The best way to simplify your skincare routine steps
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Skin, skin, skin. It is so important to take care of your skin and to have a skincare routine that best benefits our needs. Especially since our face is what everyone sees. Essentially, it’s how you present yourself to the world. We often don’t give it the love and attention it 100% needs and deserves.
We all have our reason. You might think you don’t have time to give your face a little TLC. You might be too tired at the end of the day to even wash your face. Or simply, thinking you must do that 7 or 8 step skin routine makes you not want to do it. I totally get it!
The reality is, we all have time to give a little attention to our face. Even if we are a little tired at the end of the day, when we really want something, we make no excuses. Lastly, we don’t need to do a whole lot to show our face some love.
Keep scrolling if you want to read my simple skincare routine when I don’t feel like doin’ too much.
Skincare routine step 1, wash your face
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The first thing I do in my skincare routine in the morning and at night is wash my face. It is important to do so to get rid of dirt, oil, old skin cells, debris, that have accumulated throughout the day. Washing your face helps prevent acne and keeps your face looking nice and fresh.
Now it’s up to you if you want to wash it both morning and night. People have varying opinions when it comes to this topic. Some people believe that if you wash your face the night before, then why should you need to wash it in the morning. Just splash some water to get rid of the eye boogers and you are good. to. go.
Other people believe you should wash your face both morning and night. If you put anything on your face, such as moisturizer, you might want to wash it in the morning before applying more moisturizer to have a clean surface and not keep layering up.
Your pillow can also be dirty from the previous night of your skincare product, or dust that may fall on your pillowcase, or maybe makeup from that one night you were too lazy to wash your face. If you have an oily face then you should probably wash it twice a day.
Face cleansers to consider
Find a face cleanser that best fits your skin needs. I really like using the Murad Essential-C Cleanser since it leaves my face feeling clean and bright. Not sure which face cleanser fits your needs? Here are some face cleansers to consider depending on your skin type.
Although you should always wash your face, on those nights you just simply can’t at least wipe it. I am currently digging the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Face Wipes. These face wipes even help remove waterproof makeup and mascara. They are alcohol-free so they don’t dry out your face and have been ophthalmologist, dermatologist, and allergy-tested
I don’t recommend using face wipes every day since they don’t do a very good job at cleaning your face and just spread the makeup around. I would just use them on days you are too tired to wash your face. Speaking of, you have probably been washing your face wrong all this time, this is how you should be doing it.
If you like to double cleanse then I would first remove my makeup with micellar cleansing water. I personally really enjoy using Garnier Skin Active Micellar Cleansing Water.
It is gentle on my skin and it doesn’t contain oil, alcohol which is drying to your skin or fragrance. I also enjoy using Simple Micellar Cleansing Water because it doesn’t contain harsh chemicals or artificial perfumes or dyes. The main difference I found between these two is that the Garnier Micellar Water feels a bit soapy.
Cleansers To Shop For
Include a moisturizer in your skincare routine
Always, always, always apply moisturizer. Yes, if you have oily skin, you should put some on as well. Moisturizer is what gives your face elasticity which delays wrinkles! This is a must in your skincare routine.
When your face is dry, it’s hard for your skin to bounce back to normalcy, so the lines from facial expressions will eventually leave a mark.
One thing I learned is that you should apply your moisturizer when your face is still a little damp, the same goes for your body. The reason being is that the damp skin absorbs the moisture and can lock it in. That’s what we want! Here are some other skincare mistakes you might be doing.
Don’t you hate that tight feeling on your face when you have just washed it? That feeling alone is enough for me to put some moisturizer on.
Before you go to the store to buy some moisturizer, make sure you know your skin type. Not sure what it is? Here’s how to find out.
If your skin is more on the oily side, look for a lotion moisturizer instead of a cream one. If your skin is on the dry side, then look for creams since they tend to have a higher oil content. Once you decide to purchase a moisturizer or one that better suits your needs, look for a night cream as well.
What is the difference between day and night creams?
Don’t use the same moisturizer for both your morning and nighttime skincare routine. There is a reason why brands make one for each time of day. For example, your day cream is on the lighter side so you can apply it before makeup, and it typically contains SPF as well.
