Skincare is not just about looking good. It’s about feeling good and incorporating health into your entire being. Did you know that skin is the largest organ in your body and that you can donate it?
Skin health is directly related to your overall wellbeing and thus must be taken seriously. Even if you do not want to go all-in with a full-fledged regimen, developing a basic skincare routine goes a long way. Keep in mind that taking care of your skin also means your scalp, something people often neglect. Use a shampoo that is aimed for a smelly scalp to help take care of the skin on your head. Brands such as Cleverly Beauty are good for this.
What Happens to Skin When it’s Not Taken Care of?
Your skin ages with you, and the only way to age gracefully is if you take care of it in time. There are various ways in which your skin can retaliate if it is not well taken care of.
Dryness
If not hydrated and moisturized well, the skin may become dry. Dry skin may not sound serious, but it eventually leads to skin becoming dull, lifeless, and in worst cases, may even lead to conditions like eczema.
Premature Ageing
With age, all the process of our body slows down and the signs become evident in our organs. However, with skin, these signs may present themselves way earlier than we may want. It can be avoided with proper care.
Under Eye Bags
Slight puffiness and darkness under the eye are normal after a sleepless night or a particularly stressed day. But having bags under the eyes permanently means that you haven’t been following a good skincare routine.
Hyperpigmentation
This is a common ailment where patches of skin develop a darker color than the surrounding areas. This can be avoided up to an extent with a good skincare routine and ample use of sunscreen.
Sun Spots
Closely related to hyperpigmentation, these are caused by sun exposure. Small brown spots develop on the skin gradually. Though harmless, they can alter your look significantly.
Gaunt Hands
With time, skin becomes thinner due to lower collagen and looks veiny, delicate, and more prone to wrinkling and other skin problems.
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Things to Understand Before Beginning Your Skincare Journey
Contrary to popular opinion, you do not need cabinets full of products to take care of your skin. It is easy to get overwhelmed with options when shopping for products initially.
To avoid this, we will help you understand your skin and what things you may need to flag off your routine.
Skin Types
The kind of products you use must be suitable for your skin. This is because each skin type reacts differently to the ingredients in various products, and not knowing this may cause allergy and irritation.
Generally, there are five skin types: Normal, dry, oily, sensitive, and combination. Normal skin is neither too dry nor too oily. Dry skin often has a rough texture and dull appearance.
Oily skin, on the other hand, has a typically greasy appearance. Combination skin is a mixture of oily and dry with certain zones being characteristically oily.
Sensitive skin is the one to watch out for as this is the type that has more adverse reactions to products. If your skin irritates easily or gets flushed with spicy food, you most likely have sensitive skin.
Age Appropriate Products
Skin in your 20s is significantly different from the skin in your 40s or 50s. Like health, the concerns that ail the skin also vary with age.
Thus, when looking for products, you must consider the age group that you belong to and assess whether that particular product meets all the skincare requirements of your age.
Reading Labels
When we say read between the fine lines, we mean it. Always read the labels on your products before you make the buy. You should conduct thorough research on what ingredients suit your skin type.
This will help you understand the constituents of a product and whether or not it will work for you.
Adapt and Adopt
No matter how much research you do, figuring out what works for your skin requires a certain degree of experimentation. This means that you may have to work with different products till you find the one that fits quite right.
Many ingredients also take a while to warm up to your skin. The climate of the place that you live in also changes your requirements. So the key here is to adapt until you find your fit and then adopt it!
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Steps to Take Care of Your Skin
Beginning a new skincare routine may seem daunting, but with our help, you can glide through it easily. Here we are going to give you a step-by-step method of beginning this journey.
Step 1: Cleanse
This is the most important step. You need to religiously wash your face twice a day with a mild facewash. It is advisable not to use body soap on your face. Bathing once a day is optimal.
But be gentle and do not scrub away the natural sheen of your skin with harsh products. The product you use should be able to cleanse your skin without stripping away essential oils and moisture.
Step 2: Exfoliate
Exfoliation is a great process to nourish your skin and remove all the dead cells that may be making it look dull and lifeless. However, you should not go overboard with this and repeat it only once a week or so.
You should also avoid exfoliating products that come with coarse, grainy materials and go for natural exfoliators like lactic acid.
Step 3: Toning
Do not automatically think of the skin pricking astringents in this category. Toners today have developed from their alcoholic contents and are now milder. They add an extra touch of nutrients to your skin.
However, if you feel that you cannot adopt an exhaustive skincare routine, this is a step that you can safely skip. Toning should be done during night routines for better effects.
Step 4: Serums
Again a totally skippable step. However, for better skin health, we would recommend adding this to your routine. Serums are often called skin allies because of the significant contribution they put in.
