When I was in high school, I had a routine every night. I would leave my uniform out, make sure my homework was completed and in my back pack, and my lunch was ready in the refrigerator. Then I would go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, and wash my face with a generic face wash that had those scrubbing balls to clean my acne-free face. I would finish off with moisturizer and then go to bed and fall asleep by 10:30pm to catch the 7:20am Metra train. That was my routine for about 4 years.
In college, my routine was chaotic. I didn’t go to bed at the same time ever night, I wore pajamas to class, and rarely washed my face. If I did, it was just plain water. I even went to bed with my makeup still on because #yolo.
It wasn’t until recently I realized how important it is to have a skin care routine. Your skin is your largest organ on your body. Not only that, but it will represent you for a long time. It’s not enough to just wash your face with water and it is not enough to just use a makeup remover towelette and call it a day. Your skin is an organ that needs to be nourished and protected.
[line]Skin Facts[line]
- What is the point of having skin? Protection. Your skin protects your bodacious bod from bacteria, germs, and other unwanted visitors.
- You are constantly making new skin cells, with the dead cells moving up to the top.
- The skin is made up of three layers: subcutaneous, dermis, and epidermis. Subcutaneous, being your lowest layer, is the fatty layer that essentially protects your muscles and bones. The dermis, being the middle layer, is the home of your nerves and blood vessels. The epidermis is the top layer that is your ultimate shield against germs and bacteria.
- Melanin is the pigment in your skin that gives you, your perfect glow, for that perfect selfie.
Now that we understand the skin, how do we keep it at pristine condition? Well, it’s not enough to just splash some water on it. It’s a multi step process. Don’t worry. It’s only 4 steps: Cleanse, Prep, Treat, Protect.
[line] The Secret to Flawless Skin [line]
- Cleanse: Cleansing and thoroughly removing makeup is essential. Use a makeup remover than is gentle on your skin that is also hydrating. Be aware of some makeup removes that have mineral oil or fragrances. Mineral oil can clog your pores and damage your skin barrier. Fragrances are known skin irritants that can create redness or cause allergies. I personally use Instant Eye Remover by Beautycounter that is gentle and hydrating. I also recommend the Cleansing Balm that can be used as a makeup remover or night mask. As far as a cleanser, I personally love the Nourishing Cream Cleanser that also doubles as a makeup remover. Two birds, one stone! Lightweight and gentle, the coconut oil and aloe work perfectly for essential hydration! With any cleaners, always use lukewarm water!
- Prep: Toners prep your skin for maximum product absorption. Toners remove extra dirt and makeup that your cleanser didn’t pick up. This is an essential step for those with oily or acne prone skin. The Rejuvenating Toner Pads is a perfect option because it already comes with pads in the container. Scented with magnolia and mixed with Vitamin C, among other age defying ingredients, the Toner Pads decreases the appearance of pores and brightens your skin tone! Leaves your face feeling super fresh! Pro tip: cut the pads in half to make them last longer!
- Treat: Apply a serum. Serums seem to be getting a bad reputation for use only for older generation. But hear me out…serums are key to glowing skin and locked in moisture. Serums are created with small molecules that can deliver hydration rich ingredients deep into the skin. Heard of hyaluronic acid? It is natural occurring in the human body and has a moisture binding effect that leaves your skin hydrated and plumped, known as the glowing effect. I personally love the Countermatch Intense Moisture Serum. One drop is enough to cover my face and neck and the results are selfie worthy. Serums are not considered moisturizers, but you should use one after applying a serum.
- Protect: Lock in moisture. Find a moisturizer, day or night cream, that that provides lasting hydrating AND strengthen your skin’s barrier without pore clogging mineral oil or silicones. What is the difference between day and night creams? Day creams are equipped with your essential hydrating ingredients, some may include SPF. Night creams work to recover and repair your skin while you are asleep, some including anti-aging ingredients. Can you use a day cream at night? Yes. The Countermatch Adaptive Lotion is my favorite! It is one of our best sellers and in fact, it was the first product I ordered from Beautycounter! The Countermatch collection is perfect for those with skin like mine: sensitive and dry, IN NEED of moisture! The key is the Breakthrough Bio-Mimic Technology that harnesses the unique life-giving properties of plants to exactly match the structure of skin, giving it precisely what it needs and nothing it doesn’t. Also! If you will be spending some time in the sun, always put on sunscreen! You have to protect your skin from the sun’s powerful sun beams.
[line]Beauty Tricks[line]
- After cleansing, DO NOT wipe your skin dry with a towel. Instead, pat dry. Wiping your skin with a towel cause irritation to your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin.
- Exfoliate 2-3 time a week. Remember when I said you have dead skin cells on the top of your skin. Exfoliating 2-3 times a week will help scrub the majority of it off. The Noursihing Exfoliator is my favorite because of its lightweight feeling and jojoba beads that help take off those dead skin cells. Be aware that the microbeads in face washes are not good for the environment. They don’t break down and will always be in the environment, in places they shouldn’t be. Read this article about how it is now banned.
- Use a face mask 2-3x a week. Masks are perfect for removing impurities and absorbing excess oil. Leave on for 10 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water. Remember to pat dry. My favorite is the Charcoal Facial Mask. Personally, I enjoy a nice mask and glass of wine. I can’t mask without wine. I love seeing the mask pull the dirt off my skin and the clean slate I’m left with.
- Drink enough water every day.
- Eat healthy. Your binge eating will show in clogged pores
- Don’t under sleep, your dark circles and puffy eyes will tell the world.
- Don’t overspend on fancy brands. Be informed. Read your labels. Be familiar with ingredients that could be detrimental to your health such as allergies, carcinogens, hormone distributors and infertility, among the many. The U.S. has partially banned 30 ingredients that cannot be used in the cosmetic industry. Where as the European Union has banned 1300 ingredient. Take a look at Beautycounter’s The Never List. Take a pocket sized version with you as you shop around.
- Read my blog post about The Clean Beauty Movement.
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My new routine in the morning is cleansing my face with my charcoal bar, then using my Countermatch serum and adaptive lotion. At night, I cleanse with my charcoal bar and put a night mask on using the Cleansing Balm.
What is your skin care routine? Did you learn anything new?
