How to Take Care of Your Skin: Do’s & Don’ts
Introduction:
Having an established, healthy skincare routine is beneficial in many ways. Regular cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and applying SPF can prevent wrinkles and fine lines, acne and blemishes, and keep your skin hydrated and protected from environmental factors. While you are fine tuning your routine, there are a few things you do not want to make a habit of. This can include pulling skin while applying products, over exfoliating, and applying products in the incorrect order.
How to Develop a Healthy Skin Care Regime?
You may be used to using the same basic steps morning and night– cleanse, tone, boost (serum or oil) and moisturize, which we are so happy with especially if you are just starting out, and beginning to acquire products. But, did you know that your booster products are likely to be more valuable in either the AM or PM instead of both? Differentiating products between your daytime and nighttime routines can help maximize your skin’s youthfulness, elasticity, and make your products last longer as they are being used when needed.
During the day, we need to focus on protecting our skin from environmental factors such as dirt and pollution, smoke, and sun rays. Incorporating a power duo such as Vitamin C and SPF is a great way to make sure your skin has a thick barrier blocking those unwanted environmental hazards making contact with your epidermis, as well as sun protection.
- Day Time Skin Care Routine
At night, we want to rehydrate and treat skin concerns. There is obviously no need for SPF as we are not going to be in contact with the sun, and no real need for vitamin C as we are keeping our skin safe indoors.
Instead, go for a thick moisturizer or night cream and a retinol or vitamin A based product to treat hyperpigmentation and fine lines.
- Night Time Skin Care Routine
What Not to do in a Skin Care Routine
We all know it is hard to break a habit once it is established, so be sure to follow these crucial DONT’S of skincare.
- Don’t pull skin while applying product
- Instead, you want to apply your products in a patting motion, especially for thinner products such as serums and oils, and in a circular motion for thicker products such as moisturizers and SPF
- Don’t over exfoliate
- It is not only unnecessary to exfoliate more than 2-3 times per week, but it can actually cause your skin to become more thin, fragile, and irritated, and can begin to break and tear much easier
- Share products with others
- We can never assume that another person’s products are clear from bacteria that can be introduced by fingertips and counter space, so don’t risk it.
- Stock up on our travel size products that you can bring with you when getting ready–or unready at another location so you do not feel the urge to share with another person
- Don’t forget to layer products in the correct order
- Using products in the incorrect order can cancel out their benefits as they are likely not being fully absorbed into your skin and being wiped away with the following application
- On that note, make sure you wait at least one minute before applying the next product, and possibly longer for thicker products
What Are the Dos for Healthy Skin
In addition to the things we already know such as drinking enough water daily, eating healthy and avoiding smoking, here are a few topical solutions that will help your skin look its best
- Sunscreen
- We all should be wearing sunscreen 365 days a year, whether it's cloudy or sunny, the sun rays will always find a way to attack our skin
- Go for at least SPF 30 and reapply every 2 hours, more often if the UV index is high in your area
- Try our Weightless SPF 50 Facial Sunscreen for maximum protection
- Moisturize
- Moisturizing not only hydrates our skin but it creates a thick layer of protection from the world’s pollutants
- Use our Vitamin C moisturizer in the morning as the vitamin C is an amazing antioxidant and will neutralize free radicals
- Use our Night Cream in your PM routine for maximum hydration and soothing floral essential oils to help you sleep
- Remove makeup before bed
- The best thing you can do for your skin is to make sure it has a fresh base before going to bed to allow itself to work away all the day brought to it
- Leaving your makeup on is a sure way to clog pores and produce excess oil, leading to breakouts
- Try our non comedogenic, hypoallergenic, anti-inflammatory Citrus Rose Makeup Remover
Conclusion
Both day and night, we need to
- Cleanse
- Tone
- Boost
- Moisturize
In the AM, be sure to add in SPF to finish your routine, and focus your boosting on products that contain vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and an eye cream.
In the evening, boost your skin with a treatment product such as our Smooth & Clear Cream which helps prevent blemishes, or a Retinol to treat clogged pores and enhance collagen production. Also, switch your thin daily moisturizer for a thicker night cream to maximize hydration and wake up radiant.
Never share products, this can lead to skin fungus and pink eye, instead opt for our travel size products that you can take with you when traveling or visiting a friend.
Be sure to only exfoliate 1-3 times per week, as your skin can handle. There is no need to use an exfoliant as a cleanser, they are too harsh for every day use and should only be used to reinvigorate your skin bi or tri weekly.
Finally, be sure to apply your products in the correct order– we like to go thinnest to thickest as a rule of thumb– otherwise, your products will not properly absorb into your skin and will be wiped away with the application that follows. Wait 1-2 minutes in between applications to make sure your products’ benefits are being maximized.
Happy cleansing to all!