Beautiful radiant skin is a dream that is actually achievable. It’s not about vanity, it's about self care to promote health and confidence. You can put together a nightly regimen that will have you glowing day into night. Skin care can become a priority if you make it one. It takes less time than you think and its very soothing and relaxing. Become your very own facialist and book yourself everyday!
The Building Blocks of Skincare
First, get to know your skin type: common types include oily, dry, combination, and sensitive. This will help you determine which skincare products will work best for you.
Cleansing is the foundation of any skincare routine. While researching this blog, I learned that “double cleansing” is trending. Basically, it's washing your face twice to remove any dirt, excess oil, makeup, and impurities, leaving your canvas ready to absorb the good stuff. Some people start with an oil-based product followed by a water-based product. The extra step allows serums, moisturizers, and sunscreen to penetrate the skin better. Warmer water opens up those pores so instead of reaching for a towel in between washes, keep your face damp.
Exfoliation is great to remove dead skin cells and give your complexion a brighter look. Dermatologists only recommend exfoliating 2 or 3 times a week at most. Mature skin is thinner so you want to be gentle, especially around the lips and eyes.
Toning is meant to balance your skin's PH so it can better absorb products. I look for alcohol-free toners with hydrating ingredients to avoid any drying effects.
Serums that prevent aging and hyperpigmentation have worked well for me and I’m religious about applying them nightly with the circulating massage that I swear by- it truly tightens the skin! I always scoop up and out when applying products, never down on the face and neck. I was given a rose quartz facial stone as a gift and I love it. To boost your skincare routine, you can even use an oscillating wand in tandem with your products. The main idea is to keep your blood flowing and cells rejuvenating. Think about lymphatic drainage as part of your ritual.
Moisturizing is the step you don’t want to skip. It is important to continually nourish your skin. I use both lightweight gels and brightening eye creams to counter that bluish pigment around the eyes we can get when we're tired .I like hyaluronic acid for its plumping effects and glycolic acid to even out skin tone. I try to calm my face when its irritated with shea butter. If I need to remove any glam eye makeup like eyeliner or eyelash glue, I’ll dampen a q-tip with a small amount of castor oil so it doesn't sting my eyes.
Sunscreen is the best anti-aging product you can invest in. I am guilty of not applying it in my youth, and I still want to be better at putting it on daily. A good way to get in your SPF is to buy dual products that already have it built in. Use tinted moisturizers and primers that contain sunblock for a foolproof way to remember. I try to at least go for SPF 30 or above. Harmful UV rays are no joke and skin cancer is more prevalent than you think.
Glamour is about feeling good in your own skin - Zoe Saldana
Make a Routine to Feed Your Face
I try to use natural products with antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, flavonoids and phenolic acids. Papaya, pineapple, cucumber, and green tea are things I gravitate towards. Apricot also has anti-inflammatory properties.There are many products that are “greenwashed,” though they still contain chemicals that irritate my sensitive skin. Investing in quality will pay off and keep your skin happy and protected from free radicals.I tend to get enlarged pores so I use products that help refine them and detox any congestion my skin gets from wearing makeup often. I even use ice sometimes to take down swelling and tighten my face overall. It’s a trick from old Hollywood starlets: fill up a bowl with ice water and plunge your face for 5 seconds. It really works!
Hydration on the inside is also very important for your skin health. Make sure you also have plenty of omegas and electrolytes in your diet to keep you radiant. The wonderful part of getting older is that you know yourself so well. Life experience is worth the aging process. That being said, we can sustain our natural beauty and wellbeing by treating our unique features with the tender loving care we deserve. I will leave you with one key word: Consistency. The only way you achieve great results is through consistency, because you wear who you are on your face.
Let me know all about your skincare routine and your favorite products in the comments below. Keep on glowing!