They can help you avoid myriad issues, from sunspots to dark circles and even wrinkles. Depending on your specific need, you may choose between hydraulic acid, retinol, vitamin C or B, peptides, etc.
Step 5: Moisturize
This is a very important step and should be done in earnest. Moisturizers help in keeping the skin soft and hydrated. It also helps lock in the oils and nutrients that are naturally found in the skin.
The only thing you should remember here is to choose your moisturizer depending on your skin type. Alternatively, you need to have both a day cream and a night cream for better results.
Step 6: Sunscreen
Never ever skip sunscreen. In very hot areas, we would recommend using sunscreen even indoors. This is because the sun is the worst enemy of your skin, and sunscreen acts as a shield against it.
Using a skin-suitable sunscreen with appropriate SPF goes a long way in protecting your skin from potential sun damage.
Why Should You Start A Skin Care Routine
A good skincare routine helps your skin stay in good condition. If you take care today, your future skin will not have many imperfections. Skin sheds daily, and it is imperative that we aid it in this natural process.
Though difficult, consistency is key here. And do not fret if you don’t see immediate results (though you most definitely will), for this is an investment you are making for your future wellbeing and health.
Still don’t think these are enough reasons to start taking care of your skin? Then read ahead to understand why it is essential.
Feel More Confident
Let’s be honest. The way you look greatly determines how confident you are. This is why a smart outfit, on-point makeup, and hair always make you feel more positive and determined.
Good skin is also a contributor here. Having clear skin that looks refreshed immediately lightens your mood. Similarly, when you are depressed or under the weather, it shows clearly on your face.
Following a good skincare routine can help you gain confidence, boosting skin even when you don’t essentially feel that way.
Protects You From Sun
The consequences of not taking care of your skin extend far beyond what you can fathom. With skin cancer being the worst-case scenario, there are just too many reasons why you shouldn’t ignore skincare.
Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with 15 or higher SPF is the non-negotiable rule here. It should be reapplied every two hours and must definitely be used after swimming.
Finding the right sunscreen for you may be tricky, but once you’re there. You’re sorted for life.
May Cause Ailments
It’s not just a slight sunburn or a stray pimple that results from ignoring skincare. If skincare routines are skipped, you may end up with long-term concerns and skin diseases.
For healthy skin, you must follow all the steps and not forget to nourish it well. Though many skin issues cannot be completely avoided in the long run, taking care of your skin can minimize the risk and impacts of these problems.
Some Much Needed ‘Me’ Time
In your busy day-to-day schedule, it is often very difficult to find some time for yourself. One can get overwhelmed with other duties so much that they forget about themselves constantly.
The time carved out for skincare can be your ‘me’ time which you spend in the comfort of your own space and in the process, make yourself feel better. It is a time that you invest in yourself, and your mind can feel refreshed along with your skin.
A Better You
The bottom line is this- for a healthy ‘you,’ your skin also needs to be healthy. So along with everything else that we talked about, adopting a healthy lifestyle is also essential.
Let’s summarize.
- What you put in your body should also be as carefully filtered and scrutinized as everything you apply to your skin. Similarly, eat a lot of leafy greens, and fresh fruits and avoid junk as much as possible.
- Always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with 15 + SPF. Avoid direct contact with sunlight and wear protective gear like hats, scarves, and sunglasses.
- Keep yourself hydrated, especially if you feel hot. You must supplement the water lost by drinking it. Avoid replacing water with sugary drinks.
- Wash your face twice a day and bathe at least once a day.
- Do not invest in cosmetics with a lot of chemical content that may do more harm than good.
- Moisturize religiously. Invest in both a day and night cream. Throw in an eye cream, too, if you are 30+.
- Exercise if and when you can. A healthy body supplements healthy skin.
- Practice hygiene and other healthy habits like avoiding smoking and eating fried stuff.
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To Wrap Up
The needs of our skin are never constant. So always understand those needs before going on a shopping splurge. Never buy too much of a product the first time, and if it’s something that suits you well, stock up but check the best before date.
Keep the stress at a low and eat good, nutritious food. If suffering from any particular skin issues, make sure to get products aimed at directly eliminating them.
Start slow with everything and allow your skin to adapt. You may also need different products in summer and winter, so keep that in mind.
See a doctor immediately if you find any adverse reactions like itchy, bumpy skin, or redness that don’t seem to go away to rule out an allergic reaction. If you are still unsure about how to start your skincare journey, go see a dermatologist and seek help in identifying your skin type and needs.
We hope we have helped you make up your mind and eased off any concerns that you may have had.
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