A Skincare Routine That Works For You

We all know that the best way to protect yourself against sun damage and skin cancer is prevention. Wearing sunscreen should be a part of your daily routine, along with washing your face and brushing your teeth. But sun damage can creep in from years of UV exposure, and our skin can start appearing wrinkled and dull. A skin care routine can help you feel brand new, and can also be a way to practice self-care.

Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen!

To drive the point home: you should wear SPF every single day. A large portion of skin aging is caused by UV rays damaging your skin cells. That DOES NOT include the SPF in your foundation! SPF in your foundation does not go on evenly and will not protect you as well as a sunscreen will. Many makeup companies brag that there is sunscreen in their products, but you have to use separate sunscreen underneath your make up to be 100% protected. Take extra caution when you're outside in the sun all day by wearing a hat and staying in the shade as much as possible.

Gently exfoliate

Skin cells regenerate regularly. This means that there might be a layer of dead cells on top of your skin, causing you to look duller or rougher than you'd like. A gentle scrub helps to slough off dead skin cells and can give your skin an even, glowy tone. Some drug-store brands can be found here. It's important to only exfoliate once or twice a week, and extra important to use sunscreen afterwards to protect those fresh new cells, but you're already doing that, right???

Use a serum

Serums are all the rage in the skincare world these days. A serum is not quite a moisturizer and not quite a toner, but something a little bit in-between. Serums are a liquid formula that are packed with nourishing ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid (super moisturizing), or other skin goodies. You usually put a serum on after you wash your face and before you put on your moisturizer.

Moisturize

Keeping your skin hydrated can help it look plump, smooth, and glowy. It can also help your skin function at its best, protecting itself from harsh environmental factors. Skin that is well hydrated is also less likely to overproduce oil, which means fewer breakouts.

Extra skin goodies

There's a lot of other "extras" you can use on your skin. There's tons of face masks available on the market these days, including sheet masks, which use a thin layer of paper to help your skin absorb the ingredients more fully. Masks can also be a fun way to sit back and relax for a few minutes after a stressful day.

Check your skin

While we're taking good care of our skin is a good time to do a skin check. This helps you keep track of the marks on your skin and notice any changes in moles. You should see a dermatologist regularly to get your skin checked by a professional, too.

A skincare routine that works for you

It's important to remember that we all have different skin types and needs, and that we all will age as time goes on. Wrinkles are beautiful and natural! But treating yourself to a little TLC can make you feel your best. If you have any specific concerns about your skin, check with your dermatologist about what your options are. Let us know what your favorite products are!