Feeling the lockdown blues, don’t know what to do while your skin out and you are running out of all your skin-care? The climatic change disrupted your skin ritual and now you can’t control the break-outs, blackheads, whiteheads and your pores which are the size of your nose and so on?
Many of you face this but were never aware of it, and the ones that were aware are not psyched to have them back. Maybe now that the world is on a break and a new trend that promotes skin-care is around you’ve started to wonder, whether I should dive down the rabbit hole of what I should do to improve my skin or if I should let it be. But if you do decide to take the path to skin-care you see there is an ocean of products and let’s be honest, we are lost. There are so many products for so many things you have never even heard of that you want to give up but you also want to be a part of the trend the whole world is raving about. If you’ve decided to give it a try, let’s get started and understand what skin-care really is and why it’s an important step in your beauty regime.
Skin - the largest organ of your body, protects you from microbes and natural elements, helps regulate body temperature, and permits the sensations of touch, heat and cold. Our skin has three layers and the Epidermis is the topmost layer of skin, which provides a waterproof barrier and creates our skin tone, and the layers beneath position our skin types.
Skin-care is the range of practices that support skin integrity, enhance its appearance and relieve skin conditions. This can include nutrition, avoidance of excessive sun exposure and appropriate use of emollients. Different skin types have different needs and wants. Skin-care isn’t just restricted to your face, it spreads throughout your body and we need to cater to the needs of every inch of your skin differently.
Ever wondered, looking at all the skin-care products feeling completely lost, 'what’s good for my skin and what’s not'? Hence before we go around picking products, try understanding your skin texture and what your skin type is. There are varieties of skin types and each one of them is unique and requires special care. You may suspect you have dry, oily or sensitive skin, but do you really know your skin type? Knowing your true skin type can help the next time you’re in the cosmetics aisle. In fact, using the wrong products, or even popularized Internet hacks for your skin type, could worsen acne, dryness or other skin problems.
Building a daily skin-care routine for all skin types
No matter what your skin type is, a daily skin-care routine can help you maintain overall skin health, and improve specific concerns like acne, scarring and dark spots. A daily skin-care routine has four basic steps you can do once in the morning and once before you sleep. The most popular and basic skin-care routine for all skin types is the CTM Method.
Cleanser: Choose a cleanser that doesn’t leave your skin tight after washing. Clean your face no more than twice a day, or just once if you have dry skin, and don’t wear makeup. Avoid washing for that squeaky-clean feeling because that means your skin’s natural oils are gone. Wash your face using circular motions for about 60 seconds, not more not less.
Toner: An alcohol toner will help calm your skin, tone it and close pores. While choosing a toner make sure the ingredients in it help your skin type. Depending on the toner, it also can contain acids, glycerine, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatories. Toners with green tea extracts are great for acne-prone skin while toners with hyaluronic acid are great for hydration and glow. Take a cotton pad and right after cleansing apply the toner all over the face excluding the eyes.
Moisturizers: Moisturizers help in retaining and adding hydration to your skin as well as lock and protect the top layer. Be it oily skin or Sahara Desert dry skin, every skin type requires different levels of hydration and moisturization. Oily skin types can go for gel-based moisturizers, while dry skin types can use a cream-based moisturizer that’s thick enough to provide hydration and sustain it.
Sunscreen: Apply sunscreen with at least 30-SPF 15 minutes before heading outdoors as it takes a while for the sunscreen to activate. Every skin shade, be it fair or deep, cannot be exempted. Darker skin tones actually need more sun protection because hyperpigmentation is harder to correct.
Start with a basic and simple routine to see how your skin reacts. Once you’re comfortable, you can then start adding extra products such as exfoliants, masks, serums, scrubs and spot treatments to boost your skin’s health, which we will soon talk about. Skin-care is gender neutral, both men and women should invest some amount of time to cleanse, tone and nourish their skin during the day and the night.
Key points for all skin types
Stay hydrated.
Change pillowcases at least once a week.
Wash or wrap up hair before bed.
Wear sunscreen every day and apply 30 minutes before going out.
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