My daily skincare routine is simple but very efficient. If you are like me and only rely on natural products, then you may be familiar with spending hours looking for the perfect product that is natural but also works.
I remember being in college, dealing with hormonal acne and zero knowledge, and being so confused! So hopefully this blog will clarify some of your doubts and help you craft the perfect skincare regime for you.
1) Cleanser
An evening skincare routine should always start with a cleanser; its use in the mornings is optional. If you have dry/sensitive skin only use the cleanser once a day.
A cleanser’s job is to remove dirt, sweat, makeup, excess oil, and pollutants. The cleanser does not stay on the skin for longer than a few minutes, and as such its skin care benefits are very minor. However, it is important to avoid cleansers with harsh surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate, since they can dehydrate the skin and often irritate it and exacerbate any skin condition, including acne. Nairian cleanser uplifts and revitalises your skin, leaving it soft and moisturised.
Use the cleanser to dissolve any makeup, excess oil and impurities accumulated throughout the day. Proceed with a small amount of the cleanser of your choice on damp skin, massaging the product in upwards motion until the makeup and impurities are dissolved. Wash your face with lukewarm water or remove it with a face cloth, a wipe, or a facial sponge.
2) Toner
A little tougher to explain is the toner. The outdated explanation was that a toner will balance the skin’s pH (aka acidity level, the skin’s optimal pH is a touch below 5), and close the pores following a cleansing. Well formulated cleansers do not disrupt the skin’s pH, and pores cannot be ‘closed’, however, an astringent ingredient can tighten the skin a little bit, which will temporarily reduce pore-size.
A good toner will be lightly hydrating, could be used throughout the day to refresh the skin and makeup, and could even replace a moisturiser for oily skin types during the summer months. It is important to avoid toners that contain alcohol since they can be extremely sensitizing and dehydrating. In the morning, a toner could be applied with a cotton pad, instead of cleanser – this way removing excess sebum and sweat from the skin. Throughout the day, and in the evening following a cleansing, the toner can just be sprayed directly onto the skin. The Nairian Toner is alcohol-free, and the rose water and cucumber extract help calm and soothe your skin.
3) Moisturisers
A moisturiser’s primary task is to hydrate and protect the skin, ideally with occlusive ingredients (ingredients that will prevent water from evaporating from the skin), humectants (ingredients that will absorb moisture from the air), and emollients (create a protective film over the skin and fill in the gaps between the skin cells). Moisturised skin is healthier, and therefore it is less likely to over or under-produce oil or become easily irritated.
A moisturiser should be massaged into the cleansed skin in upward motions, ideally every morning and night. Nairian has a large selection of handcrafted moisturisers, with unique properties to suit all skin types and conditions.
4) Exfoliant
Lastly, let’s talk about exfoliants. Exfoliants are products that remove dead skin cells, allowing moisturising ingredients to be absorbed faster and speeding up the elimination of scarring and clogged pores.
There are two main types of exfoliants: beaded physical exfoliants, and acid-based chemical exfoliants. Physical exfoliants are gels or creams that also contain some sort of beads that physically dislodge the dead skin cells. Those kinds of exfoliants can often be too harsh on facial skin and should be used with caution. Badly formulated physical exfoliants can cause micro-tears to the skin, and exacerbate sensitivity and acne. If one does choose to use a physical exfoliant, it should be used 2-4 times a week, following a cleanser, and it should never feel like it is scratching the skin. Exfoliating cloths are also an excellent option for physical exfoliation.
The modern skin care community heavily leans in favour of chemical exfoliants, like glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid. These provide a more gentle, comprehensive exfoliation, and often have additional benefits (lactic acid is hydrating, while salicylic acid is anti-bacterial). The ways chemical exfoliants can be used are extremely varied, and a lot of research should be done into each type of acid before choosing this route. It is extremely important to use sunscreen when using chemical exfoliants since they make the skin more photosensitive.
Do you think I missed anything? Please share what your daily skincare routine looks like. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section.
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