How to start a skincare routine and 7 steps to beautiful skin is something a lot of us have in mind all the time but we tend to postpone it. Or we are breaking our skincare routine all the time. That is something we should not be doing. Why?
Because the human skin is an outer covering of the body and it plays an important role in protecting our body against pathogens and excessive water loss. Pathogens, or simply germs, are organisms that can produce disease. Knowing this, skincare should be our priority. And of course, clean and healthy skin makes us look pretty and healthy, too.
Skin also provides temperature regulations, sensations, insulation, and synthesis of vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for the absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate.
Skincare is important!
When it is damaged, the skin will form scar tissue which is often discolored and depigmented. That could make us look unpretty and unhealthy so we should treat our skin gently. And every damage should be sanitized in time and properly.
Also, our skin is a natural habitat for over a thousand species of bacteria and that is normal. But every disbalance on our skin and in our body can lead to infections and some diseases. That is why is very important to take good care of our skin and keep it healthy so we could prevent some unwanted occurrences and consequences.
Here are some tips on how to start a skincare routine and 7 steps to beautiful skin that will help you preserve your skin free from stains, acne, pores, and other unpretty-looking things on your face and body.
Step 1. Clean up your makeup every night
Is it even need to be said that cleaning makeup from your face every night is one thing you should not evade? But the fact is that most of us trying to do that very often. It is the end of the day and everybody is tired, but that should not keep you from doing basic hygiene. And cleaning your face is one of them, especially with makeup on it.
Use products that work for you!
It is not taking a lot of your time but it is making a big difference for the health of your skin. You can do it in a lot of ways with different skincare products. It can be done with liquid soap and warm water, rubbing alcohol, micellar water, or a wet wipe. Try everything and then decide what of these products feel good on your skin and proceed with that skincare routine.
Tip: For removing makeup with some of these products, you can use a cotton pad or warm, wet towel.
Also, important things to remember:
- always apply makeup on a clean face
- clean your makeup brushes regularly
- keep your makeup in good condition
Step 2. Use the correct cleanser for your skin type
Everyday cleaning is very important for beautiful and healthy skin. You should clean it at least twice a day: in the morning and before a bed. Morning and night skincare routine is very important for keeping your skin healthy and beautiful. It is something that everyone should do.
Products you are using for cleaning should be suited to your skin type. You do not want to end up with even dryer skin using the wrong skincare product. So when you are shopping for your cleanser, do not pick up the random article you like. Take some time, read the label, and make sure it matches your skin type before you do the purchase. This is skincare quiz which could help you with your concerns and doubts.
Different skin type-different cleanser
In the case you still have doubts, here is the list of skincare products based on skin types you need to create a morning and night skincare routine (The New York Times Magazine):
Sensitive skin
- Cleanser type: oil
- What it does: while putting oil on your face it might not feel cleansing. But it is. One like argan oil is non-comedogenic, lightweight, moisturizing, and well-tolerated.
Oil or acne-prone skin
- Cleanser type: foaming liquid
- What it does: When it is activated with water or pumped into your palm, this cleanser morphs into an airy foam that helps to remove face oil and break down dirt and excess sebum from pores.
Dry, red, and/or eczema-prone skin
- Cleanser type: cream or lotion
- What it does: These cleansers are formulated with emollients such as glycerin or shea butter, which wipe away impurities while also hydrating skin.
Mature skin
- Cleanser type: melting balm
- What it does: This rich, butter-like salve transforms or “melts” into a liquid when rubbed onto your skin. It can be used without water to dissolve heavy makeup and tends to be very soothing.
Any skin type
- Cleanser type: Micellar water
- What it does: This soap-free option contains molecules that attract debris and oil like a magnet without causing any dryness. It is suitable for almost every skin type and unlike most other cleansers, there is no need to rinse it off or rub it in – a simple swipe will do.
After using a cleanser to clean your face you should wash your face with water of course. You have to remove the cleanser from your face too, not just swipe it with a towel. It is a double cleansing but it is a necessary and correct way of cleaning your face.
For cleaning your face you could also use face masks. They could be very useful and provide very good results, very quickly. You can find them in different forms and different shapes, too. From mud masks, honey, and green tea masks to charcoal masks and sheet mask. Depends on what you want and what you need for your skin type and your skin problem.
Step 3. Moisturize both day and night
To keep your clean skin hydrated and soft it is important to do moisturizing. You should do moisturizing both, day and night. Like with the cleansers, having a morning and night skincare routine for applying moisturizing skincare products, is important too. Use creams and lotions, depend on your skin type, for your skincare. There is a difference between day and night cream.
