We’re all on our individual skincare journeys. Some of us are a bit further than others. If you’re unsure about the basics when it comes to skincare, then this is for you. Remember, skincare does not have to be complicated, unless you want it to be, but oftentimes less is more!
In a nutshell, the fundamentals of skincare are:
Cleansing
Moisturising
Protecting
Why Cleansing is Important
Let’s talk about cleansing. This is going to be KEY, if you want to achieve healthy skin. A blank canvas is best when creating a piece of art, the same goes for your skin. Every other step in your skincare routine, and every fancy product that you buy will be wasted if your skin has not been properly cleansed.
Why do we need to cleanse our skin?
Well first of all, haven’t you heard that cleanliness is next to godliness?...Okay, just playing, but seriously, keeping your skin clean is going to make you feel a whole lot better about yourself because your skin will be refreshed.
Aside from that, the main reason really is that your skin is like a machine, it’s the largest organ that you have, and it’s constantly at work, producing new skin cells and shedding old ones. Add to the mix the sweat that you may be producing at night when you sleep, when you’re rushing to get to work in the morning, or when you’re working hard at the gym. Then there’s environmental pollution from outside that fills your pores with dirt and debris. All of this, mixed with your natural sebum could mean more spots, breakouts and skin irritations.
If your skin isn’t properly cleansed and your pores are filled with all sorts (like yesterday’s makeup that you didn’t remove properly), then when you go to apply any other skincare products, this will hinder the results that you’re looking for as the products will not be able to penetrate as well as they should.
Always make sure that you wash your face every evening before you get into bed!
Why you Should be Moisturising
Moisturising (and hydrating too) is what’s going to keep your skin happy! As we previously mentioned, your skin is an organ and it sure does need maintenance for it to function effectively. Your skin barrier is there to protect your body from harmful substances. When your barrier is compromised, you’re more prone to sensitivity, irritations and skin infections. This is why moisturising is so important. Lotions, creams, oils and balms can help to feed the skin barrier and also form a protective layer for the skin. You’ll find that your skin looks better and healthier when moisturised and more youthful too.
Why you Should Protect your Skin and How
This is such a crucial step that people often overlook or ignore. You absolutely must be protecting your skin with sunscreen. Every. Single. Day. Unless you’re indoors and not in any direct sunlight. It doesn’t matter what season it is. It is a myth that sunscreen should only be worn during the summer. SPF works as a shield or absorbent for your skin, to protect it from UV rays that ultimately cause damage such as premature aging, brown spots, fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Most importantly it will help reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.
Putting all 3 of these steps into practice on a daily basis will help you on your journey to healthy skin. Once you have these in place you can look at incorporating other skincare products and adding extra steps into your routine.