Top 3 steps on mastering your skincare routine
Skin is the biggest organ in our body, it makes sense to be kind to it throughout our life time. Knowing your skin type is the first step to choosing the right products that are suitable for your concerns.
There are 4 types of skin: normal, oily, dry and combination. You are born with a certain type of skin but that can change over time by age, environmental and internal factors and your life choices.
There are general rules to follow for all types of skin that is important to the health and appearance of your skin. Drinking enough water, getting sufficient nutrients and minerals, staying away from smoking and excessive drinking, applying proper sun screen on regular basis, lowering you sugar intake, and having a skin care routine based on your skin type and age.
The 3 major steps in skin care routine
- Exfoliate
- Balance & Nourish
- Protect
Read more about skincare tips:
https://www.vogue.in/content/a-celebrity-skincare-expert-shares-tips-to-follow-through-party-season/
1. Exfoliate
Exfoliation is when you physically or chemically remove dead skin built up that causes congestion and dullness of the skin. Our skin produces natural oils called sebum that is needed for the healthiness and protection of our skin. Don’t over exfoliate and strip your skin from the natural oils that’s needed for a healthy skin. Choosing an exfoliating product based on your skin type and don’t exfoliate more than 1-2 times a week.
Physical exfoliation or scrubbing is when you use a tool like a brush or scrub that contains abrasive particles that removes dead skin cells.
Chemical Exfoliation : using chemicals such Alpha Hydroxyl Acid (AHAs)s such as glycolic acid, lactic acid and Mandelic Acid or Beta Hydroxy Acids such as Salicylic has become more popular as they have more benefits for the skin. They weaken the bond between dead skin cells and essentially dissolve the dead layer, unclog pores, help thicken the epidermis and increase, collagen production, repair photo damage and also humectant properties helps hydrate and keep moisture in your skin.
Dry & sensitive skin should avoid physical exfoliation and harsh chemical exfoliants. Using Mild AHAs and botanical extract and mild enzymes derived from green tea and fruits are the best eay to combat those concerns.
Oily and acne prone skin should include both methods of exfoliations in their skin care routine. Most commonly used BHA for oily acne prone skin is Salicylic Acid.
Read more about exfoliating:
https://www.elle.com/beauty/makeup-skin-care/a25336561/best-exfoliator/
2. Balance and Nourish
Natural healthy skin PH balance is 5.3-5.5 which means our skin produces just enough oil for healthy looking skin. Oily skin has lower PH balance hence too much oil production causing congestion and dullness appearance. Dry skin on the other hand is when our pores don’t produce enough natural sebum resulting in tightness, irritation and premature wrinkles.
So balancing out your skin is important for keeping a healthy appearance for both dry and oily types of skin and can easily be achieved by picking a right toner for your skin type. Toners been a part of classic skin care routines all around a works. One of the most common natural toners is Pure Rose Water.
Nourishing your skin with ingredients based on your skin type and concerns. There are different ways to nourish your skin. Serums & Ampules, natural and botanical oils, Masks , moisturizers and creams.
Serums and ampules are the most concentrated and effective way to nourish your skin with the needed vitamins and ingredients. The molecules are small and they penetrate the best on clean, exfoliated skin. Most popular serums are Vitamin C (repair & brightens) , Retinol ( diminish signs of aging) , Hyaluronic Acid (hydrates), Niacinamide (brightens sun damage), collagen,& peptides (firming & elasticity) etc.
Natural and botanical oils like Argan Oil (anti-aging), Rosehip Oil ( repair and anti-inflammatory), Tea Tree oil ( anti-bacterial ), coconut oil (hydrating & moisturizing), jojoba oil (anti-inflammatory) , sunflower seed oil ( moisturizer), Shea butter (moisturizing & hydration) etc.
Masks: masks can come in many different ways, cream masks ( anti-aging, anti-acne, hydrating,), clay or mud masks( detoxifying, oil control, pore control), Gel masks(oily dehydrated skin), sheet masks ( cloth or hydrogel soaked in nourishing serums ), modeling or Rubber masks ( hydrating, anti-acne, anti-aging), peel off masks( pore cleaning, anti-pollution) , thermal mask (paraffin mask)
Moisturizers and Cream work in different ways. Some are moisture absorbers that draw water into the skin cells keeping skin plumped and hydrated ( Glycerin, urea). Some fill out gaps in between skin cells that lack moisture( lanolin mineral oil, petroleum) , some are ceramides that’s binding moisture and some are the moisture sealer also known as occlusive is heavy in nature and creates a barrier over the skin preventing loss of water from the surface( trans epidermal water loss)
Learn more about Nourishing your skin :
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/nourishing-your-skin#1
learn about anti-aging ingredients:
https://www.dermstore.com/blog/best-anti-aging-ingredients/
3. Protect
Our skin can easily be affected by external and internal factors that can be prevented easily. Protect your skin from the Sun. the UV rays damage the collagen of the skin and long term exposure to the sun can cause wrinkles, age spots and most importantly Skin cancer. Apply sunscreen daily and seek shade around 10 am-4 pm when the UV rays are the strongest.
Smoking narrows the blood vessels deceases the blood flow and depletes supply of oxygen and nutrition to your skin cells. Smoking also damages the collagen and asphyxiates the skin.
A healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. Drinking adequate water also help maintain a healthy looking skin.
More tips on how to protect your skin: