There’s nothing more exciting than taking care of your skin, right? But wait; should we use serum or moisturizer first? What about the toner? Can we use both a sunscreen and a moisturizer? I know that today, with all the information and products we have about skin care, many people find it daunting when it comes to putting together a powerful skincare routine. But trust me, it doesn’t have to be. In today’s article, I’m going to show you the appropriate steps you should follow to take care of your skin.
The first step is to understand what is essential for a healthy skin. There are actually three main steps to a powerful skincare routine: cleansing, moisturizing and sun protection. If you don’t know where to start, start with these three. I’ll show you all the steps here, in the proper order of application, but keep in mind that what you need to always do is: cleanse, moisturize and protect. Got it? So let’s get to it:
Cleansing
Cleaning your skin well, every day, is fundamental. This does not mean washing with super aggressive soaps several times a day. It means removing impurities, pollution, makeup and excess oil from the skin’s surface, quite simply. Keeping it clean prevents disease, improves product absorption and makes the skin more beautiful, showing the world its natural glow.
For the cleansing stage, there are several types of products: soap bars, liquid soaps, cleansing gels, cleansing foams, cleansing oils, among others. The important thing is to choose a good product, adapted to your skin type and not too drying. The goal is to clean while keeping the skin moisturized.
Tonifying
After cleansing, a toner can be applied. The main function of toners is to rebalance the pH of the skin, which is often altered by cleansing products. However, many of them also have other wonderful functions such as: moisturizing components, minerals and vitamins, anti-oil and/or anti-oxidant properties, and are usually very refreshing.
People are usually seen applying toner with an absorbent cotton pad and working it well into the skin, but besides not being necessary, it’s not a long-lasting option. If your toner isn’t in spray form, you can apply it directly with your hands or use a reusable ecopad – always gently, on the face and neck.
Applying Serums/Treatments
One step that I love and that we talk about a lot in dermatology is treatment and prevention. After cleansing and toning, the skin is perfect to receive the famous treatment serums. There are excellent options with several different active ingredients, the most common being: vitamin C, vitamin E, niacinamide, resveratrol and retinol. Most of them have an antioxidant action, which prevents premature aging, blemishes and improves skin texture in general.
Moisturizing
All skin needs to be moisturized. Yes, all skin. Even oily ones. Moisturized skin is healthier and able to perform its essential functions, including protection from infection. There are moisturizers of different types and compositions, find the one that suits your skin type and go for it!
Sun Protection
All skin types need sun protection. UV rays cause a lot of damage to the epidermis, from premature aging and blemishes to aggravating skin diseases and the dreaded cancer. Unfortunately, with global warming and the interference man has caused in nature, human skin cannot “handle” the sun these days. So use sunscreen – at least SPF 30 with UVA and UVB protection – and if it’s colored and natural, even better!
Night Time
At night, you can repeat the same steps, removing only the sunscreen. If you want something quicker, you can simply wash and choose between treatment or moisturizing; it’s great! Now beware: if you’ve worn makeup during the day, it’s important to use a makeup remover before washing your skin to ensure cleanliness. I really like cleansing oils because they are very gentle on the skin, natural and longer lasting too, plus they are suitable for all skin types.
Additional Weekly/Monthly Steps
Facial masks and scrubs are most welcome to complement the treatments and make your next weekend a relaxing spa day. In general, these two treatments should not be done more than twice a week – it depends a lot on the skin type and product. When in doubt, consult the manufacturer’s instructions and feel the effects on your skin. Other items that can be used for skin care are natural makeup and vegetable oils.
Do you have some other useful steps that you follow for your skin? We want to read from you; don’t forget to leave a comment below!