Skin Care Routine – 10 steps

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It can be confusing trying to implement a skin care routine that is best for your complexion. Here are 10 steps to an effective skin care routine. This routine is best for oily skin but can be adapted for other skin types.

1. Keep Your Hands Off!

No touching! Your hands are a breeding ground for bacteria. When you touch your face you are depositing bacteria, dirt and oils that clog pores and contribute to pimple formation.

2. Determine Your Skin Type.

What skin type do you have?

• Oily skin: your face looks and feels shiny and moist. You are prone to blackheads, whiteheads and pimples.
• Dry skin: your skin often feels dry, rough, or tight even 2 hours after applying moisturizer.
• Combination skin: Your forehead, nose and chin are oily and tend to breakout while your cheeks, eye area, and temples are really dry. You also fall into this category if your skin changes according to the season or climate. Sometimes your skin is really oily, other times it is really dry.
• Normal skin: your complexion is smooth, you rarely breakout and your skin is not too oily or too dry.
• Sensitive skin: you may have red itchy patches and your skin is easily irritated. Your skin may sting when you put certain products on it.

3. Never Pop Your Pimples.

It hurts and leads to scarring. It also makes your pimple look worse because it will be redder and more inflamed. Plus you are moving bacteria from one pore to another, causing more pimples and you are depositing more dirt and oil onto your face. – wow if that doesn’t make you want to stop picking I don’t know what will!

4.You need to find a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer.

Try to find sensitive products even if you don’t have sensitive skin, they are less harsh and irritating. If your cleanser leaves your face feeling rough and dry it is too harsh. Look for products made for your skin type and unless you have acne – avoid acne products. See How to choose the best organic cleanser for your skin type.

A non-comedogenic moisturizer will not clog your pores, this is important if you tend to breakout.

5. Cleanse, tone and moisturize twice a day, once in the morning and once at night.

• First give your hands a wash to get all the bacteria off.
• Wet your skin with warm water to open up your pores.
• Lightly rub the cleanser over your face, use a very gentle touch as rubbing leads to irritation and pimple formation.
• Rinse with water, let the water do all the work of removing the cleanser.
• Finish with a splash of cold water to close your pores back up.
• Pat dry with a clean towel.

6. A few moments after cleansing, use a cotton ball to apply a toner.

A Toner restores your skin’s natural PH level which keeps your skin resistant to bacteria and micro-organisms. Apply with a cotton ball in a gentle manner and do not rinse off.

7. After cleansing and toning, moisturize with a moisturizer suitable for your skin type.

Apply a small amount to your clean hands. Lightly rub in small circular motions over your face. If your skin feels tight, apply a bit more, if your skin feels too oily, gently blot with a tissue.

8. Once or twice a week, use an exfoliating wash in place of your regular cleanser.

This removes dead skin cells that can clog your pores. It shouldn’t be too rough (it shouldn’t feel like sandpaper).

• Remove makeup first.
• Gently rub in a circular motion over your face.
• Make sure you get in the creases of your nose (they often get clogged).

9. Use a face mask regularly (once a week or less).

• Find one that is right for your skin type and use it sparingly (using it too often will over-strip your skin).
• Use on clean, warm skin and rinse with cool water.
• Don’t leave it on for longer then the product suggestion.

10. Stick with it!

A routine is only a routine if you stick to it. You will only see the best results when you are consistent.

If your skin isn’t improving after 1 month, you might need to try some different products.

Yours In Beauty,

Andrea