Day cream protects you from pollution and ultraviolet radiation and night cream repairs any damage you might earn during the day. So when you are buying your day and night moisturizing cream you should pay attention to these facts.
Don’t use too many skincare products at the same time. It clogged pores and it can be rough on your skin. One day cream and one at night cream are more than enough.
But, it is also recommended to use an eye cream for the sensitive skin around the eyes. It should help you to reduce dark circles, fine lines, and wrinkles around the eye area.
Also, for removing dead skin cells from the top layer and decreasing redness and swelling (inflamation) you can use salicylic acids. It belongs to a class of drugs known as salicylates.
Skincare: Moisturizers for different skin types
Here is the list of moisturizer types for different skin types (The New York Times Magazine):
Gel moisturizer
- Skin type: oily
- What it does: This is mostly water-based option that is lightweight and absorbs quickly.
Cream and soft cream
- Skin type: dry
- What it does: It is more oil-based and heavier than a lotion.
Lotion
- Skin type: normal and combination
- What it does: This is your classic moisturizer level; it feels more moisturizing than a gel but generally absorbs well.
Balm
- Skin type: inflamed and sensitive skin (but non-acne prone)
- What it does: Much like a cream, a balm is good for extremely dry skin types, but it is got heavier texture.
Proper skin cleansers and moisturizers will help you to keep your skin healthy and beautiful. Most of them, these days, contain hyaluronic acid, which should help you keep your skin moist and supple. But if pollutions and aging still catch up with you, you can always reach for the help of anti aging creams or cosmetic treatments. They are very advanced and non-invasive these days.
Step 4. Hydrate inside and out
Hydration is an important step for skincare. So when you start to create a skincare routine you should not leave this step out. You should take a lot of liquid, especially water, every day, at least 6-8 glasses. But it is different for everyone so maybe some of you will need more than 8 glasses a day. To stay hydrated you can also use other drinks like juices, milk, and teas. Or you can eat fruit and vegetables which contain a lot of water like watermelons, tomatoes, and lettuce.
If we do not take enough water our skin will lose elasticity and feel rough. Also, we need water to help our body to:
- reduce toxins
- reduce puffiness
- for faster healing
- for tighter skin
- maintain our pH balance
- prevents acne
- stop premature aging
Outside hydration: Do not exaggerate!
When you thinking about how to start a skincare routine and 7 steps to beautiful skin you need to keep in mind outside hydration, too. That, of course, means regular washings, showers, and baths. In that process, we need to be gentle to our bodies and do not exaggerate. Because if doing that too often and too long, we can do damage to our skin, removing all-natural oils from it.
During your baths and showers pay attention to a few things, like:
- Limit your bath and shower time.
- Use warm water rather than hot.
- Avoid strong skincare products and choose mild gentle cleanser.
- Shave carefully.
- Apply shaving cream, gel, or lotion before shaving.
- Use a clean, sharp razor.
- Shave in the direction of the hair growth, not against it.
- Tap dry with your towel so that some moisture stays on your skin.
Step 5. How to start a skincare routine: 7 steps for a beautiful skin. Eat a healthy diet
One more step that should not be left out when you create a skincare routine is a healthy diet. To keep our skin healthy and beautiful we also need to balance our nutrition and make sure that the food we are eating is enriched with vital nutrients. They help our skin to stay soft, healthy, and supple. We should eat antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetables, healthy fats from fish oil and nuts.
For having radiant and fabulous skin is also important to eat food that contains the next nutrients:
- beta carotene (carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin)
- vitamin C (kiwi, oranges, papaya, strawberries)
- vitamin E (almonds, avocado, hazelnuts)
- zinc (fish, lean red meat, whole grains, nuts, seeds, shellfish)
- selenium (fish, shellfish, eggs, wheat germ, tomatoes, broccoli)
- omega-3 oil (fish oil, chia seeds, walnuts, rapeseed oil)
Step 6. Protect yourself from the sun
We all like sun and warm weather but if we are too exposed to the sun, it could seriously damage our skin. The sun’s heat dries out unprotected areas and decreases the skin’s supply of natural lubricating oils. Also, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause burning and long-term changes in our skin’s structure.
