When people think of vital organs, they generally picture the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and other internal components. Though they certainly fall into this category, the skin is also an essential organ. It’s the one that’s on the outside for everyone to see. It’s also our first line of defense against the elements. As such, it’s constantly bombarded by dirt, pollutants, UV radiation, and other harmful factors in the air around us.
Because of all that, keeping your skin healthy is crucial. That means developing a well-rounded skincare routine. Doing so helps protect the skin from all those hazardous elements you come in contact with throughout the day. This aids in preventing skin damage, premature aging, dermatological conditions, and a wide range of other problems. Your skincare routine should consist of certain steps, each of which is designed to fight the many threats the skin encounters every day.
Cleansing Your Skin
Cleansing your skin is the most crucial step of any skincare routine. Taking the time to clean the skin properly helps remove all the grime that builds up on it during the day or at night while you’re sleeping. This step also goes a long way toward reducing redness, breakouts, and other problems.
Keep in mind, cleaning your face with standard soaps and body washes may eliminate some of the dirt and pollutants you come in contact with, but it won’t remove all of them. Those products tend to strip away the natural essential oils as well, which can cause excessive dryness and irritation. This may actually leave your skin more vulnerable to the elements.
You need to cleanse your skin at least twice each day, once in the morning and once at night. Morning cleanings help remove built-up oil whereas nighttime cleanings get rid of makeup, dirt, and other particles that could cause clogged pores, breakouts, and dull skin. A natural rose hip cleanser is a nice alternative. It effectively removes dirt, oil, and other hazards but also contains natural antioxidants and fatty acids that can help your skin regenerate and recover from damage more quickly.
Toning Your Skin
After cleansing your skin, it’s time to apply a toner. Toners remove any dirt, excess oil, and dead skin cells you might’ve missed with your cleanser. Those cheap varieties you’ll find on store shelves aren’t the best options. They contain high concentrations of alcohol, so they can burn the skin and exacerbate dryness and redness.
Fortunately, those aren’t the only options these days. Instead of alcohol-based toners, consider using a natural astringent that works with the oils the skin produces rather than against them. Natural herbal astringent toners contain organic compounds that help boost the skin’s moisture content. They also provide a dose of healthy vitamins and minerals to fight the effects of UV radiation and reduce inflammation. As is the case with cleansers, toners should be used twice daily.
Appling Serums to the Skin
Serums are powerful tools for any skincare routine. They should be applied twice daily after cleansing and toning but before moisturizing. Numerous serums are on the market, each of which offers its own benefits while targeting specific skin issues.
Hyaluronic acid is a popular ingredient in skin serums at this point and for good reason. It’s a potent compound that seals in the skin’s natural moisture to keep it plump and youthful. This is also an important element in the battle against fine lines and damage from free radicals. Our bodies produce hyaluronic acid on their own, but they don’t always generate enough to be effective. That’s why it’s so important to add a hyaluronic acid serum to your skincare routine.
The best hyaluronic acid serums available also contain certain other ingredients to keep skin healthy. Those with vitamin C brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of dark spots over time. Those that contain retinol can boost your skin’s collagen and elastin production to further reduce the signs of premature aging.
Moisturizing Your Skin
Skin hydration is the final basic step in an effective daily skincare routine. This measure works with serums to help the skin retain moisture and promote softness and smoothness. Though most people know that moisturization is critical, many don’t fully understand how to hydrate skin properly. While it’s best to use moisturizers twice daily during your morning and night skincare routines, there’s a right way and a wrong way to go about it.
First of all, the skin on our faces has very different needs than that on the rest of the body. That means you should never use body lotions on your face. They can cause clogged pores and upset the natural balance of oil production. Both of those problems can lead to overly dry or oily skin, irritation, redness, and other issues. Be sure to use moisturizers specifically designed for the face.
Secondly, keep in mind that there are day and night moisturizers. Daytime moisturizers should be applied in the morning after cleansing, toning, and putting on serums. They’re a bit lighter than nighttime moisturizers and are designed to help safeguard against pollutants, dirt, and UV radiation.
Nighttime moisturizers tend to be thicker. Apply those at night following your cleansing, toning, and serum regimen. Moisturizers for nighttime use are meant to replenish the moisture you lose throughout the day and help repair damage from all those elements you encounter while you’re out and about. They can reduce dark spots and other signs of aging as well.
Additional Considerations
While you’re settling into a twice-daily skincare routine, it’s also important to keep a few other aspects in mind. For one, detoxing from time to time works in tandem with all those other measures to keep the skin healthy and glowing. Detox for skin includes both internal and external factors.
On the outside, detox products give your skin a deep treatment to clear clogged pores, eliminate toxins, and reverse damage. From the inside, being sure to take in plenty of water and ridding your diet of excess sugars, harmful fats, and processed foods aids in improving skin health and appearance. Detoxing should be carried out once a month and should last one to two weeks.
Microdermabrasion scrubs are also helpful for maintaining smooth, even skin tones and a youthful glow. These scrubs clear away dead skin cells, oils, and other elements that build up within the pores. This prevents clogging and breakouts. Microdermabrasion scrubs shouldn’t be used on a daily basis. Using them too often could damage your skin. In most cases, once or twice a week will suffice.
Keeping Your Skin Healthy Is an Ongoing Process
Developing an effective skincare routine will help strengthen your body’s first line of defense against the elements. That being said, it’s important to stick to that routine religiously to get the most benefits from your time and effort. You can also further customize the routine as you learn more about your skin’s specific needs.
Find the right natural products to suit your needs, and use them in the appropriate order. Don’t overlook skin detox and microdermabrasion scrubs, but use them sparingly. In the end, you’ll be able to see a transformation in the look and feel of your skin.