Starting a New Skincare Routine
With 2016 right around the corner, it’s time to start rethinking your skincare resolutions. If you’re planning on stripping down your skincare regimen and beginning anew, there are a few basic steps you need to consider. Depending on your skin type and your skin’s specific needs, the products you choose can either help or hurt your skin. So, what should you do?
Get to know your skin.
First, get to know your skin. Think about how your skin behaves on a normal day during and after regular activities. For instance, if by the end of the day, your skin is flaky and itchy, you might have dry skin, and if your skin is slick and your makeup is sliding around, you might have oily skin. Once you have an understanding of how your skin behaves under normal circumstances, it will be easier to find products that meet your skin’s specific needs.
Get to know the products.
Cleanser, toner, moisturizer and SPF—four heroes in the saga of skincare. Should be simple, right? However, these four basic tools of the trade come in so many varieties that choosing the best ones for your skin can be difficult and time consuming. Make your decision based on your skin type, and if you aren’t sure, ask your skin care provider. Start simply—no harsh dyes, perfumes, ingredients you can’t pronounce, etc.—before adding ingredients to address specific needs. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are great for battling acne breakouts, and often, retinol is used for its anti-aging properties. Be careful though, combining too many products can cause them to become ineffective, and in some cases, can even cause irritation, redness and more breakouts.
Get on a daily routine.
The key to achieving the skincare results you’ve been wishing for is consistency. You should be consistent in your daily skincare routine and the products you use. Wash your face to remove makeup and excess oils; return your skin to its regular pH balance with some well-selected toner; rehydrate with a non-comedogenic moisturizer; and protect your skin from harmful UV rays with SPF every morning. It’s also best to repeat the process at night—but you can skip the SPF before bed. If you use any serums, under eye creams or topical medications, be sure to use those consistently as well in order to achieve the best results.
Start a weekly routine.
Other skincare treatments, such as scrubs, masks, peels and facials, don’t need to be done as frequently as your basic skincare routine. In fact, doing them too often can do more harm than good by thinning the skin and causing overall irritation. It is best to use a scrub no more than twice a week unless directed by your skin care provider. Even then, you must be sure to use a scrub with microbeads rather than natural exfoliants, such as crushed walnut shells, which can cause microtears in the skin. You can also talk to your skin care provider about what you should try, and how often you should use them. Using scrubs, masks, peels and facials as supplements to your skincare routine can help you see results faster.
With these four basic tips in mind, what will your skincare resolutions be for 2016? We’re eager to see you put your best face forward this New Year. Come visit our office at 123 Fox Road or call us at (865) 690-9467 to schedule an appointment with one of our expert skincare providers today.
