Last Updated on 6th April 2024
Skincare is an important aspect of your self-care regimen. Taking care of your skin properly not only makes your skin look better, but it also makes you feel better too. The beauty industry is a global business, and there are many products out there that claim to do miracles for the skin. However, with the market as saturated as it is, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to skincare. To make things easier, we have put together the ultimate skincare guide that you can use to get your skin in tiptop shape.
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Always Wear Sun Cream
The sun can damage your skin – even on cloudy days, the UV rays can still penetrate your skin. Too much sun damage can cause the skin to age prematurely and can even increase your risk of skin cancer. To reduce your risk and keep your skin looking as healthy as possible, you should incorporate sun cream into your morning routine. Covering your skin with clothes can protect your body, and you can find sun cream, which is specifically formulated for the face; it can be used underneath your make-up too.
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Quit Smoking
Smoking can also contribute to the premature ageing of the skin and create wrinkles. It damages the production of collagen and elastin. Smoking also narrows the blood vessels, which makes it harder for your skin to get the oxygen and nutrients that it needs. Finally, smoking also increases your risk of some forms of skin cancers. The best thing that you can do for your skin is to quit smoking. This may be easier said than done; however, there are things that you can try, like patches, lozenges or even vaping.
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Remember That Your Skin is Fragile
Even if you wouldn’t class your skin as sensitive, it is still likely to be fragile. Some of your daily habits could be taking their toll on your skin. Hot water strips the oils from your skin, so taking too long in the bath or shower should be avoided. Strong scents in detergents or soaps can irritate the skin. Finally, after washing, always pat your skin dry gently so that some moisture remains on your skin.
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Eat More Healthily
Eating a healthy diet can help you look and feel good. Make sure that you are including enough fruits, vegetables, whole grains and proteins in your diet. The nutrients on your diet can show themselves in your skin. If you are eating well, your skin will look better. Eating lots of junk food leads to oily, spotty, and dull-looking skin. Drinking enough water is also incredibly important. Making sure that your body is hydrated goes a long way in ensuring that your skin is hydrated properly too. Remember that dry skins are more susceptible to stretch marks and skin cracks.
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Manage Your Stress
Again, too much stress is not only bad for your mental but your physical health too. Allowing your feelings of stress to run rampant can trigger breakouts, stress rashes or even things like cold sores. To promote healthy skin and a healthy state of mind, you need to take steps to manage your stress. Meditation and yoga can help, although there are lots of techniques to relieve stress out there if they don’t work for you.
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Cleanse Your Skin Daily
If you wear make up every day or if you live in a city, then cleansing is a must. You need to take the time every evening to remove all of the make-up and impurities collected on your skin during the day. The cleanser you use should be formulated for your needs and skin type, so be sure to do your research when looking for the perfect one. For example, some people prefer something like micellar water, whereas others prefer a foaming cleanser.
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Moisturise Often
Cleansing your skin or washing your face is a great start, but anytime your skin comes into contact with water, you need to moisturise afterwards. As mentioned above, water pulls the natural oils out of the skin, making your skin drier. So you need to offset that oil loss with a moisturiser. Ideally, to receive the most benefit, you should moisturise your skin within five minutes from coming into contact with the water, although this is not always feasible.
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Apply Your Products in the Correct Order
If you want your skincare routine to be as effective as possible, then you need to make sure that you are applying your products in the correct order. Of course, the order will depend entirely on the products that make up your routine. That being said, you should generally apply your products from lightest to heaviest. For example, a facial oil should always go last because it sits on the skin for longer and prevents any products which follow it from absorbing into your skin.
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Exfoliate Regularly
Exfoliation is the key to ensuring that your skin glows. It removes the build-up of dead skin cells and helps to clean out clogged pores to reveal the radiant, glowing skin underneath. However, be careful when choosing your exfoliant; some of them are harsher than others and, if used incorrectly, can cause micro-tears in the skins surface. You should also never scrub too hard; the exfoliant should be doing the heavy lifting for you. If you think that it is not doing its job, then try exfoliating for a longer period of time instead of rubbing your face harder.
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Always Remove Your Make-up Before Bed
Everyone has been there; after a long day or a night out, it can be tempting to simply get into bed and put off taking your make-up off until tomorrow. This should be avoided at all costs. Sleeping in your make-up leads to clogged pores and breakouts. You should always remove your make-up and make an effort to clean your face to remove impurities, dirt, or bacteria from your skin before sleeping. Otherwise, all of these germs are then transferred to your pillowcase. After that, every time you sleep on that pillowcase, whether you’ve washed your face or not, those germs will make their way back onto your face.
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Get the Right Amount of Sleep
Insomnia is incredibly common, but depriving your body of sleep can have negative impacts across the board. It can decrease your productivity and concentration, lower your mood and your responsiveness and also harm your skin. Not getting enough sleep or having poor quality sleep can expedite the skin ageing process and diminish the efficacy of your skin’s barrier. Ideally, you need to make sure that you have 8 hours of quality sleep a night, but this may be easier said than done for some people. Try some relaxation techniques before bed, or you could even consult your GP if the issue is really bad.
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Don’t Forget Your Neck
A lot of people focus their skincare efforts solely on their faces, but the neck is not to be forgotten. Your neck can suffer from skin problems and exhibit signs of ageing too. So you should always make the same effort with your neck as you do your face. Don’t stop at your jawline; bring all of your products down your neck, too – this includes your sun cream.
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Stop Licking Your Lips
Licking your lips because they are dry is very common, and it can also sometimes be a bit of a nervous habit that you might not be aware of. However, licking your lips often makes them drier, which can lead to unsightly chapped or cracked lips. The best thing you can do is include your lips in your exfoliating efforts and invest in a nourishing lip balm to keep your lips luscious.
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Be Mindful of Potential Irritants
As mentioned above, the skin is fragile, and sometimes it can be sensitive and react to irritants. Some products with fragrances, parabens, sulphates or other common chemicals can cause a reaction and be harmful to your skin. This is why it is always recommended to do a patch test before introducing a new product to your skin. You could also make an effort to look for products that have been tested by a dermatologist or are appropriate for sensitive skin to avoid this issue completely.
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Always Read the Instructions
Use your products as directed. The instructions are there for a reason; following them ensures the best results. For example, if you were to use an exfoliator that is formulated for your body on your face, then it could cause irritation because the skin on your face tends to be more sensitive than the skin on your body is. So when buying and using a new product, make sure that you have read and understood the instructions.
In Conclusion
The skincare industry can be overwhelming. It seems like new products are released daily with different magical, must-have ingredients, which is why no specific brands or products were mentioned in this list. Instead, it is up to you to conduct your own research to find what products will work best for you and your skin type. Having beautiful skin doesn’t have to be a chore; it is all about developing a few healthy habits to incorporate into your daily routine.
