Your daily skincare habits have a big impact on what you see in the mirror, so it is important to take of your skin. Skincare can be extremely overwhelming (many wondering where to even start), so I wanted to create this no B.S. guide to skincare to help answer any questions you may have. I am sharing everything I have learned from what is the ideal water temperature for washing your face to how to apply each product in your routine.
How Often Should You Wash Your Face?
Proper cleansing is needed to eliminate irritants, pollutants, and makeup, as well as prepare the skin for maximum absorption of potent treatments.
Cleanse in the morning and evening, as well as after heavy sweating. This will help reduce acne and buildup.
Some people say not to cleanse in the morning, but overnight, your skin attempts to regenerate itself, meaning its shedding dead skin cells, producing sebum, and secreting toxins. Be sure to wash your face in the morning to get the most out the products you are applying to your skin during the day.
What Is The Ideal Water Temperature for Washing Your Face?
Water temperature extremes, such as hot and cold, can cause skin irritation. Hot water strips the skin of natural, healthy oils which leads to dehydration of the skin and over-production of sebum. Lukewarm water is the best to cleanse gently yet effectively. It is warm enough to help loosen dirt and sebum without stripping your skin.
What is Double Cleansing and Should You Be Doing It?
Double cleansing is a method of cleansing twice. The first step draws out oil-based impurities such as make-up, sebum, SPF, and pollutants. The second step cleanses water-based debris, such as sweat and dirt.
When you wear makeup and sunscreen, double cleansing gives you a better cleanse. This method provides a deeper clean allowing the rest of your skincare routine products to penetrate your skin better. In other words, this method works more effectively than regular cleansing. For sensitive and dry skin, the double cleanse could be over-drying to the skin. Therefore, do what works best for you.
Should You Wash Your Face With A Brush or Your Hands?
A brush can offer a deeper exfoliation and cleanse, but studies show bacteria builds up on these brushes. If you are going to use a brush, you must be meticulous about cleaning it regularly.
Ultimately, your fingertips will always be the safest method. Gently rub your fingers in an upward motion to get the circulation going and encourage your skin to stay tight and naturally lifted.
How Long Should You Wash Your Face?
Try to massage your face for at least 60 seconds to ensure you are really getting your skin clean.
Should You Wash Your Neck & Chest Too?
In case you haven’t heard it, your neck and chest need all the same love you give your face. The jawline is prone to dirt and debris buildup (hello chin acne) and the neck and chest are one of the spots that show signs of aging. Your neck and chest should be included in every step of your routine.
How Long Should You Wait To Apply Serums & Moisturizers?
To maximize absorption and help seal in moisture, apply serums and moisturizers immediately after cleansing while skin is still damp (after you pat dry the skin). Waiting until your skin is completely dry will make it harder for the active ingredients to sink into your skin and can cause your skin to feel tacky or greasy.
Should I Wear Sunscreen Every Day? Which is Best: Physical or Chemical?
Yes you need sunscreen everyday even if it’s cloudy outside. Products containing a minimum of SPF 15 help decrease the harmful aging effects of the sun like wrinkles, fine lines, freckles, and skin discoloration.
I prefer physical sunscreens. Physical sunscreen sits on top of the skin and acts a barrier that reflects the UV rays away from the skin. They protect against a larger range of ultraviolet light, therefore are more efficacious. Chemical Sunscreen penetrate into the skin surface to absorb the sun’s rays, preventing them from penetrating deeper into the skin where they cause damage. In addition, these can cause skin irritation or allergic reaction.
What Order Should You Apply Your Skincare Products?
Skincare products are meant to always be applied based on consistency: thinnest to thickest. The thinner products like serums need be able to penetrate our skin which is why we apply them first.
Step 1: Cleanse
- Start your double cleanse with oil-based cleanser or micellar water
- Apply the cleanser to dry skin (don’t wet your face before application).
- Gently massage the product onto a dry face, neck and décolleté using circular, upward motions.
- Work from the inside to the outside (e.g. nose to hairline) avoiding the eye area.
- Wipe residual product off with a soft cloth or cotton pad.
- Use a water-based cleanser
- Apply the cleanser to dry skin (don’t wet your face before application). Cream cleansers are most effective with a dry cleanse.
- Gently massage the product in light, circular motions onto a dry face, neck and décolleté using circular, upward motions.
- Work from the inside to the outside (e.g. nose to hairline) avoiding the eye area.
- Wipe residual product off with a soft cloth or cotton pad.
- Use a clean towel to pat the skin dry
- If your skin is feeling extremely wet then you can pat the skin down. Rubbing is extremely harsh on the skin, therefore overtime it can stretch your skin and damage the elastin. You want the skin to be damp when you apply your next products.
Step 2: Toner/Exfoliant
I use a product called P50 that both exfoliates and balances the surface pH of the skin. Use a flat cotton round (reusable pads / organic, all natural disposable pads) and gently pat the balancing exfoliant into the skin (application is the same if using two separate products here). Do not rub as this is harsh on your skin.
Bonus Step: Mask
If applicable, apply any masks before going any further into your routine because you want all masks to be applied to clean skin to allow for maximum results. Check out all my favorite face masks here.
Step 3: Serums
Place a few drops on clean hands and massage in light ascending movements to the entire face, neck and decolleté until the product has been completely absorbed. If using two serums, apply the thinner serum before the thicker serums.
- Daytime Serums: Biosensible, Placenta, SkinCeuticals Vitamin C, Mad Hippie Vitamin C, Complexe Iribiol
- Nighttime Serums: Placenta, Complexe Iribiol, Dermopore, Kiehls Midnight Recovery
Step 4: Eye Cream
Lightly pat the eye cream into the skin under the eyes until complete absorption. Regular use helps keep the elasticity in the skin around your eyes, which in turn helps prolong those fine lines.
Step 5: Moisturizer
Hydrated skin equals healthy skin. Gently massage into the face, neck and décolleté. I use a lighter moisturizer during the day and I use a thicker moisturizer (my other go to moisturizer) at night because I won’t be applying makeup over and my skin has all night to absorb the thicker product.
Step 6:
- AM: Daily Sunscreen
- I use EltaMD in the morning and Color Science for reapplication.
- PM: Facial Oil
- Facial Oil: I use a facial oil at night for extra hydration.
Step 7:
- AM: Primer
- I have been trying out several different primers, but I keep coming back to this tinting & blurring primer from Tula that I love.
- PM: Lip Mask
- This is a holy grail in my nighttime routine, so if you struggle with dry lips, especially during those cold winter months, start using a lip mask.
How Do I Treat My Acne Spots?
I use a combination of these three products:
- Complexe Iribiol – I use this to spot treat and on my chin and jawline everyday during my menstrual cycle to prevent acne.
- Mighty Patch – If I have a pimple, I will place a patch on overnight. You will be shocked to find the area flattened by morning.
- Tea Tree Oil – I use this as a spot treatment.
I hope you found this guide to skincare helpful read. I have linked my products that I use and love in each step, but skin varies for each person. Experiment to find what works best for you and your skin type.
Do you have any favorite products that we should try? Would love for you to share in the comments below!
xx,
Ashley
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