10 Skincare Rules To Glow By
Although rules are meant to be broken, so maybe take these as guidelines? However you want to call them, the following are best practices that will guarantee success on your skincare journey.
#1 Enjoy your routine and the products you use
Everything might be exactly right with your skincare routine, but if you're not enjoying it, you won't stick with it. If it feels like a chore, you'll eventually feel uninspired and will stop doing everything.
I think there's value in having a ritual around your skincare, but if spending more than five minutes sounds like too much, don't do it. I think there's a lot of power in using skincare as self-care, but that may not be the case for you. You don't have to feel passionate about skincare.
But it is important that whatever you do, regardless of how much it is, you enjoy it.
Do you enjoy products that smell good? Make sure the ones you use smell good.
Do you like how your skin feels after using your SPF? If not, find an alternative.
Keep searching until you find the products you enjoy using!
#2 Consistency
It doesn't matter if your routine is ten steps or just one step. It's important to stay consistent. There are no overnight results (more on patience to come), but the more consistent you are, the faster and more reliable changes will be achieved.
It may take several weeks, or even months, to see results. Whether you're dealing with acne or hyperpigmentation, there's no miracle potion.
A quick tip that's always best practice: take before and after photos. Before you start using any product, take a picture of how your skin is doing. It's hard to see progress in ourselves, and pictures are a great way to evaluate the effectiveness of a topical (just make sure you're using consistent lighting and conditions to allow the image to truly speak for itself!)
#3 SPF
Need I say more?!
You may have the best skincare routine in the world, with the most perfect products based on your skin needs and type, but if SPF isn't part of this, you're wasting your time and money.
The only reason this isn't #1 is that to actually use SPF you need to enjoy it, and should be using it every day (not just when at the beach or when you remember).
Here's one of my favorite ones.
#4 Get to know your skin
Finding the right skincare routine takes a bit of patience and a willingness to try different things, until you find what works for you. This is because our needs are unique, and as much as companies want to create products that solve all of our issues, this is impossible. So even if something has all the right indications that will work for your skin, if you try it and it's not living up to its promise, don't get discouraged!
Getting to know your skin is important because this will determine the types of products that will work best for you.
If you know what your skin needs and what it works well with, you can make better-informed decisions when it comes to taking care of it.
Skin type will also influence the products you use: from the ingredients, they contain to the order or applying them, and even to the texture and feel of the products that work best for you.
#5 Patience
Nothing is achieved overnight. There are great products that will give you an instant boost in hydration or will plump your skin, but real changes don't happen so quickly. Staying consistent (rule #2) requires patience and commitment.
Certainly easier said than done, but I think that as you come to terms with all of these guidelines, being patient with your skin will be easier. But it's also true that how our skin looks or how we feel about the way our skin looks plays a huge role in our mental health, so I understand it can be distressing and I acknowledge your feelings.
Make sure you're getting support. Additionally, tools that can help cultivate self-love are extremely helpful.
#6 Manage expectations
Listen, cosmetics have limitations to what they can achieve. There's a lot of marketing promises for botox like results, or lifting effects. There's no such thing and skincare products will not give you the same results as a cosmetic procedure.
There's no such thing as perfect skin, only healthy skin.
Additionally, aging is natural. Skincare is a tool to experience aging more gently and softer, but we're no Benjamin Buttons over here. Expect to see signs of aging and practice embracing this.
In terms of skin disorders, there are also limitations. If your skin condition is not getting better, consult a professional.
#7 Don't overdo it (more is not best in skincare)
With skincare being more readily available and more accessible, we can fall victim to shiny object syndrome. No, you don't need 10 products all the time; or to exfoliate with a 20% glycolic every day. You also shouldn't be using more than one active in your routine (unless formulated within a product).
Embrace simplicity and avoid purchasing 100 products. This only leads to irritation and a potential allergic reaction.
#8 Learn to notice changes in your skin
What is your skin telling you? Your skin is a mirror to what's going on internally, both physiologically and mentally. So take the clues it gives you to investigate what may be out of balance.
Plus, many factors can play a role in your skin: environment, lifestyle, products, time. As you get more intimate with your skin, you learn to identify changes and address the constant needs of your skin.
You also learn to predict the needs based on particular circumstances. For example, does you skin get very dry when you travel? Amp up your moisturizer on your trips. Does you skin breakout during a specific time in your monthly cycle? Incorporate specific ingredients to prevent this!
#9 Lifestyle plays a huge role
Leading a healthy lifestyle will also positively impact your skin. All of the following factors play a role in your overall health, so it's not ALL just about your skin.
Stress: there's a lot of evidence suggesting that stress negatively affects your skin. Increased cortisol in your body can lead to inflammation, which in turn leads to acne, premature aging, eczema, etc. (Some ways to combat this include meditation, exercise, being in nature, etc)
Diet: there's a lot of misinformation on how eating chocolate is the cause of your acne. The role of food on your skin isn't so clear-cut. Certain types of food MAY aggravate acne for some people, such as dairy and high glycemic index foods (sugar, fast food, sodas, etc). Additionally, sugar has been shown to play a role in the formation of free radicals (not good for our skin) and the breaking down of collagen and elastin (also not good for our skin). So be mindful of what you eat and make sure to incorporate a lot of antioxidants, fatty acids, whole grains, and leafy greens into your diet!
In terms of acne, avoid placing the blame on one particular thing such as your diet. Unless you know something breaks you out, you don't have to be restrictive about it.
Sleep: "beauty sleep" is a cliche for a reason. This is very real and a lack of sleep will directly impact your skin. A lot of skin repair is happening overnight, so it's important to let this process be.
Alcohol/drugs: smoking is pretty bad for your skin as it plays a role in extrinsic aging and leads to wrinkling. Additionally, it can even make the color of your skin grey. Not to mention how bad it is for your overall health, so make sure this isn't part of your lifestyle. This may be easier said than done for some of you, but there are many ways to get help nowadays and put this habit to rest. Alcohol on the other hand will lead to dehydration of the skin, bloating, and redness. Not saying you need to cut it out completely, but approach with moderation.
#10 You don't have to be into skincare or do skincare, but it can be fun and a great self-care and self-love tool
If you're reading this and have made it this far, you probably ARE into skincare. Or maybe you're just looking for answers regarding your skin concerns. Although skin care is trending and more people are paying close attention to their skin, if you're not into it, don't feel pressured.
It's very easy to feel persuaded when so many people are doing it and saying it's important. But there's no shame if you're not into it and if caring for your skin is not your priority, then do something else!
If you have other self-care practices that you prefer, stick with them. But if you do enjoy doing your skincare routine I invite you to take a different approach and embrace skincare as a ritual.
There you have it, the 10 best practices I'm always conveying to my clients.
Ready for the next step but unclear how to proceed? I made you a Skincare 101 Guide. This is one of my favorite things I've made. I walk you through the six steps to take as you start your skincare journey. I show you how to figure out your skin type, build a routine that works for you, and include a few other cool templates for you to keep track of your skincare journey and ensure it's working!
Skincare 101 Guide Contents
P.S.
These are the 10 most common pieces of advice I give my clients and the ideas I'm constantly reinforcing on them
The only product I would say is mandatory, is SPF
If thinking about your skincare routine gives you nightmares, you're doing it wrong
No better skincare practice than leading a well rounded healthy lifestyle
Manage your expectations