5 Healthy Skin Care Tricks for all Skin Types

Being that I have dealt with acne prone skin for the majority of my life, I am no stranger to the exciting lifestyle of dermatologist visits and the constant researching of different products and remedies to heal my skin. Everyone is trying to sell you different products so it can be very easy to get lost in the world of skin care. Who is actually helping your skin and who is only trying to make a profit? 

I personally have very oily and sensitive skin, this made it very important that I research what is going on my face and what is not. Everyone is very different so people have different reactions so although this article will work on showing you more effective routines and practices, it is important that you get an understanding for your skin and what it reacts to best. Read more to learn about the many tips and tricks for smart skin care as well as the not so hot trends that you probably should not be using. 

1. Wash your face twice a day

It may sound minor, but this is actually very important for healthy skin. I too fall victim to the lazy habit of just coming home just wanting to relax and go to sleep, sometimes after a long day the last thing we are thinking about is taking care of your skin. However, it is super important to wash your face when you wake up and before you go to sleep. 

Think of washing your face as a reset. The body generates natural oils all day long and although these oils are good for you, they often attract other toxins and dirt as well. If you suffer from oily skin like I do, then you know this all too well. Washing your face especially before you go to sleep, removes the dirt from the busy day you had and allows your pores to breath which is the most essential part of skin care.

2. Know your cleanser 

Your cleanser is the main product that really gets the dirt and grime from your skin. Being that I have oily skin, it is important that my cleanser gets deep into my pores and cleanses but does not leave my face dry. If you are in the market for a new cleanser, check out this article about “How to Pick the Right Facial Cleanser”. 

This being said, everyone likes different cleansers and everyone’s skin reacts differently for a number of reasons. However, there are key ingredients that everyone should have in their cleansers. These include:

• Hyaluronic Acid: to hydrate the skin 

• Salicylic Acid: to fight and prevent acne 

• Vitamin C & E: healthy vitamins that promote glowy healthy skin 

• Ceramides: retain moisture in the skin 

These ingredients promote healthy skin. Along with this it is important that your cleanser is gentle. You want a cleanser that is tough on dirt, but NOT your skin. It is very easy to buy one of those scrubs and use it everyday as a cleanser but this is actually bad for your skin. Harsh or rough cleanser can cause micro tears in the skin which leads to wrinkles, ance, and scaring. Great cleansers that I have great experiences with are Cetaphil and CeraVe.

3. Scrubs are great with moderation 

We just got done talking about how important it is to use gentle cleansers. You may be thinking, “Why are scrubs important if we should only use gentle cleansers and creams?”. Similar to the rest of your body your face develops dead skin. You should use scrubs 2-3 times a week or as needed. Using the right scrubs allow you to remove the dead skin and leave behind glowing and smooth skin. 

Most scrubs will have microbeads or nut extract to make the scrub abrasive. It is important that the beads being used are round and smooth and not jagged. For example, St.Ives charcoal scrub uses little round beads that roll smoothly over the skin with ease. However, an ingredient like sugar is very jagged, rubbing this over your facial skin can cause the micro tears we talked about earlier. 

A great tip my dermatologist told me is when using a scrub make sure your face is completely wet. Use gentle hands to apply the product. Once most of your face is covered wet your hands again to massage the product in. This gives the product more slip so it is not as rough on your skin but also removes the deep dirt. 

4. Moisturizer is your best friend

The key to soft, glowy and healthy skin is the moisturizer you use. Moisturizer keeps your skin hydrated and puts back the essential oils your skin needs after being stripped from the cleaning. It is smart to get a moisturizer that contains some SPF. This protects your skin from the harsh rays from the sun, even on cloudy days.

When it comes to the application of your moisturizer, it is smart to put it on right after you wash your face. If you’ve ever washed your face and felt your skin get tight this means your pores are open and clean making the application for your cream best at this point. 

I recommend using a moisturizer that is non-comedogenic. Non-comedogenic means that the product does not clog your pores. This is ideal because your pores should be able to breath as much as possible. Moisturizers that are non-comedogenic allow moisture, but also allow your pores to breath. 

5. Watch the temperature you use when washing your face

If you’re anything like me, you love hot water. I make sure the water is extra steamy before I take my showers. However, this is not always the best thing for your skin. Applying hot water directly to your face can be harmful. Instead it is important to use warm water to clean your face. Warm water helps open your pores so that cleansers and products can serve its purpose effectively.

Cold water can be a helpful tool because they aid in closing your pores. However, it is important that you use warm water initially to open and clean your pores and skin. You can use cool or cold water to close your pores when you are done with your skin. 

Conclusion 

There are little things that you can do to help get into a healthy skincare routine. These dos and don’ts can be helpful for any skin type however, as always it is important to understand that everyone's skin is different and you should continue to do your own research. The following are great tips to follow:

1. Wash your face twice a day

2. Know your cleanser 

3. Use scrubs with moderation 

4. Moisturizer is your best friend 

5. Watch the temperature of water when wash your face

Any questions? Please feel free to reach out on my contact page.