Cleanse, Tone, Moisturize
I cannot emphasize this enough! I am still surprised that many of my clients don't do any of these steps. I usually ask a client about their skin care routine before I start working on their face and many (about 98%) say that they don't do anything, just shower in the morning then go. Some use body soap on their face while some use a facial wash.
You need to find a good cleanser that will get rid of all dirt in your face. Next, you need a toner to get rid of the deep-seated dirt that the cleanser was not able to get. After that moisturize. You need a moisturizer that is compatible with your skin type. Are you normal, dry, oily or combination?
Go to a Clinique counter for a free skin consultation. Mention me, LadyE, if you are going to Clinique Shangri-La (look for Ms. Bhaby), North Edsa (look for Jonel), SM Aura (look for Ms. Malou) or Trinoma (look for Ms. Elsa).
You can do these 3 steps twice a day. If you need to wash your face more than that, find a very gentle facial wash. Washing your face often can lead to dry skin and you don't want that.
I like Clinique's 3-Step Routine
And another thing. If you have oily skin, you still need to moisturize to balance out your skin. If you don't moisturize, your skin will produce more oil. Find a moisturizer for oily skin.
Serums
Now this step is all completely up to you. There are many serums in the market that target specific problems such as dark spots, acne spots, aging, lines, etc. You can skip this step or find a product that will help you deal with a problem area. Most experts recommend serums to your routine. I am eyeing the serums from Clinique.
Sunscreen
Premature aging is caused by sun exposure. Use sunscreen that has at least SPF 30 to protect your face, neck and hands.
My current sunscreens
Scrubs
There are many facial scrubs in the market. I have very sensitive skin so I prefer one that has small beads that 'pop' or dissolve quickly upon contact. Scrub your face gently. I like these ones as well as the one from Olay.
The best facial scrub ever!
This is a good, affordable facial scrub
You can also use a cleanser such as Clarisonic or the Clinique Sonic Cleansing Brush.
Masks
I was fortunate enough to attend a workshop by NARS International MUA Michael Hans, a few year back. He stressed that we all need to use masks at least twice a week. Masks range from super affordable to super expensive. The Korean brands have been getting a lot of raves. I, personally, have used the ones from The Face Shop, Innisfree and Etude House and they are all wonderful.
Choose one that targets your specific concerns
You can also try a homemade mask of equal parts raw honey and freshly squeezed lemon juice. For PH readers, try calamansi for a cheaper alternative. Calamansi is also known for its whitening properties. Watch out for allergies, though! If you feel some tingling or itching, get rid of the mask pronto!
Hydrate and Diet
Probably the simplest secret to clear skin is water. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Download an app to track your water intake or jot it down in your planner. You can also make a spreadsheet, print it and put it up on the fridge so that you will see it every time you reach for something. Check it every time you down a glass of water.
Another thing that plays an important role to beautifying not only your face but your whole body is having a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables. There are many fruits and vegetables that are good for the skin such as blueberries (very high in antioxidants), tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, grapes, strawberries, etc.
Vitamins are also a key element to staying healthy and beautiful. If you have special needs, talk to your doctor first before embarking on a specific diet and ask them for the right vitamins for you.
Exercise
When we exercise, we sweat out the toxins from our body. The more you exercise, the cleaner you will feel. Don't you just feel so clean and so good after a good workout and shower?
Remove Makeup
Don't sleep with your makeup on. Sure, there are makeup products out there that claim that you will have better skin if you sleep with their makeup on. I, personally, don't believe this. Makeup can clog your pores. You want your pores to breathe while you sleep. You want your cells and your body to repair itself while you sleep so you need to give them their 'space'.
Use a good makeup remover and follow up with your regular cleansing routine.
Other Tips
Avoid touching your face. Our hands are full of germs so avoid transferring the germs to your face.
I don't use a towel to dry my face. I either use a soft facial tissue or let it air dry. Towels are known to harbor bacteria and can transfer wart viruses from one person to another or even from one part of your body to another. So as a personal general rule, I avoid towels on my face.
Use a bubble net. Click here to find out more about this.
Go and see a dermatologist if none of these steps work for you. You might have an underlying condition that needs to be addressed or you might need some special meds to help you get a clear face.
If you are unsure as to how to start, the very beautiful Ms. Elsa of Clinique Trinoma gives this tip:
"Go to Clinique counters and have a quick skin consultation so that you will know what custom-fit Clinique products fit you. By religiously using it for 10 straight days, Clinique claims you will see the (sic) great skin already."
Be sure to drop by her counter for a personalized beauty and skin care assessment.
Stop comparing yourself to other people. You are beautiful, no matter what. Nobody is perfect and the more you stress about your face, the more you will have fine lines and wrinkles and you don't want that. I hope this post has been useful to you. Feel free to Pin this to your board for reference or share it with your friends.
*This is not a sponsored post. Special thanks to Ms. Elsa of Clinique Trinoma and to the wonderful lady who inspired this post.
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