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The year of 2020 has been full of twists and turns and complications, most of which have probably been unwelcome. So when it comes to a skincare routine, let’s KEEP IT SIMPLE.
A twice-daily skin care routine doesn’t need to be complicated to be effective. I’ve talked in other posts about the importance of cleansing your skin properly before applying makeup. And it goes without saying that cleansing makeup from your skin before bedtime is also essential to keep your pores unclogged. But it’s just as important to cleanse your skin even if you’re not wearing makeup.
Think these three steps: Cleanse, Tone, Moisturize
Not cleansing your skin can lead to clogged pores and acne, oiliness, dullness, and dirt. But after cleansing and rinsing, you can see an immediate difference in the brightness of your skin and the resulting radiant glow.
A mild toner without alcohol content is the next step to remove excess traces of makeup or cleanser, refreshes your complexion, and sweeps away dull skin.
Slather on the moisturizer for your third step. Fight those wrinkles! Combat dryness from wind and too much sun! Replenish and plump up your skin with moisture! And if you’re someone who spends a lot of time outdoors participating in sports or just being in nature, or lives in a hot, sunny climate, wearing sunscreen is very important. Whether choosing a foundation that has sunscreen in its formula, or wearing a sunscreen by itself, the SPF should be at least 30.
TIP: Our hands and our neck are very age-revealing, so slather sunscreen there as well.
If you’re over 40, some ingredients to look for are hyaluronic acid, probiotics, ceramides, and anything plant-based.
Some of us who are a bit more high-maintenance might want to go beyond the 3-step process, and that’s okay. An additional step once per week would be a facial mask or exfoliating product to remove dead skin cells for a deeper cleansing. This should definitely be added to your regimen as you age, particularly after menopause (there it is – the “M” word…) because you will find that even if your skin was previously oily, it will get drier after menopause because of the change in the production of hormones.
There you have it! One, two, three. Keep it simple.
