Do the skin care basics in right order.
Skin care experts share the basic order for caring your skin. Cleanse, tone, treat, moisturize, protect, and makeup, if you wear one. That’s for your morning routine. For evening skin routine, you do the same order except for protect (wearing sunscreen) and makeup. You need not to apply those since you will be resting.
The general rule in applying skin care products is from thinnest to thickest. However, there is an exception – putting on prescription lotions or product with most retinol, glycolic acid, salicylic acid or skin brightening ingredients. Follow those products for soothing or moisturizing from thinnest to thickest.
Select the right products for your skin type.
Not all products are created equal. They work well depending on your skin’s type.
To check your skin type, do this simple tip. Upon waking up, take a tissue and press it against your face. If you find oily and translucent spots, you have oily skin. If the tissue seems to be clean and your skin feels tight, you have dry skin. If your skin gets red and easily irritated, you have sensitive skin. If your skin is oily in the T-zone areas (forehead, nose and chin), you have combination skin. If your skin only shows the slightest bit of oil, you have normal skin. Determining the type of skin you possess is essential to identify the suited skincare products you need to use and apply on your complexion.
Read the label. Learn to follow instructions.
Be cautious on using and applying skin care products. Learn to know how much or amount of product to apply, when to put it and which areas of the skin you can apply the product.
The list of ingredients seen at the back of the product’s label is arranged from highest to lowest concentration. You will be able to identify which ingredients work well with your skin and the ones that don’t.
Let your products work in their own time.
There is no instant result in skin care products. It takes 6-12 weeks of using the same products to take notice of the results.
Boost products’absorption
Help your skin absorb products well by following these guidelines. First, exfoliate with glycolic or retinol. Next is to use cleansing brush to get most out of its absorption benefits as well as in removing makeup prior to washing your face. Apply a layer of moisturizer or serum while your skin is damp. Moist skin absorbs active ingredients quickly. Let the products absorb completely before applying another product to your skin.
Take note of skin care products’ expiration.
All skin care products have their own shelf life. Most of them last only for 6 to 12 months after use. Experts revealed that you should use your makeup and sunscreen for the span of one year.
Always check expiration date indicated on the package. If you notice changes in color or consistency, starts to smell unpleasant, throw them off. Keep the products in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to retain their best quality.
Be a keen observer.
Check your skin. See if the products that you use work well on your complexion. Being a keen observer is significant so you know when to toss, switch certain products or treatments. If your feel sensation or stings while you apply a certain skin product, swap for another type. If you notice unusual changes in your skin, stop using that product or go to your trusted dermatologist and let him/her recommend other products that provide efficiency.
Opt for multitasking products
Several skin care products offer numerous benefits in one bottle. Here are some skin products that do more than its primary duty.
- Petroleum jelly or petrolatum-based products soothe chapped lips, cracked skin, sunburn and wounds.
- Clay or sulfur-based mask is a great spot treatment for blemishes.
- Instead of buying a tinted moisturizer, you can mix moisturizer, foundation and sunscreen or use BB or CC cream.
