10 Tips and Tricks for Beautiful Skin

#bareface #nofilter

Confession: I‘ve made a lot of skincare mistakes over the years. As a former beauty product-junkie, I’ve over-used products, was too harsh on my skin, and didn’t realize I was making things worse. Out of my frustration with skin irritation and acne, I began researching and listening to professionals on how to bring health to my skin. I love learning about beauty products, gleaning skincare tips from experts, and reading up on the science behind skincare marketing claims. Besides eating well, my skincare routine is a sacred form of self-care.

Today’s post is dedicated to the best skincare tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years from experts and estheticians. Follow along to learn tips for healthier, beautiful skin!

10 Best Skincare Tips + Tricks

1. Double cleanse. I’m a huge fan of the double cleanse, especially at night (thank you @SusanYara for this tip). Start with an oil cleanser to gently break down makeup and remove dirt and excess oils. Then use a second cleanser (either a gel, foam, or cream) to get the rest of the grime off your skin. If you have sensitive or rosacea-prone skin, just do the first cleanse followed by a water rinse to prevent over-drying.

2. Be consistent. Stick with a product or routine for at least 6 weeks (unless you’re getting an immediate reaction). When you constantly jump from new product to new product, you don’t give the formula a chance to do what it’s designed to do. Sometimes we need to make changes to our routine, since our skin changes as we go through different seasons, hormonal cycles, and as we age.

3. Exfoliate 2-3x a week. Exfoliating is essential for removing dead skin cell buildup on the surface of the skin. Using an exfoliating product can address clogged pores, dullness, and improve the appearance of your skin. There are chemical and physical exfoliants:

Chemical exfoliants can use alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), or a combination of both. AHAs (glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid) help loosen old, dead skin and reveal fresh new skin, and can be derived from sugar cane, milk, or fruit. I love AHAs because they help correct hyper-pigmentation, improve appearance of fine lines, stimulate collagen production, and brighten your complexion. BHAs (salicylic acid) are oil-soluble and can penetrate deeper into the skin, helping unclog pores and treat blackheads. BHAs are great for oily or acne-prone skin.
Physical exfoliants contain rough materials like small grains to buff away dead skin cells. While exfoliating is an important skincare step, if you have sensitive or reactive skin, introduce these ingredients/products slowly.

4. Understand the active ingredients in your skincare. Sometimes we don’t realize we’re doubling up on certain ingredients in different products, or combining ingredients that shouldn’t go together, which can sometimes be too much for our skin. For example, using a chemical exfoliator with a mix of AHAs and then then applying a toner with more glycolic acid, and then using an acne treatment with salicylic acid. If we over-exfoliate with too many chemicals, it can irritate our skin.

5. Don’t overuse makeup wipes. I get it, they’re convenient, but they’re harsh on your skin because they usually have alcohol or strong preservatives in the ingredients. Plus, they almost never include ingredients that can remove makeup, so you’re not fully cleansing your skin. If you wipe too hard, it can irritate your skin, leading to redness and inflammation.

6. Use a serum! You’re not alone if you have no idea what a serum is. It’s a product you apply after cleansing and before moisturizing with the intent of delivering concentrations of active ingredients to your skin. There are many types of serums available to address different types of skin concerns like sunspots or wrinkles.

7. Be delicate with skin around your eyes. Your skin is thinnest around the eye area and is the first area to show signs of aging on your face. Be gentle when you remove eye makeup, use your ring finger to dab eye cream, and avoid rubbing your eyes.

8. See an esthetician. Seeing a skincare professional is great when your skin needs some extra attention. They can get a closer look at your skin, recommend products for your skin type, and provide great treatments for your skin concerns.

9. Use leftover product on your neck and hands. We often neglect our neck and the back of our hands, which are some of the first areas (after our eyes) to show signs of aging. After applying skincare products to your face, use them on your neck and hands next.

10. Protect your skin! UV damage the worst. Especially as we age, its important to wear SPF 30 daily. Wear a hat if you’re outside for an extended amount of time, and don’t forget sunglasses (your eyes are fragile and squinting in the sun can lead to crows feet).