Blame it on the media and our rigid cultural norms, but we all really want to have clear, smooth, radiant skin! It’s the first thing that people see whenever they set eyes on us, so it really doesn’t come as a surprise that we put on much effort on getting the most beautiful skin possible. Yet oftentimes, we get caught up with the complexities of skin care and end up not doing anything instead. Here are 4 basic steps on how to work your way to clearer, smoother, more glowing skin without having to stress it out!
Know Your Skin Type
The first step in taking care of your skin is knowing its type.
Before starting, you have to make sure that you know what your skin type is. You can decode this by washing your face and putting on an oil blotter after 10 minutes or so. If there’s oil on almost the entire blotter, then you have oily skin. If the oil mostly came from your forehead and nose collectively known as your T-zone, then you have combination of oily and dry skin. If the oil blotter seemed like unused even after much dabbing, you’ve got dry skin.
Cleanse
Jumpstart your way to beautiful skin by cleansing it the right way! This is probably the most basic step in skin care but a lot of women don’t do it properly. When washing, wet your face with lukewarm water, this opens up your pores and allows for deeper cleansing. Make sure that you don’t rub too hard when applying cleanser! Work it on your face, forehead and neck in gentle, circular motions. Rubbing may clog up your pores and can cause pimple breakouts later on. When drying, it’s always better to use unscented paper towels or tissue, since towels tend to spread pimple-causing bacteria onto your face.
Also, make sure that you are using the right cleanser for your skin type! If you have oily skin, opt for cleansers in gel, bar-form or those that aren’t oil-based. For dry skin, cream-based, creamy cleansers or cleansers with moisturizers are best for you. With a combination skin type, you can use any form of cleansers but don’t use products that are particularly designed for dry or oily skin. Another reminder, don’t use body soaps on your face because they tend to be harsher and may cause irritation.
Tone
Toning is essential when it comes to skin care. It can do your skin wonders such as removing traces of oil and dirt, keeping environmental pollutants away, tightening your pores and reducing wrinkles, and maintaining the ph balance of your skin so it won’t get too oily or dry.
If you’ve got oily skin, go for toners that are combined with mattifers. These reduce shine and provide all-day oil-control, thus, relieving you from the stress of wondering if your face is too shiny. If you have combination skin, alcohol-free toners are your best bet. This type of toner refreshes skin without stripping off its natural moisturizers. For dry skin, your best pick would be light toners that moisturize. This will increase the water level of your skin leaving it smooth and supple.
Moisturize
One vital step in getting beautiful skin is by keeping it hydrated! This will keep your skin’s elasticity, therefore delaying the appearance of those lines and furrows. Moisturizing also protects your skin from pollutants and delivers essential skin nutrients and regulatory substances. Plus it also gives you that smooth and glowing effect!
If your skin type is oily, use an oil-free moisturizer. If you have combination skin, apply a generous amount of moisturizer on the driest part of your face such as your cheeks. Then just dab a bit on your T-zone. For dry skin, look for moisturizers that are rich and creamy. These will increase the water content on your skin making it look healthier and more radiant.
