The three basic steps of the skincare routine are cleansing, moisturizing and applying sunscreen (look for at least SPF 30 and “Broad Spectrum” on the label). Either way, you'll be happy to know that experts tell us that a true and honest skin care regimen only needs a few important elements. And, in fact, most of us would probably be better off sticking to the simpler ending of things. The basic steps of a skincare routine are a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen, Emily Newsom, M, D.
Seriously, that's all you have to do. In fact, there are very few situations where people need to use a lot of products, Temitayo Ogunleye, M, D. Although there is no inherent problem with using a ton of products if you enjoy them and they are not irritating, she says, “First you have to try these very simple things and then we'll see. You'll need a cleanser to remove dirt, makeup, excess oil, dead skin cells and environmental impurities that end up on your face naturally throughout the day.
The moisturizer will help the skin's protective barrier work properly and make the skin feel soft and smooth. And possibly the most important element, sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer and aesthetic sun damage. In the morning, wash with a cleanser and then apply moisturizer and sunscreen (or combine both with a moisturizer that has a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher). In the evening, wash with the cleanser again and apply moisturizing cream.
Yes, you can use your SPF moisturizer at night if you want, Dr. You may find that you prefer something thicker at night, but there is no rule against using the one with SPF before sleeping, he says. From there, it is important to pay attention to how the skin reacts immediately after using the product and in the following days. Do you notice tightness, greasiness, redness or breakouts? If you are on the oily side, you may need to hydrate less often or use a lighter formula, for example.
If it's on the dry side, you may need to use a heavier moisturizer. If your skin is very dry or sensitive, you may only need to wash your face with a cleanser once a day at night while rinsing with water or micellar water in the morning. But if your skin is especially oily or you wear a lot of heavy makeup, you may need to clean more often or even double cleanse at the end of the day. If your skin is sensitive, you may notice some irritation (redness, itching, peeling), which is a sign that you should back off and call a dermatologist.
You'll probably need to be careful in the future to avoid products with certain ingredients, such as fragrances, that can be irritating. However, everyone still needs to apply sunscreen every day. Here's how to find one you don't mind using. You might be surprised how, after a few weeks of following these basic steps, your other skin problems calm down.
But if they don't, your next steps will depend on your skin's specific needs, said Dr. If you have acne, you can change a cleanser for salicylic acid, a mild chemical peel, or the occasional spot treatment with benzoyl peroxide. For wrinkles, fine lines, or sun damage, you may want to add an OTC retinoid to begin with (and maybe a prescription version later). Are you interested in managing hyperpigmentation? Brightening agents such as hydroquinone or vitamin C may work.
But be sure to add only one product at a time, Dr. Newsom says, and give it at least two weeks before adding anything else. If you add several things at once and you have a bad reaction to something, it will be impossible to know which product was responsible without patch testing, said Dr. Or if you see positive results, you won't know which product was responsible for the change.
It is also important to avoid adding too many products that do the same. If you already have a retinoid or an exfoliating acid in your line, you may find that adding another one doesn't help and, in fact, is more irritating. In addition to using too many products, Dr. Ogunleye says that one of the biggest mistakes rookies make is giving up too easily.
But as SELF explained earlier, both over-the-counter and prescription treatments take weeks or months to produce noticeable changes. Ogunleye argues that it is important to adjust your expectations and be prepared to offer new products for two to three months before you get discouraged and give up on them. If you're trying to find gentle day-to-day products and can't seem to find one that works with your skin, it's time to talk to a dermatologist, Dr. Alternatively, if you're trying to address a specific skin problem (such as acne or hyperpigmentation) and don't see any improvement, a dermatologist can help you solve the problem and possibly prescribe a stronger medication that might be more effective.
And of course, if you find that your skin reacts badly to products and you're not sure why, definitely talk to a dermatologist. They can help you determine what might be causing that irritation and give you guidelines on how to avoid it in the future. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
The general rule here is that the ideal is to clean the complexion twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. “Cleaning yourself in the morning will help remove any evidence of sweat or oil left from your pillow and hair during your restful sleep,” Shokeen explains. You probably already know that cleansing means washing your face and moisturizing your skin, but what does treatment entail? Well, in addition to keeping your complexion in tip-top shape, the goal of any good skincare routine is to focus on problem areas. Therefore, treating means incorporating serums or creams packed with beneficial skin care ingredients, such as vitamin C, retinol, alpha hydroxy acids and others, depending on the type of skin and the results you want to see, explains Dr.
Magovern. Adding an intermediate step between cleansing and moisturizing components is very important, Dr. It can make a big difference over time and in the health, appearance and aging of your skin. Good things come to those who wait and that includes skincare routines.
Even the best skincare products are slow to work, so don't expect results overnight. If you follow a consistent daily routine, you'll likely see some benefits within six to 12 weeks, and it can often take at least three or four months to know if your new routine really works. Facial cleansing should be the first step in any skincare routine, as it removes impurities and excess oil that can clog pores and dull skin. If you have dry or sensitive skin, try washing only at night and rinsing your face with water in the morning.
