Skin Care Basics
The question I hear the most from people is, do I need a bunch of products to have good skin? The truth is that skin care can be as easy or as complicated as you want it to be.
Some people love to have a 6 step routine every day and take their time performing a self care ritual, and then other’s prefer to simply wash and go .
What do you prefer?
I waiver in between the two, but that is not surprising considering I usually don’t fit into most boxes.
The best skin care routine is the one that you will do!
Simple routines can be as effective as complicated routines, in this blog post I will highlight the basics and let you in on what I do for my routine.
As you can see from the graphic, skincare can be very easy and basic.
The first step is knowing what type of skin you have.
Oily, Dry, Sensitive, Acneic or Combination ( most people have oilier t zones, so go with how your skin feels overall ).
The second step is determining how much time you want to spend on skincare.
Is it a challenge to wash your face 2 times a day, then how about considering some multi tasking products such as a moisturizer with sunscreen, or a moisturizer with serum. Do you like to set aside time each morning and night to care for your skin, consider a variety of serums for different concerns or a face mask .
Here is my style, see if you can identify… I wake up and splash cool water on my face in the morning (I don’t need to cleanse, as it is not getting dirty over night). FYI this has completely evened out my skin, that used to be sooooo oily.
I then use a powdered Vit.C /Hyaluronic Acid serum an Daily Matte Moisturizer with SPF 32+ and away I go!
At night my routine is to cleanse my skin with a cream cleanser in the winter or a foaming cleanser in the summer, and finish with a liquid Hyaluronic Acid serum. I skip moisturizer in the summer months as my skin doesn’t need it, I make enough oil on my own. However if I have gotten a bit to much sun I will put on the vital hydrating mask and sleep in it, when I wake up any redness is gone and my skin is plump and hydrated.
Third step is determine the right products fro your skin type
Again as in the graphic you will notice the I have listed a variety of product types under each category, this is to help determine what product is best for your skin type. For example Cream Cleanser or Oil Cleanser is appropriate for Dry skin types as gel and foaming cleansers can be too stripping to the skin. Alternatively Gel or Foaming Cleansers will feel “cleaner” or fresher to Oilier skin types.
Skin Type & Appropriate Cleanser
Dry Skin
Cream Cleanser
Oil Cleanser
Gel Cleanser ( possibly )
Oily Skin
Oil Cleanser ( oil attracts oil and balances out sebum production )
Foaming Cleanser
Gel Cleanser
Sensitive
Oil Cleanser ( be careful of essential oils they can be aggravating to sensitive skin )
Cream Cleanser
Foaming Cleanser
Combination
All of the above
Serums are listed according to concern.
What is a Serum you ask???
"Serums are skin care products that are designed to deliver high concentrations of specific active ingredients to the skin. ... Most often, serums are clear, gel-based or liquid, and they tend to be less thick than a moisturizer. They're typically applied before moisturizers to help lock in the ingredients.” I find a serum or mask is the best way to treat specific skin concerns that pop up in life, for example you normally have dry skin but now since we have had to wear masks you are getting acne. There is usually no need to change your cleanser or moisturizer but to add in a serum or mask for acne or exfoliation. I personally like to have a few different serums in my arsenal. I will link to product recommendations at the end of this blog.
Sunscreen
This is going to be a whole blog post in itself, but I want to break down in very simple terms Physical and Chemical sunscreens and how to use it properly to benefit your skin.
Physical Sunscreens are fine particles of minerals – commonly titanium dioxide and zinc oxide – that sit on the surface of the skin and reflect, as well as absorb, UV radiation. Chemical Sunscreens, also sometimes called organic sunscreens, contain chemical compounds that absorb UV rays. These chemical compounds include formulas like oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate and avobenzone. These chemicals change UV rays into heat, which is then released from the body in the form of heat. At Fleur’t I carry both types. Sunscreen needs to be applied all year round…YES even in the winter! However it is even more important to apply and re apply a SPF30 or above to your face/body in the Spring/Summer months. We live inside for so long during the winter that when the sun comes out we sit out to have our morning coffee, or eat lunch outside or have a dink on a patio after work, these are all times that sunscreen needs to be applied.
Moisturizer
In the evening I like to apply moisturizer, this is when your skin regenerates so why not give it some help with an appropriate moisturizer for your skin type or current condition. There are MANY excellent products out there for every skin type imaginable. Here is how I choose the moisturizer for me. First of all how do I want my skin to feel, hydrated, soothed, clean, plump etc. etc. Then I choose from there, usually heavier products will Occlusive ( does not allow anything in or out, think Vaseline ) this is best fro dry or sensitive skin types as it allows the serum you put on first time to penetrate without getting rubbed off or evaporating. An Oil free Moisturizer ( Aloe vera based, or a gel ) is great for Oilier skin types or also nice in the summer months if you have dry skin but still breakout. No matter what moisturizer you choose, the best way too see results is to use it.
I hope this helped to break down basic skin care and show you that it really can be easy and simple. As promised here are the products that I sell and stand by. If you have any questions or would like a skin care consultation please feel free to contact me at orders@fleurt.ca