Skin Care Basics: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide
Before We Go On
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Skincare isn’t always the easiest topic to approach because it’s hard to know where to start.
Products with long lists of ingredients or just ingredients you’ve never heard of before can be overwhelming. What does this all mean? Which one is right for me? Does this product actually do what it claims it does? What order do I apply everything or do I need all of this? The list of questions seems just as never-ending as the products found at your local drugstore.
Choosing new products - the right products is important but usually require a little more research into your own skin, what skin type it is, and how it might feel about any new products you bring on. So today we won’t get into the more complicated components of skincare, instead, we will be focusing on the very basics, the essentials to healthy, and happy skin. This article is less about the exact products or ingredients you should use but more about what steps you should incorporate. If you’re looking for a skincare routine, we’ve put together a few options you can look into. If you just want to understand why each step matters and why you should be making these essential steps a habit - then this is the article for you. Let’s get into the very basics of skincare!
Why is this basic?
It’s simply the bare minimum you should do for healthy skin. It may not look the way you want it to - if you’re looking for flawless, radiant skin as if you’re always dewy somehow … that will require some level of advanced skincare. Unless your skin is the type that does better with less skincare because of your environment and/or genetics.
In basic skincare, it’s about maintaining form, aging healthy, and fulfilling skincare needs. If done consistently, for long enough, it can prevent many skin concerns or at least keep them at bay. What are the basic skincare steps?
Cleansing is so important, your skin is bombarded with free radicals, excess sebum, dirt, and pollutants all the time. These external impurities need to be removed or it can cause clogged, dehydrated, inflamed, discolored, dull, damaged, and irritated skin. You want to be cleansing twice a day or use water in the morning and double cleanse at night.
Toning brings your skin back to normal after cleansing - it balances pH levels, soothes, and preps the skin for the later steps. It seems like a useless step because you don’t always feel a huge difference after toning. Toning helps your skin get the most out of the latter steps. So it’s highly recommended.
Moisturizing - the right moisturizer for the right time of day can make such a big difference for your skin. In every instance, your moisturizer should provide the goodies your skin lost throughout the day - moisture, and lipids. While repairing your skin’s natural barrier to keep all the goods in your skin and keeping anything harmful out of your pores.
Sunscreen is a must. Sunscreen is an absolute must. UVB/UVA rays are incredibly harmful to the skin. Not only will it harm the top layer of your skin but they can penetrate deep into the skin causing cell damage. It’s true that you should always apply sunscreen during the day.
Summary
These steps are essential. Lastly, consistency is key. Maintaining a consistent routine will help your skin stay healthy and happy. So give this basic routine a try if you haven’t already!