skin care basics

Recently I was talking with someone who said they wash their face with dial bar soap lol to which I said, "noooo that's so bad for your skin !" Granted, this someone was an adult man but still...it's no good =] I get it though, who has time and energy to use multiple products morning and night? Skin care routine? Sounds a bit excessive! Well it's time to say goodbye to that attitude and start taking care of your skin (the largest organ on your body)!
Disclaimer: I'm not an expert, just ocd about skin stuff because mine's sho~ sensitive! ;]

source-nomoredirtylooks.com

Step 1: Cleanse 
The reason why I advise against bar soap is because the common ones contain some bad ingredients that strip the skin and cause irritation. A couple of these ingredients include SLS (sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate) which are both commonly found cleansing agents, Triclosan (an anti-bacterial that kills all the good germs), and Fragrance/Parfum (unnecessary and highly irritating). Look for products made from coconut and vegetable based soap that are fragrance free ('unscented' means chemicals are used to mask any foul scents, so basically fragrance used to mask fragrance -.-). If you wear makeup, I highly suggest using makeup remover (oil cleanser, micellar water, etc) first.

Step 2: Moisturize
I still haven't found a facial moisturizer that works well for me but since I use mild cleansers, my tinted moisturizer is enough for my combination skin (p.s. if your face feels dry and tight after washing, it's time to ditch that cleanser). A general guide- the drier your skin, the thicker your moisturizer should be. If you have oily skin, I suggest using a watery lotion or even a serum, for normal to combo skin (oily t-zone/dry cheeks), try a water based gel-cream, and for dry skin, you may need both a serum and cream especially in the winter months. Again, look for moisturizers that are fragrance free and mild- the ingredients list should be relatively short.

Step 3: Exfoliate
This is probably the step where some of you are skeptical- isn't soap and lotion enough already?! I think exfoliating is just as important and necessary, here's why- when you're a human being living in a toxic filled world, a lot of nasty stuff gets in and on your skin every single day. Of course by cleansing you are taking some of that gunk off, but who knows what lies deep in the depths of your pores (insert horror movie music). Scary, I know. Depending on your skin type, you can exfoliate between 1-4 times/week- the oilier your skin is, the more you can exfoliate. There are a ton of different types of exfoliants on the market, I suggest a mild liquid one (salicylic for oily/acne prone, lactic/aha for dry skin) or a mild scrub if you suffer from dry, flaky patches like me. ALSO exfoliating is important for guys who shave- if you're experiencing ingrown hairs and bumps, try adding an exfoliant to your routine couple times/week.

Step 4: SPF
Growing up I never wore sunscreen. My childhood photos consist of a scrawny little brown girl baking in the sun lol. Now I wear sunscreen on my face every day (spf 25-35 is all you need) to prevent future damage like premature wrinkles, sun spots, and melanoma. Here's a scary stat- Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for people between 25-29 years old o.o Read more about it HERE ! It's better to prevent potential sun damage now versus dealing with cancer later.

I know this post is super basic but I hope it inspires you to take better care of your skin! It's not only about beauty but your overall well-being and health. If you have any specific questions about certain products or ingredients, let me know! Oh and HAPPY EARTH DAY! =D

<3yaeinn
(Ecc3:11)