ONLY 3 STEPS YOU NEED FOR A GLOWING SKIN
SAY YES TO A GLOWING SKIN
STEPS TO A GOOD SKINCARE
As a beginner you don’t need an elaborate skincare routine. Without being overwhelmed by it, let me breakdown 3 important steps for a good skincare-beginners friendly. Once you are accustomed to these and you know your skin in and out, then you can dive deep and add few other steps as well. But first, let’s start with the BASICS !
CLEANSE
Boo! I cannot stress this enough. CLEANSE. YOUR. SKIN
I suggest you to go for two step cleansing process. Let me help you understand it better. Double cleansing is the process of cleaning your skin twice, first with an oil based cleanser and second with a gel based or water based cleanser. Be very gentle
Throughout the day your skin secrets natural sebum. The air pollutants, dirt and grime also contributes to free radicles on your skin.
Oil based cleanser/ balm cleansers
Their texture is like semi solid balm, which emulsifies when comes in contact with water. In turn helps to break down your makeup and excess oil on your skin and other impurities as well.
Oil based cleanser will help you to break down your makeup and SPF without stripping your skin and making it overtly dry. It’s also known as dry cleansing, as you apply the cleansing balm/oil directly on your face without water, massage it and once you see your makeup breaking down , then you add water and help the cleanser emulsify (turns into a milky consistency). These cleansers are extremely gentle and hydrates your skin while cleansing it.
This technique works with all skin types. Oil cleansers by Iunik and Sioris are one of the best K-beauty cleansers. And some examples of balm cleansers are Heimish all balm cleanser, Elemis Pro-collagen balm and Clinique balm cleanser
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Gel/water based cleanser
Use gentle and hydrating cleanser regardless of your skin type. Strong cleansers have the ability to take away the ‘good oils’ from your skin leaving it too stripped and dry! And, we do not want that.
Gel based or water based cleansers will help your skin to get rid of dirt and day grimes and any other free radicles. You can look for Caudalie Gentle cleansing Milk, Kiehls Cannabis Sativa seed oil cleanser or Cosrx Low pH gel cleanser. Cleansers close to your skin ph level(4.5-5.75) will never strip your skin out.
Try out a two step cleansing process. It will change your skin texture as it did mine.
Ps: Please don’t use coconut oil to remove your makeup. Please stick to formulated skincare to remove your makeup! Reasons being:
1. Coconut oil is comedogenic (it will clog your pores which will lead to blackheads, whiteheads or breakouts)
2. It doesn’t emulsify, hence its not easy to wash it off with water. You will have to use a lot more cleanser to wash off the greasiness which in turns defies the purpose of ‘hydration’ !!!
MOISTURISE
Look out for hydrating moisturiser according to your skin type. Gel based moisturiser would be beneficial for oily skin type and water based moisturiser would be suited for dry and combination skin type.
Common misconception is that oily skin type doesn’t need moisturiser, that is not true. If you don’t moisturise, your skin will produce more sebum and oil to compensate for the lack of moisture. So, don’t skip on your moistures.
Few examples of Gel based moisturiser are Purito’s Centella Green level recovery cream. It’s a no frill and simple formula gel based moisturiser which has Centella Asiatica, which helps to repair your skin barrier. Versed Moisturising gel cream(vegan, cruelty free and pregnancy safe)
Dr.Jart’s water cream is good for dry and dehydrated skin types.
SUNSCREEN
I cannot stress enough the importance of a sunscreen in your daily skin care routine. Sun damage is caused by UV rays. AN it’s so important that you protect your skin from Uv rays even when you are staying inside.
There are two type of UV rays: UVA & UVB
UVA rays reach deeper into out body and cause pre-mature aging. (photoaging, pre mature wrinkles)
UVB: rays: These rays causes sunburns, sun spots and hyper pigmentation on skin.
MAKE IT A HABBIT TO USE A SUNSCREEN. EVEN IF YOU ARE STAYING INSIDE YOUR HOME.
SPF : SUN PROTECTION FACTOR, hence protection from UVB rays. Sometimes, this term is used interchangeably with sunscreens
There is another grading system as well know as PA grading system.
Grading system to tell us how much that sunscreen is protecting our skin from UA rays. So, higher is the better. Look out for (+)sign on the packaging (PA+, PA++, PA+++ OR PA++++). But , this system of grading is not FDA OR EU approved so, you will see this only on K-beauty, J-beauty sunscreens!
Broad spectrum: You can also look out for this term called ‘BROAD SPECTRUM’ which essentially means that it covers both UVA & UVB.
SUNSCREEN TYPES
1.MINERAL/PHYSICAL SUNSCREEN: contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide(or both). These mineral ingredients which physically protects out skin from sun damage. If you are someone, who spends a lot of time outside, working outside, hiking, trekking etc , Physical sunscreen would be the best option for you.
But, it might leave a white cast which we typically associate with sunscreens. But in recent times there are new formulations which no longer leave the white casts.
Few examples are REN Clean screen mineral SPF 30
2. CHEMICAL SUNSCREEN: : They contain chemicals like active ingredients like avobenzone, octinoxate and oxybenzone. It doesn’t leave any white cast on your skin, but it might cause irritation on people with sensitive skin.
Few recommendations for Chemical Sunscreen are Purito’s Centella Green level Unscented sun & Krave beauty Beet shield
So chose your sunscreen according to your skin concerns. I have few recommendations for you here.
Few pointers before I sign off
BE GENTLE TO YOUR SKIN.
Give it all the love it needs.
Read up and study your skin concerns, before buying any new products.
List of products available in Indian Market