If your days don’t consist of being outside too long, then a moisturizer with SPF is enough protection. It is important to wear SPF since it prevents dark spots, skin discoloration, slows down the development of wrinkles. It also protects us from getting skin cancer according to dermatologist Dr. Jessica Wu who spoke with Byride.
Your night cream is typically made thicker. The thickness of the cream allows for a gradual penetration of the skin throughout the night. While we are sound asleep our skin is busy restoring and repairing itself while the night cream, works on moisturizing and recovering. Hmm, I guess that’s why they call it beauty sleep.
Another difference is that night creams tend to have a higher concentration of retinol, hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, etc. If you want to know why retinol is the best skin care product then you can click here, and if you want to know if Olay Regenerist Retinol24 is worth it, find out here. You can click on the links for more information. These ingredients help with softening wrinkles, fighting acne, moisturizing, and exfoliation.
Pro tip: Apply a thick layer of moisturizer on your chest as well since sometimes we sleep in an odd position creating a mark on our chest. If you are older, this can start leaving a permanent mark. Moisture up!
Night Moisturizers To Shop For
Do I really need a day and night cream?
Technically you can apply night cream during the day if you have nothing else, but they are typically shinier than day creams and that may not be the look you are going for.
Most night moisturizers also tend to contain certain ingredients that can make your skin sensitive to the sun. If you just want to invest in one cream, then invest in a day cream since there is no harm in wearing SPF to bed.
For day creams I personally really like the Shea moisture Daily Hydration Face Lotion. It doesn’t contain Parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oil, sulfates, and it isn’t tested on animals. This leaves my face hydrated and soft. My skin is more on the combination side and it works great!
Day Moisturizers To Shop For
Include a face oil for a natural glow in your skincare routine
If you want your skin to have a glow, to look youthful and healthy don’t skip this step in your skincare routine. I am currently using the Life-Flo Pure Rosehip Seed Oil which helps get rid of any scars, such as old acne scars.
If you are applying a face oil before applying makeup, make sure to let your face absorb the oil first, to keep that glow. Pro tip, When you apply the oil to your face, first warm it up between your fingers and press it on your face so it can be absorbed.
If your skin is dull with uneven texture, dry, have a loss of firmness and elasticity then try the Boissance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil. This is a good oil to repair all of that if you have normal and dry. Not convinced? It is also vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and it comes in a recyclable package.
If your skin is dry, uneven in skin tone, lacks elasticity, and needs some rejuvenation, the Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula antioxidant Face Oil will help you with that, the best part is that its good for all face types. This product is also vegan and gluten-free. Just make sure you do have a face oil in your skincare routine since it has loads of benefits and gives your skin that nice glowy look. There are loads of more things you can do to get naturally glowy skin.
Face Oils To Shop For
Lastly, use a sunscreen in your skincare routine
When it comes to your skincare routine, sunscreen NEEDS to be a part of it. It doesn’t matter if it’s gloomy outside or if it’s raining, always put this on. If you don’t have a moisturizer with SPF, then get sunscreen on your next shopping trip.
Sunscreen is a must if you care about yourself at all, and you should because you are AMAZING! Applying sunscreen protects you from skin cancer, premature aging ahem, wrinkles. It keeps your skin tone even, say NO to sunspots and skin discoloration.
If you want a tan, STILL apply sunscreen. If you are out doing yard work, at the beach, or somewhere where you will be exposed to the sun for long hours remember to take your sunscreen. Have you ever peeled because of a really bad sunburn? Yea, that’s the worse.
Types of sunscreen for your skincare routine?
Luckily we have a large selection of sunscreens now, depending on your preference. If you prefer the spray be sure to be generous with it and apply frequently. There are also sweat and water-resistant sunscreens if you are more active, but keep in mind they aren’t 100% resistant, so make sure to reapply every two hours.
Stick sunscreens are perfect for spot application, such as your nose or ears, don’t forget your ears. There is also the lotion type of sunscreen, which is a little messier, but you can see exactly where it is you applied. There two times of sunscreen: mineral, and chemical.
