Skincare 101 - How to Take Care of Your Skin

 

Everybody knows that a flawless foundation application always starts with a well prepped canvas, which would be your skin. Taking good care of your skin will definitely benefit your appearance now, as well as in the future. In this entry, I'll take you through a step by step guide of my tips and tricks in order to take proper care of your skin. I discuss the proper techniques to use when cleansing the skin and how to choose a cleanser, whether or not toners are necessary, as well as other options you have to maintaining a beautiful complexion.


The products that I mention are just the products that I use personally, not reccomendations for you, as I don't know what skin type you have. You know yourself and your skin better than anyone! If you're uncertain, you can always check out one of your favourite local cosmetic or skincare counters, and they may be able to help you out in determining what skin type you have.

Now, I just wanted to mention - just because I use something and it works for me, does not mean that you will get the same results! Everyone's skin is unique and will react differently to products. So please do not go buying something just because I use it! Make sure you do your research and check out reviews online first, and this should be able to help you make an educated decision on whether or not you should buy a certain product. Makeup Alley (MUA) is one of my favourite websites for reviews.

Blemishes are usually caused by your skin's inability to get rid of old, dead skin cells. A good skincare system will aid in getting rid of the dead skin and help keep your skin feeling fresh, clean and radiant.
The first step in good skincare is always in making sure you keep your skin clean.

CLEANSING

1) Never, ever, EVER go to sleep with makeup on. Your skin will make you pay for this for weeks, trust me! Our skin is covered in pores, which allow us to sweat, and our facial skin also secrets sebum. Sebum is the natural way our skin gets moisturized. If you sleep with your makeup on, it causes sebum to build up inside your pore because it is blocked by the makeup, and this causes pimples. Also, you can get a really nasty eye infection from going to sleep with makeup on, so make sure you wash it all off!

2) Make sure you wash your hands before you wash your face. Washing your hands before you wash your face helps get rid of any germs, dirt or excess oils you may have on them. You definitely don’t want that stuff getting on your face!

3) Use a cleanser suitable to your skin type to wash your skin. You want something that is water solluable, not something you need to rub off your skin with a cloth. You also want to avoid using bars of soap, as these wil usually dry your skin out.
Some DO's and DON'Ts of cleansing:

• DO use lukewarm water, NOT hot water! Hot water  is damaging to your skin. It removes the oil and moisture from your skin, and can leave it dry and irritated. Want to open up your pores for a "deep cleanse"? Try putting some boiled water in a bowl and placing your head several inches above it. Drape a towel over your head. This steams your skin and opens up your pores!
• DO try and get as much makeup off as possible before you use your cleanser. I usually use warm water and splash it on, or you can use some makeup removing cloths.
• DON'T wash your face more than 2-3 times a day. Usually once in the morning and once at night, but if you feel like you need the extra wash then it's not going to kill you. Avoid any excess washing after that, use a toner for a fresh feeling instead.

4) Dry your face. DON'T rub your face when you dry it. Instead, pat your face dry with a clean cloth. Try to use a clean cloth every time you dry your face. Dirt builds up on used cloths, so try to use a fresh one everytime to prevent the dirt from getting on your skin after you wash it.

TONING

1) To be 100% honest, a toner isn't necessary for everyone. I swear by it because I have oily skin. I've also been using it for as long as I can remember, so it's just a part of my routine. Ultimately, it is up to you if you want to use toner or not.

2) Reasons why toner might be a good idea:

• Removes any left over dirt or makeup, as well as any pollutants that might have been in the water you used to wash your face with
• You will end up using less moisturizer, because if you apply your moisturizer after your toner, your skin will still be damp and will allow moisturizer to spread on a lot easier.
• It's really good to have as a refresher during the day. You're not supposed to over wash your face, so if your skin is feeling kind of icky you can use toner instead of washing it.
• Toners are meant to return your skin back to it's natural PH level, because cleansers are lower in PH than the skin

3) If you do choose to use a toner, put a small amount on a clean cotton pad and gently wipe your face with it.

MOISTURIZING

Alright, this is the part where I don't have many suggestions or reccomendations, just because your moisturizer is all about your skin type. I have oily skin that is prone to small breakouts, so I use the appropriate skincare. I use Proactiv's Reparing Lotion, and on top of that I use an oil free moisturizer. For day I use an oil control lotion with SPF, and at night I use a moisturizer for blemish prone skin.
Some tips:

• ALWAYS use a daytime moisturizer with SPF in it! SPF 20+, at least. You want to protect your skin from the sun's rays so that in the future your skin will still look gorgeous, and for your health as well! The number one cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so never forget your SPF!
• Moisturizer is a very important part of the skincare routine, regardless of skin type, so make sure you use one. They help seal moisture into your skin, keeping it hydrated. A lot of moisturizers also have other added benefits, like antioxidants.
• Try not to use TOO much moisturizer, as this can clog your pores!

ONCE A WEEK

1) Exfoliate. Exfoliating your skin once a week will help keep the dead skin cells off, and keep your skin looking gorgeous and glowing. Look for a scrub with finer beads in it, like a microdermabrasion scrub. Bigger grains in some cheaper scrubs can actually tear your skin and cause more damage and blemishes, so stay away from those! If you have oilier skin, you can always increase your exfoliating to twice a week. You could also do a skin peel instead of exfoliating.

2) Face Mask. I usually do a face mask about once a week. I find it really helps provide my skin with what it is lacking at the time, and the type of mask I use always changes depending on my skin. Normally I stick with clay based masks because of my oily skin type, as it helps control the oil levels in my skin. If my skin is feeling particularly dry (as it does in the winter), I will use a hydrating mask. I usually leave these masks on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse off with warm water, dry my skin, then follow with a toner and moisturizer.

Before I do my mask I usually exfoliate anyways, so I tend to combine the two into one day so it's easier to remember.

Hopefully you found this little entry useful! Comment with any thoughts or suggestions you may have.
Thanks for reading!