When it comes to beauty, many of us focus on cosmetics. I, like anyone else, love heading into Sephora or Ulta and picking out new products or favorites that I recently ran out of. My new obsession has been getting my semi-permanent eyelashes because it takes some extra steps out of the make-up routine. But some of us fail to realize that make-up can’t truly work it’s magic if there’s not a hydrated and strong base. Skincare is highly underestimated. Some people skip parts of their skincare routines or don’t have a strong one to start with. If you’re having issues with melting make-up or if it looks dried out or caked on your face and you’re not sure what to do, it’s probably because your skincare routine is not as strong as it should be. So, on that note, I want to share with you some tips on how to improve your skincare routine to the point that you may not even want to really wear make-up.
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Identify Your Skin Type
I’ve talked to many people who have openly said that when they go into a shop to buy skincare products that they just pick up products without really knowing whether they really need that product or whether it’s going to help. In order to get rid of that trial and error process and improve your skincare routine, the first step in is to know your skin type.
By knowing your skin type, you’ll have an easier time finding products that are specifically made to help with your skin concerns and those products will then be able to do the actual work that they need to do. Without knowing your skin type, you may be actually applying products to your skin that is making your concerns words.
There are three skin types: dry, oily, and combination. Those skin types pretty much speak for themselves but to further elaborate on combination skin (which I actually have) – it means that your skin has patches of dry skin and then patches of skin that are really oily. You are somewhere in between. But don’t automatically think that when your skin is oily that you have oily skin, you could actually have dry skin. With dry skin, your skin becomes oily because it is overproducing oil to make up for the lack of it. I always suggest visiting a dermatologist or a skin expert to pinpoint your exact skin type so that you can get products that specifically fit your needs.
Also be aware of what your body is going through when it comes to identifying your skin type. If your skin was not acne prone before, it may become acne prone due to life changes such as more stress than usual or a pregnancy. During my pregnancy, my skin changed drastically which made me have to re-identify my skin type.
Know What the Products Are
There are a number of products that you can apply to your face and then each one has an extra special ingredient to it or it’s one of those products that you use but you don’t really know what they are. There’s not a true way to improve your skincare routine if you’re unaware of what your purchasing and what you need. You may go into the store and the associate may recommend some products to you, but you may feel a little hesitant to ask what those products or ingredients are. I’m going to break down some of those misidentified products and ingredients that not everyone fully understands.
- Toner: toners are essential for people with acne-prone or oily skin, or if you want a little bit of extra cleansing, it helps to pick up excess dirt or makeup that may remain after cleansing the skin and it shrinks pores, restores pH balance, prevents ingrown hairs, and adds an extra layer of protection
- Retinol: is a vitamin A topical that works to reduce fine lines and wrinkles in the face
- BB & CC Creams: both of these products help with the coloring of your skin; CC standing for ‘color correcting’ to help with redness or dark area and BB creams work as a lighter foundation to provide a layer to even out skin tone
- Roller: facial rollers help to move fresh fluid and oxygen to areas on your face by doing this it is helping with wrinkles, acne, and under-eye circles
Don’t Neglect Your Body
In order to improve your skincare routine in its entirety, remember that your skin is the largest organ of your body, and though your face is a different type of skin than the rest of your body, you don’t want to neglect it or just leave it to just soap and water from taking a shower and the putting on some lotion. Some of us may have skincare problems on the rest of your body like acne, scars, dryness, or some other skincare concern that you may also see on your face. And though you shouldn’t use the same products that you put on your face on your body, you should still find products that have the same outcome to put on your body to take care of it. For me, I’ve dealt with back acne that has led to scars that I still carry with me each and every day. It is the one flaw that has always made me self conscious but with the proper skincare, I have actively working to improve those scars and get rid of the acne on my back. So my tip to you is to not neglect your body. Taking care of all of your skin will leave you with a more radiant look that you’ll love to share.