You don’t need a bathroom full of expensive and complicated products to get good skin. Basic skin care and a small selection of high quality skin care products are usually enough to keep your skin smooth, clear and supple.
And don’t forget that your diet, hydration, and environment also play a big role in skin care.
Trial & Error
One thing to keep in mind before we start is that everyone’s skin is different. Yes, there are basic skincare routines everyone should follow like moisturizing and drinking lots of water.
But when it comes to choosing specific skincare products, you’ll have to do some trial and error. Your skin may not respond to a certain facial wash or some scrubs may cause breakout.
It’s important to understand your skin and then try different products until you find the one that works for you. This includes everything from moisturizing cream to the soap you use to wash your face.
So don’t be frustrated when one product doesn’t work for you. Perhaps you need something without alcohol or a product made for sensitive skin. Keep searching.
Understanding Your Skin Type
Knowing your skin type helps you take proper care of it. Oily skin requires different care and products from dry skin.
You can determine your skin type by observing your face in a mirror, ideally in the morning before you apply any products.
If your skin appears flaky or feels tight, it’s dry skin. If you notice your T-zone (nose and forehead) is shiny and oily but the rest of the face looks normal, that’s combination skin. If your entire face is shiny and feels oily, you have oily skin.
If you often experience redness, itchiness, breakouts or inflammation on your skin after applying a product, you might have sensitive skin.
If your skin shows none of these signs – it’s not flaky, oily, or sensitive – you are lucky to have normal skin.
Once you determine your skin type, buy skin care products made specifically for that skin. For instance, if you have dry or sensitive skin, you’ll want to stay away from products with alcohol. If you have oily skin, you need oil-free moisturizers.
Basic Skin Care Routine
It’s tempting to instantly go for expensive serums and creams when you want to improve your skin.
But before you spend a lot of money on those, make sure you’ve covered the basics of skin care. These include cleansing your face, exfoliation, moisturization, hydration, diet, and sun protection.
1. Cleansing
Washing your face with just water is not enough to remove the buildup of dirt, products, and oils on your skin.
Get a facial cleanser that’s appropriate for your skin type and use it at least once a day. If you have oily or combination skin, use it twice a day to prevent oil build up that can lead to breakouts.
2. Exfoliation
Over time, dead cells build up on your skin. If you don’t get rid of them, they can clog pores and cause acne and other skin problems.
Exfoliating 1-2 times a week with a gentle scrub removes the layer of dirt and dead cells buildup. This keeps your skin clear and prevents a host of skin problems.
3. Moisturizing
Keep your skin moisturized 24/7. Apply a moisturizer in the morning as well as in the evening before you go to bed.
Moisturization is essential for all skin types. For dry skin, it prevents flakiness and sensitivity. It also brightens your skin and keeps you looking young.
For oily and combination skin, it prevents your skin from producing too much oil, causing clogged pores.
There are tons of moisturizers and creams out there. The best ones contain natural oils and antioxidants, and other ingredients that nourish and protect your skin. These include aloevera, shea butter, plant extracts, and essential oils.
Avoid moisturizers with artificial colourants and perfumes especially if you have sensitive skin. If you have oily skin, get a non-comedogenic moisturizer, meaning that it doesn’t clog pores on your skin.
If you have dry skin, moisturizers with hyaluronic acid are great. We also recommend a heavier moisturizer cream or ointment that locks moisture in your skin for longer.
Men with oily and combination skin should use lighter moisturizers.
4. Hydration
If you don’t drink much water, increasing water consumption can significantly improve skin quality and appearance.
Adequate water intake is especially important in deep skin hydration.
Hydration has been shown to reduce effects of aging like wrinkles and fine lines. It also makes it easier to manage dry and oily skins.
If you don’t enjoy drinking plain water, there are plenty of other ways to take in more water including broths, healthy teas, and eating more fruits and vegetables.
5. Diet
As important as the vitamins and antioxidants in skincare products are, it’s also essential that you consume these nutrients.
A healthy diet has been linked to better looking skin and slower aging. Nutrients like vitamin C, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants play a huge role in skin health.
Eat your fruits and vegetables, avoid processed foods, go slow on sugar, eat healthy proteins and fats, and reduce intake of alcohol. And if you smoke, quitting is really good for your skin.
6. Sun Protection
Exposure to UV can do a number on your skin. It’s strongly connected to rapid aging caused by skin damage.
Whenever you are going outdoors, put on sunscreen.
Beyond The Basics
Once you’ve covered the basics, you can look for specialized skin care products and treatments to target specific issues.
For example, there are creams and ointments specifically formulated to treat acne. You can get a chemical or laser exfoliation treatment to get rid of scars or uneven skin tone.
This is where talking to a dermatologist can really help. They’ll recommend the best solution based on the severity of your skin problem and your skin type.
