Great skin is something everyone wants but not everyone knows how to achieve. There are so many different options on what products to use that it can make your head spin. From moisturizers to eye creams and facial oils to toners and masks, it can feel impossible to stick to a routine. Ultimately, how you choose to care for your skin comes down to personal preference. I know that for myself, I have to keep it very simple to stay consistent. If you have the will power to incorporate an eight-product skincare regimen, kudos to you. The average woman probably can’t stick to that on a daily basis, so here are my tips to great skin the easy way. My morning/ night time regimen consists of 3 products:
- Cleanser
- Moisturizer
- Eye Cream
Cleansing
It is recommended that you use a cleanser morning and night but, on most days, I only do this at night. The reason I cleanse at night is because I usually have makeup on during the day, and I absolutely will not sleep with makeup on my face. Doing so can clog your pores, cause breakouts and speed up the aging process of your skin. Find a cleanser that works best for your skin type and lather it into your face using circular motions. After you’ve rinsed off the cleanser, pat dry your skin using a soft towel. Rubbing or tugging at your face with a towel can harm the delicate skin under your eyes.
Once a week, I will use an exfoliating cleanser to wash my face. I have dry skin so using an exfoliator too often can cause my face to have dry patches. If you have oily skin, you can exfoliate a few times.
Moisturizing
Moisturizer is the most important part of any skincare routine. Whether you have dry, oily, normal/combo or acne prone skin, do not skip out on moisturizer morning or night. Regardless of your skin type, your skin needs hydration. Consistently using the right moisturizer for your skin type can give you a more youthful appearance and a flawless base for makeup application. If you have oily skin, consider choosing a gel-based moisturizer. Since gel moisturizers are typically water based, the skin will absorb it quickly. If you have dry skin, consider choosing a creamy textured moisturizer. The thick consistency is heavier and will give your skin the hydration it needs throughout the day. For normal/combo skin, you can use any texture of moisturizer as your skin can typically adapt to most products. Don’t forget to apply moisturizer to your neck as well.
Eye Cream
If you think about it, the first thing people notice about others, is their eyes or smile. Our eyes can make us look ten years younger when you we properly care of our skin. Eye creams can help with puffiness, dark circles or hyperpigmentation. I tend to have dark circles under my eyes, and it seems to be hereditary in my case. For that reason, I look for eye creams that have vitamin C, to help brighten that area. If puffiness under your eyes is your main concern, look for eye creams with peptides or hyaluronic acid. Using an eye cream morning and night can delay the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and crows feet around the eyes.
Helpful Tips
- The sun can be very damaging to our skin, but I’m usually too lazy to put on sun screen daily so I make sure to buy moisturizers with SPF already built in. You can also use foundations with some form of SPF to combat the sun.
- Drink plenty of water! Did you know the largest organ we have is our skin? Drinking at least eight cups of water per day keeps your organs healthy and can give your skin a glowy effect.
- Use products created for your specific skin needs. If your concerns are large pores, choose products with retinol in the ingredient list. Also, look for products that are anti-aging.
- Change your pillow case often. Pillow cases can hold bacteria and oils which can then be brought back into our skin. If you have acne-prone skin, I suggest sleeping on one side then flip to other side the following night and change your pillow case.
There are so many products on the market but don’t overwhelm yourself with trying to keep a skincare regimen you won’t stick to. Start with the three products mentioned above and once you’ve remained consistent, gradually add other products like toners and serums into your daily skincare routine.