Mineral Sunscreens
The mineral sunscreen is a physical sunscreen because it just sits on your skin. Mineral sunscreen blocks out UV radiation and contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
Titanium dioxide protects from short wave UVA and UVB radiation and its great for sensitive prone skin. This ingredient is ideals if you have darker skin since it doesn’t leave an opaque layer.
If you are prone to acne, then look for a sunscreen that contains titanium dioxide since its really lightweight due to it having smaller nanoparticles than Zink oxide.
Zinc oxide also protects from long and short UVA rays and all UVB rays. Since it is a physical blocker, you can go outside as soon as you apply it.
Zinc oxide has scaled down to nanoparticles, which means no more white application, or not as intense. It is also oil-free and won’t clog your pores. If you are looking for coral reef safe sunscreens then here are some great ones.
UVA rays VS UVB rays
UVA rays are responsible for wrinkles and are a major contributor to skin cancer. They also penetrate through glass. Unfortunately, these rays are present year-round.
UVB rays are responsible for sunburns, skin discoloration and also responsible for skin cancer. UVB rays are more prevalent in a sunny climate and its intensity varies from geographic location and time of year.
Look for Sunscreen that says broad spectrum since it protects from both UVA and UVB rays. Some sunscreens have PA+ rating system which is developed in Japan. Basically, the more plus signs it follows, the more it protects from UVA rays.
What are Chemical sunscreens
Chemical sunscreens are ideal for activities that will make you sweat, or be in the water. They contain ingredients such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate and avobenzone, “which create a chemical reaction and work by changing UV rays into heat, then releasing that heat from the skin.”
When applying a chemical sunscreen you should wait for 15- 20 minutes before going outside while it absorbs into the skin. If you have sensitive skin, this may not be the sunscreen for you because of the way it fights UV rays.
When looking for a sunscreen to add to your skincare routine, look for one that has a minimum SPF of 30 and a maximum of 50 since there is no proof that higher than 50 gives more protection.
The number next to the SPF which stands for Sun Protection Factor means how long you can be out in the sun with protection. So an SPF of 30 allows you to be out for 300 minutes before having to reapply.
The higher the SPF, the more UVB rays it filters out. For example, the SPF30 block out 97% of UVB rays, this doesn’t apply to UVA rays.
Sunscreens to consider
I personally really like Biore UV since it has a high SPF and it is super thin, but it isn’t broad-spectrum. If you like to spend your days outdoors then I suggest ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Ultralight Emulsion Sunscreen SPF 50+.
This is a really cool sunscreen because it is broad-spectrum, it has an SPF of 50, it contains vitamin E, it’s an antioxidant, and it contains DNA repair enzymes that help fight previous sun damage. Although it is on the pricey side, it is totally worth it.
Pond’s Clarant B3 Even Skin Tone Daily Facial Moisturizer With SPF 30 Sunscreen is also a really good sunscreen and its also more affordable. This sunscreen is also broad-spectrum, it brightens your skin over time, and it contains B3 to even skin tone.
In the end, it’s better to put any sunscreen on than no sunscreen. Whether you wear a sunscreen I suggested or not, make sure this is a step in your daytime skincare routine.
Just remember that you are worth it. You only need 5-10 minutes a day to show your face some love. Stop making excuses and take care of yourself!
Sunscreens To Shop For
Skincare routine takeaways
1. Wash your hands every night to get rid of makeup and dirt from the day. I am currently really liking the Murad Essential-C Cleanser Washing your face in the morning depends on your preference. At the very least wipe your face with a face wipe.
2. Apply moisturizer to keep your skin looking youthful. While your face is still damp, apply the moisturizer to better absorb through the skin to prevent pre-mature wrinkles. Have a moisturizer for your day and nighttime routine. A clean one that I am currently using is the Shea moisture Daily Hydration Face Lotion
3. We all want that natural glowy look, to achieve that apply a face oil. Look for one that benefits your skin needs. Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula antioxidant Face Oil is good if you have dry, uneven skin tone, and its good for all skin types!
4. To prevent premature wrinkles, sun spots, and cancer, never leave the house without sunscreen. A really good one is ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Ultralight Emulsion Sunscreen SPF 50+