I wanted to take a step back and discuss the skin prep that needs to be done prior to obtaining a flawless beat. As I find myself scrolling through social media, I find that I am constantly bombarded with skin care products, hacks, and techniques. Skincare shouldn’t be stressful or overwhelming, so here, I’m going to breakdown skincare, give practical step-by-step routines, and product recommendations.
SKINCARE
Maintaining a proper skincare routine makes it easy for your skin to remain clear and fresh, despite the dirt and debris that can accumulate throughout the day and while we sleep. Effective skincare cleanses the face of oil and dirt, prevents pesky acne and pimples from popping up, and makes sure your skin is looking its best.
As much as skincare is viewed and treated as a luxury, it’s actually not, and rather a vital part in taking care of the largest organ on the human body, the skin. Maintaining healthy practices and sticking to an effective routine will allow us all to achieve healthy, plump, and refreshed skin.
BUILDING A ROUTINE
Step 1: Cleanse
Using a cleanser is pivotal in preparing the face for other skin care products, or a full face of makeup. There are two main types of cleansers on the market, oil-based and water-based. The main differences between the two are that oil based cleansers remove oil-based impurities and cleanse deep beneath the skin. In contrast, water-based cleansers remove water-soluble impurities and target the outermost layers of the skin.
There are a ton of amazing cleansers on the market, but some of my favorites include the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser and PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash With 10 Percent Benzoyl Peroxide. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different products and figure out what works best for you and your skin!!
Step 2: Moisturize
Similarly to cleansing, moisturizing your skin is essential to a good skincare routine. After using a cleanser your skin may feel a bit dry or tight and it’s important to replenish it with moisture. Moisturizers will vary in thickness and heaviness, so once again, work with your skin and experiment with various products to find what works better for you.
Personally, I enjoy the Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15 or the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion.
Step 3: Protect
Finally, protecting your skin is essential, so be sure to apply SPF daily to protect your skin for the sun! Personally, I use the Black Girl Sunscreen which has grown in popularity because it doesn’t leave a white cast on pigmented skin.
The routine I discuss here is very bare-boned and only includes products that I feel everyone should be using for their skin. You can build upon the routine adding serums, oils, and acids to target specific skin needs, but it’s not necessary to start out with.
Skincare may seem a bit daunting, but there’s no harm in experimenting and finding what works best for your skin so that as we build on makeup or choose to go without, your skin is looking and feeling its best!
Hi Naeema! I really enjoyed reading this blog post. Skincare is definitely something I feel can often be overwhelming and frustrating in terms of settling on an effective routine. I really like how you described the “bare-boned” products that could really apply to almost anyone (I actually use the same cleanser and moisturizer!) It was a great idea to add SPF too – and I’d think it’d be interesting to perhaps include why SPF needs to be such an important part of our routines and the potential consequences of skipping it. Overall, I really enjoyed this post! I can’t wait to see how this blog progresses and learn from your tips.
I 100% agree that skincare is an extremely vital step that should be taken. Personally, I’ve gone through routine after routine, treatment after treatment– mainly because I have an extremely oily T-zone and I’m constantly battling zits and pimples… Though what I found it a bit funny, is that I am also using the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser and PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash as well (they’re classics, and super affordable!) The one think I have yet to really try or add to my routine is sunscreen, they always seem so sticky to me once I’ve applied it– do you have any recommendations on brands that apply nicely/ aren’t sticky?
Hi Naeema! Nice blog post! I enjoyed leaerning about skincare and the different ways/products out there. I found it interesting that traditionally, skincare is thought to be as a luxury and not an important part of your health routine. I think it is also interesting that the protection part of the process is often unerlooked. Personally, I always make sure to wash and take care of my face but never think about protection. Do you think different products are better suited for those with different skin sensitivities? How do you think people should experiment without getting disastrous results?