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Skincare for beginners

In creating your first skincare routine, keep it simple. Start with your basics and expand as you see fit.

Skincare Basics

The three basic steps include:

Step 1. Cleanse

Step 2. Moisturize

Step 3. Protect

Step 1: Cleanse

It is ideal to cleanse your skin twice daily (Morning and Evening). The rule of thumb is to cleanse for a minute. Cleansing in the morning helps remove any sweat or oil that accumulated on the skin at night.

Cleansing your skin in the evening should never be skipped. It helps remove skin care products, make-up, excess oil, sweat, dead skin cells, pollutants, and other debris collected on the skin throughout the day.

When choosing a facial cleanser, beginners should opt for a gentle, hydrating one. This is because any skin type can tolerate such facial cleansers.

A good cleanser should be fragrance-free to avoid irritation. Additionally, a good cleanser should have ceramides to restore and maintain the skin barriers. Examples of such cleansers include:

Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash

Simple Refreshing facial wash

Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Cleanser


Step 2: Moisturize

The second step is to use a moisturizer. An oil-free, fragrance-free moisturizer is well tolerated in all skin types. Moisturizers have different ingredients including:

Hyaluronic Acid- Plumps skin and restores hydration.

Ceramides- To restore Skin-barrier esp for those with dry skin and eczema.

Vitamin C- For antioxidant protection and overall skin brightening.

If you have oily or acne-prone skin, you should NOT skip this step.

Moisturizers are very essential regardless of skin type. Over-washing or not moisturizing oily skin will trigger overproduction of oil and hence breakouts. Instead use a non-comedogenic moisturizer. A non-comedogenic moisturizer won’t block pores or cause breakouts. Most Neutrogena moisturizers are non-comedogenic.


Step 3: Protect

PUT ON SUNSCREEN DAILY

We can’t stress enough how important sunscreen is! It is the single most important step of a skincare routine if we do say so ourselves!

Use a sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher and apply it daily even when it’s cloudy.  Whether you are black or Caucasian, Sunscreen is a must! Sunscreen is the final step of your skincare routine.


LIVE. LAUGH. WEAR SUNSCREEN.

Once you have a basic skincare routine that works for your skin then you can begin to add in extra steps needed. These include:

Exfoliating

Toning

Masking

Applying serums

Important Tips to Recall

  • Understand your skin type first (oily, dry, sensitive, acne-prone)
  • Try new products one by one so you can see how your skin responds/ reacts.
  • Use products that are fragrance free.
  • If a new product seems like it “isn’t working” immediately be patient. Skin care products usually take at least 30 days for there to be noticeable changes.
  • Give your skin two to three months before switching a product. Unless you are experiencing an allergic reaction or irritation.
  • A product that gives immediate results can be dangerous.
  • BE CONSISTENT IN YOUR ROUTINE.
  • If need be consult your dermatologist.