Skin Care 101: The most important do's and don'ts
Skincare 101
Welcome to your essential guide on skin care, where we explore key do's and don'ts. This guide goes beyond fleeting trends, focusing instead on sensible, tailored strategies for effective skin care. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned enthusiast, these insights will help you build a personalized routine that truly benefits your skin.
Do's
Do-Cycle your skincare.
Google “Skin-cycling” and you will be inundated with articles talking about this trend. The thing is, IT ISN’T A TREND, IT IS COMMON SENSE. Learn More
Do-Stick with your retinoid.
Don’t give up on your retinoid regimen because you aren’t seeing results or are experiencing side effects. Your future self will be eternally grateful. Learn more
Do-Use Sunscreen and/or avoid the sun when the UV index is high.
Chemical sunscreens absorb UV light. Then marvelous chemistry converts this damaging wavelength into heat which dissipates harmlessly into the surrounding atmosphere. It is worth it to note that many of these products are not to be worn in the ocean as they are being found to be disruptive to the delicate reef ecosystem.
Mineral sunscreens reflect UV rays and sometimes have a whiteish cast as a result and tend to be reef safe.
Sometimes these are found in combination.
Hats, Parasols, and roofs. I will save you from my mansplaining here. You're welcome.
Do-Double cleanse.
If you wear makeup or have oily skin, double cleansing can be a game changer. Choose a low foaming oil cleanser for your first wash and put it directly onto your skin before getting it wet. I know all of you oily skinned peeps are out there going "whoa! He said to do what?" Listen carefully.
Oil solubilizes (dissolves) oil. Water repels it.
This means that if you have a day worth of oil and makeup on your skin and you splash water onto your face, you are setting that mixture into your skin because it doesn't have anywhere else to go but deeper into your pores!
Follow up with a BHA (usually salicylic acid) cleanser and pay special attention to your oiliest areas.
Have Oily Skin? Read more about it here.
Do-Familiarize yourself with your ingredient list.
Learn how to tell whether or not your product contains ingredients at effective concentrations and how to make educated purchasing decisions.
Do-Treat each of your zones individually.
I can guarantee you that there isn’t a single human on this Earth with skin that has the exact same needs all over their body. Go ahead and wash your dry cheeks with a cream cleanser and your oily t-zone with a foaming BHA wash! You can even get crazy and skip the retinoid just on your sensitive areas from time to time. Check out the "Skin-Dex" for more info
Do-Get a pro involved.
Don’t get me wrong. I love me some DIY beauty but there are some things that even I will not attempt at home. It isn’t just safer and more effective to have a qualified aesthetician perform services on you, it is also WAAAY more relaxing.
Do-Develop a preventative mindset.
Don’t invest time and money in a routine for your current self. Do it for your future-self, they will thank you.
Do-Set your expectations.
Beauty marketing campaigns set some outlandishly unrealistic expectations for consumers who only walk away underwhelmed. I mean, I really thought I would have an orgasm while using herbal essences but alas, I just ended up with dry hair and a skin reaction. Really took the wind out of my sails there!
Do- educate yourself about your specific challenges.
No one knows you like you! Arm yourself with knowledge! Check out the "skin-dex"
Don’t’ s.
Don't-Over exfoliate.
Over-exfoliation can lead to hyperpigmentation, scarring, infection, eczema, psoriasis, fungal infections etc. Don’t get crazy with the peels. Track your regime with your skin-cycle.
Don't-Use the same treatment products every day.
To be clear, moisturizer and sunscreen are not treatment products. Use these every day and night. It is all the other stuff that you will want to cycle through to maximize their benefits and prevent you from developing any imbalances.
Don't-Underestimate the power of retinoids.
If you are serious about keeping your skin youthful and fighting off the signs of ageing, retinoids MUST be a part of your routine. Check out my Guide to Unlock the power of retinoids for skin care.
Don't-Buy the cheapest serum.
If you can only afford one nice product then opt for spending a little more on your serum. Dropping a lot of cash on a moisturizer is a waste of money because trapping moisture in the skin is all that they do. Check out illumenase.
Don't-Fall for “buzz words”
Marketing terms like “Clean beauty” , "natural" or “CBD infused” are often used as an excuse to raise the price of a product. Many of these terms mean nothing. Learn more.
Don't-Get disoriented by trends.
There is so much misinformation out there. Read up and get educated so that you can wade through the fallacies and find your best outcomes. Read about beauty buzzwords here
Don't-Think that your moisturizer will fix everything.
Moisturizer does just that. It traps moisture in the skin. Even products that tout active ingredients are mostly performing as an occlusive because the ingredients that act as such tend to interfere with the absorption of the active ingredients.
Don't-Expect your aesthetician to perform miracles:
Remember this mantra: 85% at home 15% in the spa. This is how much influence YOU have over the health of your skin. (Same goes for your hair)
To conclude, effective skin care is all about balance, knowledge, and adaptation. Embrace treatments that protect and enhance your skin, like retinoids and sunscreen, and set realistic expectations about results. Remember, the best skin care routine is one that you tailor to your specific needs, creating long-term health and vitality for your skin.
Have a quality day!
MBM
