinkly and with spots. Tanning beds, when used regularly, can also cause melanoma, a deadly type of skin cancer. A sunless self-tanner is safer since you can stain your skin either using a spray, lotion or towelettes. You can also try to use the airbrush tanning method at the salon, a tinted cream or brush on powder. Don’t forget to use sunscreen after the tan to protect your skin.
If your face has acne, don’t pop the pimples. Find acne fighting products and apply as told in the directions. Use oil-free makeup to hide blemishes. For small areas, use a concealer and foundation for larger acne patches. Green tinted concealer works wonders when concealing redness. Try retinol as it does wonders to the skin. You can apply it at night to help your skin recover. With time, your wrinkles and lines will start fading, and your skin tone will become even. The skin will also become more elastic and firmer.
The beauty routine will not, however, work if your diet is not healthy. Cut out too much animal protein in your diet. A plant-based diet will reduce inflammations since the body system will be more alkaline. With time, you will notice that the skin becomes less irritated and blotchy. It will hold in moisture, build collagen, elastin and protect itself from pollutants and free radicals. This beauty routine will work well only if you follow it and are willing to see changes in your skin.
