It goes without saying that keeping your face clean and moisturized should be the basic part of everyone’s skincare routine. With our hectic lifestyles and harshness of pollution along with sun damage, our skin has enough to deal with and we should really do our best to restore the vitality our skin loses on a daily basis. And since moisturization is part of every best skincare routine, don’t forget to have a look at our list of best moisturizers in India.
Cleansing and moisturization are the 2 primary parts of skincare, and you can always follow that up with further steps like toning and massage, etc.
Table of Contents
Cleansing
Good Cleanser
The first step to clean skin is picking a good cleanser that would suit your skin type. This is important because not every cleanser would suit your skin type. If you have dry skin then try to find a cleanser with hydrating ingredients that won’t strip your skin of moisture while still cleaning. In case you have oily skin, then choose one suited for oily skin types. Regardless of skin type, be sure to pick one that is gentle and not overly stripping as which can have adverse harsh effects on your skin. If you are not wearing makeup or a lot of products on your face on a daily basis, you may not even need a moisturizer on a daily basis. Simply cleaning thoroughly with water could be enough.
No Bar Soap: Whichever cleansing process you may prefer, please do not use regular old bar soap for your face. These soaps are very harsh and not suited for the delicate skin of your face. They may also alter the natural ph balance of your face, making your face more vulnerable to bacterial growth.
Water Temperature And Steaming
There is a running myth in the skincare community that using warm or hot water opens up the pores of your skin, thus making it easier to clean and unclog pores. There is not much substance to this myth and it is rather recommended that you use mild lukewarm water to wash your face, which is gentle for your facial skin.
Furthermore, you can try warm steaming your face for a few minutes (5-10 minutes on average, as long as it feels comfortable). This helps tighten your pores and hydrate your skin, especially for oily skin.
Scrubbing And Toning
Scrubbing is a part of the cleansing process that removes the build-up of dead skin cells. You can use cosmetic cleansing products or homemade scrubs by mixing natural ingredients. Skincare experts tend to recommend you use a cosmetic scrub as surprising as it may sound, as the particles in homemade scrubs can be uneven and cause over-exfoliation thereby having adverse effects. You can also look for cleansers that have active exfoliating ingredients such as alpha-hydroxy acids (fruit, glycolic, lactic ) and beta-hydroxy acids (salicylic, willow bark extracts) since those act as exfoliants.
Toning is a part of skincare that comes after cleansing. Toners restore the natural pH balance of your skin which may have been stripped away because of cleansing.
Moisturizing
Moisturizing is one of the, if not the most important part of your daily skincare routine. Proper moisturization with the right moisturizer suited for your face can dramatically improve the health of your facial skin. Moisturizing is extra important because it protects the outer barrier of your skin which prevents inflammation and irritation along with helping in fighting aging effects. So, regardless of your skin type, (oily or dry) moisturization should be an unavoidable part of your skincare. Generally, you should moisturize after cleansing, but if you include toning as a step then moisturizing should be the third step.
It’s also important to remember that even if you like the tight, squeaky clean feeling that comes after the cleansing process (especially if you are oily skinned), this is actually dryness and if you leave your skin like that without moisturizing it can have a harmful effect on your skin. Your skin may flake and crack, and if you are oily skinned then your skin may produce extra sebum (natural oils produced by skin) to compensate which may cause clogged pores and breakouts. It is also important to know that there is a difference between hydrating and moisturizing.
Pick A Moisturizer According to Your Skin Type
This should go without saying but it’s essential you pick a moisturizer that is suited for your skin type. There are a lot of formulations available in the market which you can choose according to your wish, but the important part is that you choose the one containing the right ingredients. Otherwise, it is not only a waste but can negatively affect your skin.
Good moisturizers usually contain hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, glycerine, etc. which act as moisturizing agents and are especially beneficial for dry skin. Those who have oily skin, however, should go for moisturizers that are specifically oil free and light along with being non-comedogenic (does not clog pores).
Application Of Moisturizer
Most moisturizers mention applying them on specifically clean skin, hence why cleansing should always come before moisturizing. It is also beneficial to apply moisturizers to slightly damp skin for better absorbency.
SPF and Night Creams
If you are someone who works outdoors or travels during the day on a daily basis, it is highly and strongly recommended that you use a moisturizer or day cream which has a high SPF value (minimum 30). Sun damage can be very harmful and sometimes irreversible.
We also recommend that you use a different moisturizer at night as your skin is in a reparative stage while you sleep, hence night creams have special ingredients and are usually thicker in consistency, thus can provide that extra hydration and healing so you can wake up with fresh, glowing skin.
Conclusion
Our hope is that this helps you in the journey towards achieving the healthy, glowing skin that you desire. Cleaning and moisturizing sound simple in words, but needs proper step by step understanding so you can get the best results instead of just ending up piling up useless cosmetic products on your skin that end up doing more harm than good. Also, no matter what product you may choose for cleansing or moisturizing, be sure to do a patch test on part of your skin to make sure you are not allergic.
Additionally, do remember to change up your skincare routine according to weather and seasonal changes as certain seasons require extra care. If you have further concerns with skincare, like excessively dehydrated skin or oily, acne-prone skin, we recommend getting in touch with a dermatologist to get personalized skincare advice.