How To Start A Simple Skin Care Routine
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Body organs are not all internal – like our heart and brain. Our largest organ is actually external, our skin. Crazy, right?
Some people take great care of their skin and others were never taught and don’t know how to or why it’s important. I encounter people across the entire spectrum with what I do. That’s why I love to teach men and women HOW to take care of their skin and WHY. Everyone (men and women) should have a skin care regimen that they do twice a day. Yes, twice – every morning and every night! So let’s start with the basics.
First, a disclaimer. I am not a professional nor is this professional advice. I have been in the beauty industry since 2012 and have learned from professionals in their feilds. So I am here just passing along this information to you in hopes it can be beneficial in your skincare journey!
Here are some quick “rules”:
- Wash your hands before you touch your face! Just think of all the germs on your hands that you would be rubbing onto your face while cleansing if you don’t wash them.
- Whatever you apply to your face, also apply to your neck & décolleté (chest).
- When you wash your face, focus on upwards and outwards motions
- Be gentle! The skin on our face does not need a lot of pressure or pulling/tugging. If you’re using a good quality cleanser, it will do its job all on its own!
- Use lukewarm water to wash your face – not hot! Using hot water can dry out your skin.
I know all the influencers have a ten-step skincare routine (mine is not quite ten but this girl LOVES her skincare regimen so….guilty!) but if you’re not used to washing your face, start simple! Once you have the basics down, then you can slowly add in more products.
You’ll need three products:
- Cleanser
- Moisturizer
- SPF
Super simple, just three products. You could also get a moisturizer with SPF in it and one without for nighttime, which would still only be three products. You would cleanse and moisturize with SPF in the morning and then cleanse and moisturize at night. Just two steps at night!
Cleanser
This is one of the most important steps – so pick a good one! This step needs to clean off your makeup, dirt, grime, and oil that collected on your face throughout the day. Think of how your sunglasses get dirty, that same stuff is on your face – so this is going to create a clean canvas so your next steps in your skincare routine can really absorb into the skin.
I use Mary Kay’s TimeWise 3D Cleanser for Combination/Oily skin. This cleanser is great for those who want anti-aging benefits with gentle daily exfoliation. Mary Kay has great skincare lines for all skin types and needs. I use several of their products. They recently launched their Naturally line as well – so for those of you wanting more natural ingredients, check it out!
Face Moisturizer
Moisturizing is important because our skin needs hydration. Our face, neck, and chest shed cells more rapidly than other parts of our bodies and need the moisture to replenish the cells. Moisturizing reduces the chance of skin problems – too dry or too oily skin can create problems. All skin types can benefit from staying hydrated. Be sure to use a moisturizer for your face, do not use a body lotion for your face. The skin on our face is more sensitive than the rest of our body so it needs it’s own product.
I currently am trying the La Roche Posay Toleraine Double Repair Face Moisturizer SPF 30. But a tried and true for me that I really love is the Mary Kay TimeWise 3D Day Cream with SPF 30 for Combination/Oily skin. Normal/Dry formula and Non-SPF in both Combination/Oily and Normal/Dry are available for this same Day Cream I use.
SPF/Sunscreen
If you skip everything else, at least do this step! Wearing an SPF is so important and must be worn daily. The sun can cause a lot of damage to our skin, including skin cancer. No matter what, put on the SPF! SPF 30 is recommended as the minimum.
There are two types of UV rays that can damage your skin:
– UVB rays cause sunburn and play a key role in developing skin cancer.
– UVA rays cause skin damage that leads to tanning or sunburn as well as skin aging and wrinkles.
So it’s important to look for the words “broad spectrum” on the label, which means the product has ingredients that can protect you from UVA rays as well as UVB rays.
Again, I use the La Roche Posay Toleraine Double Repair Face Moisturizer SPF 30 or the Mary Kay TimeWise 3D Day Cream with SPF 30. Both of these are Broad Spectrum as well.
If you are to use a moisturizer with an SPF, then get a night cream. You don’t need the SPF at night and you can get some added benefits from a good night cream. Nighttime is skin’s opportunity to rebuild its reserves, which can be depleted during the day—when it is most exposed to environmental stressors.
Two moisturizers I have been loving:
GlamGlow Moisturizer that I cannot find anymore – but I would check their line out!
Mary Kay TimeWise 3D Night Cream for Combination/Oily Skin (There is a Normal/Dry formula as well).
One last tip
Consistency is key with your skin care routine. So start simple and stick with it for 30 days (unless you have some type of reaction – then of course stop use right away). Skincare products take time to work. With some, you will see a difference right away – like an exfoliator, you’ll instantly feel the dry skin gone. But most take time to work their magic! So be patient. I always suggest taking a before and after picture. We see ourselves every day and may not notice more subtle differences. So snap a pic (in natural lighting – like standing in front of a window) then start your new routine!
Any questions? Ask below or contact me!
