1,2 Step yourself into clear skin.

Having a perfect cleansing routine is on every girl’s bucket list. But knowing where to start can be pretty overwhelming.

Before you start any skincare routine, the first step is self-awareness. This means, know your skin type.

Do this by simply doing the bare face method at home.

How to do the Bare-Faced Method…

Wash your face with any gentle cleanser and pat dry.

Leave your face bare for 30 minutes and observe.

After 30 mins, check your cheeks, nose, and forehead. If your nose and forehead shine, great… you have combination skin. If your cheeks shine along with your nose and forehead, you have shiny (read oily) skin. However, if nothing shines and the skin feels parched, you have dry skin.

Once you have these details down pat, now you can get down to your cleansing routine. A good cleansing routine consists of 4 basic steps.

Cleansing.

To get beautiful, glowing, clear skin…cleansing your skin is important. This is the first step in any skincare routine. It helps in removing all dirt, impurities, bacteria, and anything else that might hinder any other product that you will use after cleansing from working.

You can cleanse your face in one of two ways.

Water-based cleansing

This means getting a water-based cleanser to create a foamy lather, then using your fingers to massage in and cleanse your face. It is preferred that one uses warm water for this process as extremely hot water can dry out the skin. Once this is done, rinse off and use a quality moisturizer to prevent your skin from drying out.

Oil Cleansing

For many people, cleansing means foamy lather and rinsing. Oil cleansing can include both but it’s done using pure oils, a washcloth, and warm water.

When it comes to oil cleansing, it is important to buy high-quality oils and cleansers. The best oils are the cold-pressed, unrefined virgin oils meant to be used on the skin.

Great oils for oil cleansing include; Olive oil, Castor oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Grapeseed oil, Avocado oil, Sunflower oil, Argan Oil, and Jojoba Oil.

Toning.

Whether you have dry skin, acne scars, or any other skin problems, toning your skin is important.

Toning your skin basically involves using toners, cleansers, lotions, and even serums to cleanse the skin while at the same time shrinking your pores. There are some people, with the help of their dermatologists, who use toning to even out their skin tones and to correct their dark spots and/or discoloration.

Other benefits of skin toning include; Restoring your skin’s pH balance, adding a layer of protection, and refreshing your skin.

Toners worth checking out include: Heritage Store Rosewater Facial Toner or Neutrogena (Oil-Free) Triple-Action Toner

Moisturize.

Just like choosing your cleansers, toners, or even sunscreen; figuring out your facial moisturizer is one of the most essential steps of any skincare routine. Moisturizing your skin is not only important for hydration, but it also protects your skin from irritants and inflammation.

It is important to find a moisturizer that fits your skin type. One Moisturizer DOES NOT fit all.

For example, if you have dry skin, you may want to use a thicker moisturizer with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which is a powerful humectant, along with ceramides. Check out: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, CeraVe Daily Moisturising Lotion

But for those with oily or acne-prone skin, it will be especially important to look for products that are non-comedogenic or say “oil-free” on the label. You might also want to look into lighter gel-cream formulas, such as Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion or Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

Wear Sunscreen.

Everyone needs to use sunscreen DAILY.

No matter how the weather is looking, sunscreen is THE one step you should never skip before heading out for the day. And it is also one of those things every man and woman should carry with them always.

Most of us underestimate the importance of using a sunscreen every day but it does more than protect your skin from UV Rays. You will greatly minimize your risk of getting sunburns, cancer and reduce the premature signs of aging.

While applying Sunscreen might seem like a daunting task, it shouldn’t have to be. You no longer have to worry about leaving a white overcast on your face or applying Sunscreen incorrectly, The 2 Finger Rule is here to help with that.

For each body part (which is roughly 9% of your total body surface area), you need TWO strips of sunscreen squeezed out onto the index and middle fingers from the palmar crease to the fingertips…

Wherever you are with your skincare journey… a beginner or a guru. Let the above steps always be your go-to guide for great skin!

As always, read, share, comment. XO!