Toners are a water-based skin care liquid that is applied to dry skin after facial cleansing with fingers, a cotton ball or cloth, and before using other leave-in skincare treatments, such as serums and moisturizers. A good toner can help ensure that your skin is completely clean and free of blemishes, as well as giving you an extra dose of active ingredients. A serum that everyone can benefit from in the morning? An antioxidant serum, which will prevent the formation of free radicals and diminish the signs of aging over time. And the gold standard antioxidant serum is vitamin C.
For darker skin tones, hyperpigmentation can be a common problem, and using a vitamin C serum in the morning can also help mitigate dark spots, says Jennifer David, D, O. Eye creams are different from face creams because they are specifically formulated for the delicate eye area, which ages faster than the rest of the face and therefore also fall into the category of treats. If you are worried about fine lines, wrinkles, lack of firmness, dark circles or bags under the eyes, it is definitely worth using an eye treatment product. First, remove makeup and dirt from the day.
Start by applying a separate makeup remover if necessary, to remove any cosmetics. Follow with the same cleanser as in the morning, working from the inside of the face up, then out and down along the hairline and perimeter to just below the chin, she suggests. If you opt for a toner, apply it the same way you would in the morning. Because they are liquid, toners must be used before heavier formulas, such as serums and moisturizers, for them to have a chance to absorb.
Night is an ideal time to use products with ingredients that work to remove dead skin cells or stimulate cell renewal while you sleep, such as alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid or retinol, Dr. These soft textures brighten and minimize pores. Some serums can be used day or night; follow package directions. Apply some serum or facial treatment, or a separate eye cream if you also use it in the morning, around your eyes.
Moisturizing is especially crucial at night, as it creates a barrier that seals the skin's natural hydration and any active ingredient to counteract moisture loss that occurs while you sleep. But while you can use that moisturizer by day without SPF at night, using a specific formula for the night will have specific anti-aging benefits, repairing the damage of the day. While regular moisturizers focus solely on improving the skin's natural moisture barrier, night creams contain active ingredients that help improve skin beyond adding moisture, explains Tonya McLeod, M, D. So, which product goes above what? An easy-to-follow rule of thumb is to apply products with the finest consistency to the thickest, or from liquid to cream.
In the morning, start by splashing your face with warm water or, if necessary, wash with a gentle facial cleanser designed for your skin type. Most people choose to skip tonics, partly because there is still an assumption that most tonics are harsh and irritate the skin. Fortunately, that is no longer the case. While not “physically shrinking pores”, the new generation of tonics can serve multiple purposes, such as acting as a delivery system for antioxidants, vitamin B derivatives and even tonifying acids.
In addition, each type of tonic is intended for a different skin problem, so it is important to use the right type for the skin problem. However, if you have lived your whole life without using a toner and your skin looks healthy, Dr. Rogers says there's no need to start using one. That said, if you have a toner that you like to use, there is nothing wrong with continuing to use it.
Annie Chiu, a board-certified dermatologist, it is vital to apply an eye cream at least every night, if not twice a day, starting at 20. Improving the quality of the skin in this area from the beginning ensures that the eyelid skin does not easily lose laxity and its smooth appearance later on. According to Dr. Diane De Fiori, dermatologist at Rosacea Treatment Clinic, prescription medications and treatments for acne blemishes should be applied as close to the skin as possible to maximize their benefits.
As treatments for acne blemishes differ in their active ingredients, check the product packaging or consult your dermatologist for the best way to apply it. Prescription benzoyl peroxide, a common ingredient for treating acne blemishes, has a working time of one to three hours, according to beautician and acne specialist Ashley Wiley. Remember that treatments for acne blemishes can dry out the skin, so always apply it only to areas where you need it. Yes, everyone needs a moisturizer, even if you have oily skin.
Most experts recommend that the best time to apply a moisturizer is when the skin is still moist, so the sooner you apply the serum and treatment, the sooner you can get the much-needed hydration with your moisturizer. If you're using a treatment for acne blemishes, you may want to skip those areas when applying the moisturizer to ensure that the ingredients in it don't interfere with the active ingredients in your spot treatment. Rogers recommends using a physical sunscreen with zinc and applying it after the moisturizer. To remove grime, dirt, grease and makeup for the day, some experts recommend removing makeup first with a specific makeup remover before washing your face with a mild cleanser.
Better yet, try a double cleanse, which consists of first using a cleansing oil to dissolve the makeup and then wash your face again with the usual cleanser. If you use a toner, apply it as you would in the morning. In addition to treating crow's feet and dark circles, eye creams can also be used to protect the delicate eye area from other skin care products. Some people use the same moisturizer for day and night.
However, night moisturizers or night creams are generally thicker and heavier and are designed to be absorbed over the course of several hours. Caroline Robinson, a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in ethnic skin care and preventive skin care, stresses that applying sunscreen every day is a must, no matter how much melanin is in the skin. So, if you are confused about the order of operation, from thinnest to thickest is reliable enough until you get into advanced-level skincare routines. Skincare and cosmetics are such a big business that, globally, consumers have doubled their spending on beauty products in the last 15 years, according to consumer research firm Euromonitor International.
Washing your face is the most basic and essential step of any routine, says New York City dermatologist Dr. Look for a mask that is formulated to treat any specific skin problem you face that day; common examples include moisturizing, brightening, soothing, and brightening masks. As skin care is increasingly popular among men, it's time to lay the foundation for a good routine. This term often appears on product labels and is used by skincare experts, but it is not always defined in simple and clear language.
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