The Basics of Skincare : The Basis of Good Skin

There are some of us who are always not satisfied with our skin. We lament its dullness, uneven complexion, acne, oiliness, crinkly wrinkles etc. We either blame it on our poor genes, or we blame the countless products’ efficacy. Everything that can be wrong, is possibly wrong.  

Are we able to change that? Yes we can!

Our skin works in such a way that it renews itself every 30 days. This may differ from person to person. Some are blessed with faster skin renewal, and hence are kept looking young. As age catches up, the skin’s ability to renew itself slows down. This is when we first start to see the effects of aging. And sadly, for women, this effects will start to show from the age of 25.

Here, I share some tips on how to maximize the benefits of your skincare, some little reminders of how we should be taking care of our skin, with minimal effort (it still requires a bit of commitment) and seeing maximal results (hopefully!)

Tip :

#1: Makeup Removal – The amount of time to put on your makeup, is the amount of time you need to take to remove them. Completely.

Take time to slowly remove your makeup. Rub in your cleanser in circular motions and the key here is to not RUSH! The longer you take to slowly cleanse, the cleaner your skin will be. Try to imagine washing a stain off your clothes. The longer you rub in your detergent, the longer you soak, the cleaner it becomes. If using cleansing water with cotton pads, clean until you do not see any residue on your cotton. For cleansing oil and gel users, gently massage in for recommended 4-5 minutes, before cleaning off with a clean cotton pad, before washing with your facial cleanser. (Of course dont leave it there for 10 mins..what needs to be washed off, needs to be.)

#2: Cleanliness – Wash your face at least twice a day, but keeping it to maximum thrice a day.

It is recommended to wash your face the minute  you get out of bed in the morning, and once before bedtime. If you are back home in mid-day, it is key to remove your makeup immediately and wash your face. That will be the 3rd time as recommended as a maximum. Too many washing will strip the face of its natural oil that helps to keep the skin hydrated.

#3: Promote Circulation – Gently massage your face for at least 1.5 minutes while cleansing.

Again, do a slow massage of about 3-4 minutes with your facial cleanser. Remember to get into areas that are often neglected, like the corners of your nose, nose bridge area and between your brows, around your lips, as well as near the hairline on the peripheral of your face.

#4: Keep Clean – Change your pillow cases and face towels once a week

Our skin secretes oil and other bodily fluids through the day, and especially so at night when our bodies are at rest and regenerate themselves. Dirt and bacteria built up on our pillow cases and face towels really fast, so its recommended to change them as often as you will like. Once a week is a guide.

#5:Keep Hydrated – Use a mist spray throughout the day, and drink at least 8 glasses of water.

Using a spray mist throughout the day on top of your makeup is actually better than having use oil blotters to remove oil and shine from our skin for people with oily or combination skin types. We have a misperception that oil on our face is bad for us. It is, however, the skin’s natural ability to regulate its moisture content and oil secretion is linked to having dehydrated skin. Use of a spray mist helps to replenish the moisture lost from the surface of our skin, and drinking water helps to keep our system hydrated, to achieve that in-and-out radiant hydrated and supple look.

#6: Skin Absorption – wait 5-10 minutes in between skincare products.

Many of us buy lots of targeted skincare products, each with a bigger than better tagline. From fixing premature wrinkles, keeping skin hydrated round the day, to whitening and firming, the promised results are endless. Yet, I do not recommend using 3-4 or more products in a short 5 min regime. Imagine our skin as a sponge, it has its own limited absorption ability. What happens when we pile many types of creams and gels on them? Will the many products we use, gradually weigh down our skin and cause our pores to clog up because our skin cannot absorb fast enough? What happens to the products that do not get absorbed? Some tend to react with the surrounds, attracting dust and germs and bacteria before they finally get absorbed after 20 mins, or even longer! 

#7: Pore-Clogging – minimize the use of too many products on your skin for each regime.

It is fine to use many targeted products. However, this has to be done in a spaced out regime where you apply one specific product type, you wait for a while before putting on the next. You will be able to feel the skin absorbing the product, for some feel sticky or wet upon application. Feel with your palms. Apply on the next when it feels ‘drier’ than immediately after applying the previous.

#8 : Hygiene – Keep your hands and hair out of your face during the day.

Our hair traps dust and dirt, so do our hands that are full of bacteria and germs from touching things around us. We may not see them but our everyday objects lying in the house can be as dirty as the road. Gadgets like our keyboards, remote controls, cleaning rags etc. are full of bacteria we don’t want on our faces. 

So, what other tips will you share with us regarding your skincare habits? 🙂