Skincare: Sun damage can be dangerous
Usual types of sun damage to the skin are (Harvard Health Publishing):
- Sunburn
- Flaky and prematurely wrinkled skin
- Skin cancer
- Actinic keratosis
- Long-term changes in the skin’s collagen (a structural protein)
How to start a skincare routine: 7 steps to beautiful skin: Sun protection factor
To protect your body from sun damage and to still be able to enjoy the benefits of the sun, you should use sunscreens. Those are skincare products with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) which gives you the necessary UV and UVB radiation protection.
SPF is a measure of how good sunscreen will protect your skin from UV and UVB radiation. Experts recommend using sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15, and applying a proper amount of 2mg/cm2 of skin, or about one ounce for full-body coverage every 2 hours.
The SPF (Sun Protection Factor) scale:
- SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays
- SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays
- SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays
In case you already earned some sun damage like premature wrinkles or other changes on your skin, especially on your face, you can always try aesthetic treatments. They will rejuvenate your skin and make it look fresh and beautiful again.
Sunscreens – all you need to know
To use the correct sunscreen with correct SPF you should be aware of your skin type and the possible risks to get sunburns, dark spots, or other sun damage. People with fair skin have a bigger chance to get sunburns and sun damage, and people with darker skin have less chance for that to happen. But still, everyone needs to use sunscreen only with different SP factors.
Sunscreens come in different form like:
- Lotions, creams, sticks, gels
- Oils, butter, pastes, sprays
Tip: Never apply spray sunscreen directly to your face.
When you are shopping for your sunscreen you will be probably led with things you already know about your skin like is it oily, dry, or combined, and do you like your creams in sticks, sprays, or lotion form. But always try to buy sunscreen with the correct SP factor. Here is the list of the bestsellers.
Also, when you are buying your sunscreen you should pay attention to its ingredients. All sunscreens have active and inactive ingredients. Active ingredients protect us from the harmful UV rays and they are: aminobenzoic acid, avobenzone, cinoxate, dioxybenzone, homosalate, meradimate, octocrylene, octinoxate, octisalate, oxybenzone, padimate O, ensulizole, sulisobenzone, titanium dioxide, trolamine salicylate, and zinc oxide
Tip: You should not apply sunscreen on infants, and you should keep them out of the sun entirely.
How to apply sunscreen
- Apply 15 minutes before you go outside. This allows the sunscreen (of SPF 15 or higher) to have enough time to provide the maximum benefit.
- Use enough to cover your entire face and body (avoiding the eyes and mouth). An average-sized adult or child needs at least one ounce of sunscreen (about the amount it takes to fill a shot glass) to evenly cover the body from head to toe.
- Know your skin. Fair-skinned people are likely to absorb more solar energy than dark-skinned people under the same conditions.
- Reapply at least every two hours, and more often if you are swimming or sweating. (FDA)
Seize your summer days and enjoy yourself but always remember to be safe first. Even if you are not on vacation, apply your sunscreen every day. It is not too complicated, just replace your day cream with your sunscreen. And you are set.
Some more safety tips (FDA):
- Limit time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are most intense.
- Wear clothing to cover skin exposed to the sun, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, sunglasses, and broad-brimmed hats.
- Use broad-spectrum sunscreens with SPF values of 15 or higher regularly and as directed.
Step 7. How to start a skincare routine: 7 steps to beautiful skin. Manage stress
Stress causes a chemical reaction in your body that makes skin more sensitive and reactive. It also makes skin problems harder to heal. In that condition, your body produces hormones like cortisol, which makes glands in the skin make more oil. Oily skin is more prone to acne and other skin conditions.
It can also activate serious skin problems like psoriasis, rosacea, eczema, hives, and other types of skin rashes. Try to avoid stressful situations as much as possible and learn to manage them. That way you will feel better and it will have a positive effect on your skin, too.
Here are some more tips on how to manage stress and take care of your skin:
- Take care of your skin even if you are tired and stressed.
- Exercise! At least 3 times a week! It will be good for your body and your skin.
- Do something you enjoy every day for few minutes. Read a book or do the bath.
- Practice stress management techniques like breathing, meditation, and yoga.
- Go for a long walk around your neighborhood.
- Get enough sleep.
- Set boundaries and limits and learn to say no. That could reduce your stress.
- Talk to someone about your problems. Even look for professional help if you need to.
How to start a skincare routine and 7 steps to beautiful skin should help you to maintain your skin beautiful and healthy. Once you create a skincare routine and choose your skin care products, you will conceive that goal and feel good about yourself.
Stick with your morning and night skincare routine and wash your face regularly. Follow these steps and try to keep them as long as you can. You will be beautiful, happy, and healthy. And you will not have a skin problem anymore, guaranteed.