Skin Care Basics: Protecting Your Skin

Maybe your current skin care routine involves washing your face when you remember, or just when you shower, which may not be enough for healthy skin, so here are skin care basics for protecting your skin. Or perhaps you only think about skin care when you notice a problem, like a breakout or dry patches. No judgment here, but skin care can be something you can look forward to — sort of a feel-good ritual to start and end your day. The best part is, you don’t need an entire bathroom counter full of products to have great skin. Here are some simple steps you can take to keep your skin blemish-free and looking its best.

Sun Care

Sun care is one of the most basic steps to skin care and often the most neglected. If you don’t practice sun safety, it can lead to premature aging, skin damage, and even cancer. So, it’s essential to protect at least your face with a sunscreen every day — even if you’re just walking from your car to the office or going for a run. If your exposure is minimal, a facial sunscreen with a low SPF will work just fine.

If you’re planning on spending time outside, sun damage can still occur on cloudy days and during the winter. So, no matter what the weather looks like, you need to protect your skin.

When it comes to applying sunblock, using too much is better than being sunburned in places you didn’t cover. As far as spray-on vs. lotion, it’s really a personal preference, but the rule of thumb is to use at least one ounce of sunscreen for an adult — that’s enough to effectively cover your entire body. And the most important rule of all is to remember to reapply every two hours because even water-resistant sunscreen will sweat off.

Lastly, it’s important to apply sunscreen before you go outside to give it time to absorb into the skin — we recommend at least 15 minutes before sun exposure. Failure to do so can result in your sunscreen sweating off much more quickly, leaving your skin unprotected.

Washing Your Face

Everyone should clean their face twice a day to get rid of impurities on the skin and unclog pores. Nobody wants to think of their skin as being dirty, but dead skin cells, free radicals, and pollution in the air can wreak havoc on your complexion and cause breakouts.

A cleanser is just a fancy name for a face wash. There are many different types of cleansers for various skin types, so pay attention to your skin when choosing a product. If your skin is a little dry, pick a hydrating facial wash. If you are prone to acne, select a product with a built-in acne treatment. That way, you’re tackling two birds with one stone. Regular cleansing provides the best foundation for an even skin tone and a glowing complexion.

Exfoliating

Using a gentle scrub twice a week not only helps your skin feel clean but also works wonders to remove dead skin cells and helps your skin create healthy new cells. Regular exfoliation is the key to healthy, glowing skin and will prevent breakouts by unclogging pores.

Over-exfoliating or scrubbing too hard can damage the skin on your face, so be gentle and let the product do the work for you. You can use exfoliators on your face and body, but make sure to use one that’s made for that specific area of your skin. Exfoliators made for the body might be too harsh for your face.

Toning

Toner may feel like somewhat of an afterthought, but it can be genuinely beneficial and refreshing. Not only does it tighten your skin, but it also removes excess dirt and oil that wasn’t thoroughly washed off by your cleanser. Before moisturizing, take a cotton ball or pad and swipe the toner gently over the face and neck. Toner wipes away dead skin cells, promoting cell turnover and keeping your skin looking bright and clean. Toning will also prep the skin for moisturizing or any serums you want to apply. The first time you use toner, it’s pretty much guaranteed you’ll see a lot of leftover gunk on the cotton. That’s all the extra stuff left on your skin the face wash didn’t clean off. You can use toner either in the morning or before bed — it’s also totally fine to use it twice a day.

Moisturizing

Daily moisturizing is the key to having skin that looks even. Your skin is 70 percent water and can become dry, flaky, and itchy if that moisture is not replenished, especially after shaving or being out in the sun. Replacing that moisture daily can improve skin texture and tone and create a barrier against pollution and dirt.

When the barrier of your skin becomes compromised, it’s easier for the collagen to break down and cause wrinkles and uneven skin tone. So, remember to apply body lotion and facial moisturizer twice a day, most importantly at bedtime.

Serums

The choice to use a serum is entirely up to you, but you may find problem areas on your skin can disappear with a little extra TLC. Serums that contain ingredients like vitamin C can help fade discoloration, and vitamin E oil can smooth skin and fade acne scarring. Whatever your specific issue is, there’s usually a serum that can help. Just use it consistently and be patient — serums don’t work overnight.

These are just a few of the basics of skin care. As with most things, it will take some time to find the perfect regimen for your skin. If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at our skin care products. Even adding a simple vitamin E oil to your repertoire can have amazing effects on your skin.