The Beginners Guide to Skincare

Figuring out a skincare routine can be challenging if you don't know where to start. Here are the key steps to creating your own skincare regime!

DAILY

Cleanse

Cleanse your skin every night before bed! Get into the habit of removing your makeup and cleansing off the day's sweat, toxins and pollution. Skipping your nightly wash can lead to acne, wrinkles and dull skin.

Hydrate

After cleansing, apply a moisturizer to rehydrate your skin. Moisturizing is super important for all skin types, even oily skin. Cleansing your skin removes dirt and bacteria, but it can also strip your skin of it's natural oils. If you have oilier skin and opt out of moisturizing, your skin could begin overcompensating by producing more even more oil due to lack of moisturizing.

Protect

Sunscreen is so important, even during the winter! It protects your skin from UV radiation, premature aging and helps to prevent skin cancer. While using higher SPFs are essential during summer months, lower SPFs can be used during the winter.

WEEKLY

Exfoliate

Exfoliating helps remove dead, lifeless skin cells. When we are younger, our skin naturally exfoliates every week on it's own (this is why children and babies have such naturally soft skin). As we age, the natural exfoliation process slows down to approximately once a month in early adulthood. In our later years, it begins to slow down even more. Exfoliating once or twice a week will help your skin shed those dead skin cells quicker, resulting in smoother, glowing skin! It will also help all of your other products penetrate deeper. Be careful not to over exfoliate however, as you will end up doing more harm than good.

Treat

After exfoliating, treat your skin to a mask weekly as an added boost. Masks are a great way to address any skin care issues. From acne-reducing masks, to hydration masks, to anti aging masks, there's skincare masks for just about every skin concern! Using a mask weekly will help keep your skin feeling replenished and rejuvenated.

Makeup Brushes

While it's recommended to clean your makeup brushes after every use, it's also good practice to give them a deep cleanse weekly. I love using baby shampoo to wash my makeup brushes as it is very gentle and keeps the bristles in place!

MONTHLY

Professional Facials

If you get professional facials, once a month is the recommended frequency (unless otherwise discussed with your esthetician). Monthly facials can be beneficial because estheticians can use stronger products to treat your skin than any of the over-the-counter products you buy at a store. They can also analyze your skin and help ensure you are using the correct products to achieve your skincare goals.

In addition to following the skincare steps above, remember that how we treat ourselves can also take a toll on the skin. Dehydration, stress and lack of sleep can all show itself on our face in the form of fine lines, wrinkles and dryness. Take care of yourself and your skin will thank you!

Bre Monique Artistry