Skin care is an important part of personal hygiene. Not only can it help prevent problems like acne, but it also helps you fight signs of aging like wrinkles.
However, skin care is more than just scrubbing your face now and then. There are habits that can benefit your skin and ones that may do more harm than good.
ThereтАЩs a lot of misinformation out there about how you should be treating your skin. To help you out, here are some factors to consider when developing your personal skin care routine.
Wash Your Face Twice a Day
Most people know to use a cleanser at night, but miss their morning wash. After eight hours of sweating and laying against a pillow, your face needs to freshen up.
Use a gentle cleanser in the morning to clear away any build-up that may cause blackheads. You donтАЩt have to go all-out тАУ save your more thorough cleansing for the evening.
Another one of our best cleansers in the Aveda Botanical Kinetics Purifying Gel Cleanser.┬аStart and each day with this cleanser to refresh and invigorate your skin.
Also make sure youтАЩre not over-cleansing by washing more than twice a day. This can dry out your skin and cause even more problems like oil overproduction or flaking.
If youтАЩre active, itтАЩs alright to rinse your face after youтАЩve been sweating. Use plain water or micellar water, as these are gentle on the skin.
Take Your Makeup Off Before Bed
One of the worst things you can do is wear makeup to bed. All those chemicals donтАЩt allow your skin to breathe and can cause major acne.
There are many different products you can use to remove your makeup:
- Gels
- Wipes
- Oils
- Micellar water
Which you use depends on your skin type and personal preference. For example, people with oily skin should avoid oil-based makeup removers. If youтАЩre always on the go, makeup wipes may be a great choice since they can be easily stowed in a purse with no chance of spilling.
Double Cleanse
If you wear a great deal of makeup or sunscreen, double cleansing is a must. Makeup removers тАУ especially oil-based products тАУ can leave residue on your skin.
This residue can make your face feel greasy and contribute to acne. Cleansing after removing your makeup ensures thereтАЩs nothing left behind that can cause problems.
Note that if you havenтАЩt worn makeup that day, thereтАЩs no need to use two cleansers on your skin. Doing so can cause dryness or irritation.
Avoid Cleansers With Harsh Chemicals
A lot of foaming cleansers contain chemicals that can dry out your skin. ThatтАЩs why itтАЩs important to check the ingredients before you put anything on your face.
If you can, get products with ingredients like the following:
- Vitamin B3
- Glycerine
- Niacinamide
These nourish your skin by moisturizing and replenishing needed materials for your skin to repair itself. Vitamin B3 and niacinamide have anti-inflammatory properties, which means they fight puffiness, redness and dryness.
Whatever you do, donтАЩt use hand soap to wash your face. Hand soap is much too harsh and can dry out your skin.
If youтАЩre in a jam and donтАЩt have proper cleanser, just use warm water. This will at least clear away some of the dirt.
Use Warm Water, Not Hot
While hot water is a great way to sanitize your hands, itтАЩs too harsh for your face. Instead, use lukewarm water.
That said, steaming is a great way to open your pores. Doing so before cleansing can get rid of even more dirt and dead skin.
There are products out there designed to give you a spa-like experience while steaming. However, you can steam at home fairly easily.
To do so, fill a large bowl with hot water. Place it on a table or counter that you can easily lean over. Drape a towel over your head, creating a tent to trap the steam.
Steam your face for at least five minutes but no longer than ten. Afterward, wash your face as usual.
Exfoliate Regularly
Exfoliating removes dead skin and dirt that build up over time. Afterward, your skin should feel softer and smoother.
While exfoliation is essential to maintaining healthy skin, it requires balanced use. Too much can leave your skin dry and irritated, while too little can lead to dead skin buildup.
A good choice is to exfoliate twice a week. You can use scrubs or chemical exfoliants, though youтАЩll want to check the ingredients on the chemical products if you have sensitive skin or allergies.
Limit the Lather
When it comes to washing your face, longer isnтАЩt necessarily better. Ideally, you should only lather for 20 to 30 seconds.
Lathering for longer wonтАЩt make your face any cleaner, but it may make it dryer and more irritated. You should also avoid scrubbing your face harshly for the same reason.
If you use a washcloth, choose something soft and non-abrasive. Otherwise, you can just use your fingertips to gently massage your skin while you wash.
Add Toner to Your Routine
Using toner is common advice in the skin care realm, but its purpose isnтАЩt always explained. Toner тАЬcompletesтАЭ your facial cleaning by removing impurities, pollution and lingering cleanser ingredients.
You should use toner after your makeup remover and cleanser, but before you apply moisturizer. Toner tends to make your skin feel dry and tight because it contains antibacterial elements, so youтАЩll need to hydrate your skin afterward.
DonтАЩt Forget To Moisturize
All this washing can dry out your skin, which may lead to increased oil production. ThatтАЩs why moisturizer is an absolute must.
Look for something light and made especially for the face. Body or hand lotion is often too heavy and can end up clogging your pores.
Make sure you moisturize after every wash. This is especially important during cold or windy weather, which can make your skin even drier.
Looking for the perfect product to add to your skin care routine? LaLa Daisy has a great range of affordable items to meet all your cleansing and moisturizing needs. View our selection online today.
