Good skin care is essential, and a proper skincare routine can help prevent acne, treat wrinkles, and help keep your skin looking young and supple.

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My previous skincare routine consisted of a cleanser with a harsh physical exfoliator, maybe some toner if I wasn’t being lazy, and some shea butter. I thought that was all I needed until I noticed skin tags on my face. Skin tags are small, soft, skin-colored growths on your skin. I was mortified and had visions of my grandma and great aunties with these tags all over their faces, and right then, I knew I needed to take action. So, I did the only thing I knew and went straight to Google to do my research and ordered every skin care product on the market. I did it, so you don’t have to. Keep reading to see what I learned.

Benefits of Proper Skin Care

Your skin is the body’s largest organ and taking good care of your skin is essential for overall health. That is why it is necessary to have a proper skincare routine, and worth the time and energy to take care of your skin every day. I have learned that with most things in life, prevention is worth more than a cure if you can help it. Although you can’t slow down the passage of time, with a finely tuned skin-care regimen, you can reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and sun damage. Doing simple things like washing your face, moisturizing, and wearing sunscreen can save you time, money, and possibly your life in the long run.

Essentials of Proper Skin Care

Depending on your skin, your needs, and what you are trying to achieve, there are levels to what would be essential for your personal skincare routine. Bottomline basics for a simple routine include:

• Cleanser – Used to wash the face and remove
• Toner – Used to balance the skin
• Moisturizer – Used to hydrate and softening the skin
• Sunscreen – Only applied during the day

Simple is good, but we are discussing a proper skincare routine for this post. If you want to take it to the next level and address some concerns like acne, aging, and discolorations, then you definitely want to add a few steps, products, and tools. When applying skin-care products, use them in order of consistency. Start from thinnest to thickest. For example, cleanser, toner, serums, moisturizer, and sunscreen.

Steps for a Proper Skin Care Routine

Your skin is exposed to dirt and the environment every day. Gently cleansing the face will unclog your pores without completely stripping the skin. Depending on your preference and skin type, there are many types of cleansers. I have dry skin, and I know that because after I wash my face, my skin will feel tight, indicating it is dry and needs moisture. For everyday cleansing look for the following:

• Oil Cleansers – break down sweat and makeup
• Cream Cleansers – cleanses face while also hydrating the skin
• Micellar Water – rinse free cleanser that contains molecules that attract oil and dirt

Some cleansers have added benefits of exfoliation (removal of dead skin cells) or acne prevention. Personally, I opt for all of the above. On days I wear makeup, I do what is referred to as double-cleansing. I start my routine with an Oil Cleanser followed by a gentle exfoliating cleanser. Micellar Water is good for a quick refresh in the morning to brighten the skin or when double-cleansing.

Having multiple steps to follow can seem like a daunting task. But if you remove the phrase “I have to” and replace it with “I get to,” you will find that skincare routines offer mental health benefits. According to SELF, having that routine may help you realize how easy it can be to do nice things for your body and build healthy habits. “Whether the routine is skin care, exercise, meditation, or any other beneficial activity, the dedication to the method can bring grounding to our everyday lives, which can often feel chaotic and uncontrolled.”

Toners, Serums, Treatments, and Essences contain active ingredients targeting specific concerns. The most common concerns found in over-the-counter products treat things like sun damage, dark spots and signs of aging like wrinkles and sagging skin. Ingredients I look for in products in are things like:

(Includes affiliate links to my favorite products)

• Lactic and Glycolic Acids are chemical exfoliants, which are less harsh than physical ones like face scrubs.
• Niacinamide calms irritation by decreasing inflammation and improve acne
• Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids gently remove dead skin cells that can clog pores, improve sun-damaged skin and minimize dullness.
• Retinoids are a vitamin A derivative that can reduce dark spots, breakouts, and fine lines by increasing skin-cell turnover. They also make your skin extra-sensitive to the sun, so sunscreen is a must.
• Vitamin C brightens the skin and protects it from free radicals with regular use
• Collagen makes skin produce elastin, proteins in the body that help prevent lines and skin sagging

When applying your products, using clean hands is most efficient. Just pour a few drops in your palm, then swipe it on. Eye Creams are not necessary but if you want to step up your pampering then add it in as well.

Moisturizers hydrate skin and lock in all the other layers of product you’ve applied. Nothing is better than pilling on a thick moisturizer before bed to lock in all that product goodness. I prefer to have separate moisturizers, a lighter one for the day and a heavier one for the evening.

There are two types of sunscreens, chemical and physical, and a lot of debate on which is best. Chemical sunscreens use chemicals to counteract the damage of UV light but can be irritating to sensitive skin and ecosystems. Physical sunscreens use heavy metals that sit on your skin and deflect UV rays with little health concerns but leaves a whitish tint on darker skin tones.

Either way, most experts agree that sunscreen is the most vital skin care product, and applying it is a crucial step to a proper skincare routine. To make it easy to remember, try using a daily moisturizer with a built-in broad-spectrum SPF of at least 30.

All Affiliate links are of my actual favorite products.

Everything I discuss here is something I have used to help me. Breathe Chile is a movement to help the world through mindfulness, physical fitness, and positive motivation. I hope you will join me on the journey!