As a beauty therapist, skin care and general self care are so important to me. There is nothing I like better than being able to work with a client and see an improvement in their skin. A good skin care routine is important, and will keep your skin clear, glowing, even textured, help prevent breakouts and create a beautiful base for makeup. Optimally, you should be cleansing your face morning and night, and never ever sleep in your makeup. Always cleanse your face, neck and décolletage (don't just stop at your jaw!). I have put together a basic skin care routine, and explained why each step is important. Read on!
Eye Makeup Remover
This is specially formulated to dissolve and remove all your eye makeup as your skin cleanser can be too harsh for the eyes. Finding a gentle eye makeup remover is best. A good oil-based one, formulated for waterproof makeup, should remove everything effortlessly.
Pre-Cleanse Oil
A pre-cleanse oil is an optional step, but something I have incorporated into my routine and am loving. Oil attracts oil, and therefore draws the oil and impurities out of your pores and dissolves makeup in one easy, waterless step.
Cleanser
You should cleanse your face twice. Once to remove surface grime, like leftover makeup, air pollutants, sunscreen, creams, etc. The second is to clean deeper into the pores and really clear out all the dirt and oil deep in you skin. Cleansers can come in cream, gel or foamy formulations. Cream is good for all skins, especially dry and sensitive skin. Gel is good for all and combination skin. Foaming is good for combination to oily skin types, as it can be a bit more harsh on the skin.
Exfoliator
Exfoliating is really important. So many people don't bother with this, but you should. Doing a weekly or twice-weekly exfoliation, depending on your skin type (dry, oily, combo, etc) benefits your skin in so many ways. It removes the layer of dead skin cells we all have, brightens your complexion (as new skin cells are now visible), and improves circulation (which brings oxygen and nutrients to your skin, making it healthy and glowing). Dry skin should be exfoliated once per week, as you don't want to strip your skin. Oily skin is recommended twice per week to get rid of all the built up dead skin that sticks to all the oil produced within the skin. Combination skin can either exfoliate once or twice per week, you can judge depending how your skin feels to you.
Toner
Also a step that often gets skipped. Toning brings back the pH of your skin to its regular levels, removes any leftover cleanser, makeup, and aids in the absorption on your serums, moisturisers and creams.
Serum
Serums are your most potent skin feeder. They tend be more specific for skin conditions, such as pigmentation, hydration, weak skin, dilated capillaries, early signs of ageing, etc. Serums have a higher concentration of active ingredients, so you only have to use a tiny amount for your whole face, neck and décolletage. When buying skincare really invest in a good quality serum, eye cream and moisturiser, as these will be on your skin the longest and will be feeding it with tonnes of good stuff.
Eye Cream
Eye creams are a thinner cream or gel targeting specific conditions in the eye area.The skin around your eyes is actually really thin and delicate, and needs a different molecule-size cream to penetrate deep within. Starting an eye cream at age 17 and above is a good idea, as age starts to show around the eyes, on the neck and décolletage and on the hands first.
Moisturiser
Now moisturisers come in a vast array of formulas and textures. You need to find one that is going to address what you want to get out of your cream. For day, I would recommend a cream with sunscreen in it (for protection without adding an extra step to your routine). Moisturisers are there to lock in your natural moisturising factor that your skin produces in the form of oil. They also nourish your skin. Moisturisers add that protective barrier between your skin and the outside elements.
PM Moisturiser
Moisturisers specifically made for night-time have a higher vitamin content and are made to repair and nourish your skin while you sleep, how smart is that! These are usually thicker in consistency and feel a bit heavier when applied.
To start with, if you don't want to go out and buy all of the above, start with a cleanser, toner and moisturiser without sunscreen in it. You can add the others as you go. If you have any questions please leave me a comment and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
In between blogging you can find me on Instagram @shannonmichellebeauty.
Until our next meeting,
Shannon
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