Perhaps some time ago you thought that caring for a normal person’s face is washing with water. Or
worse, with the same soap you use on your hands. But this is actually the smoker’s approach (and yes, it
kills skin as much as cigarettes). You don’t have the idea of washing your hair with dish soap – you
should treat your face just as carefully. If you want, try dermal fillers for some parts of your face, that way
you will definitely take bigger care of your face (especially on zones with fillers). But it is not at all
necessary to rush to the other extreme: you do not have to start 150 different cans in the bathroom, in
which even your girlfriend will get confused.
Once you start to understand skincare products, it will quickly become clear that it is not so much which cosmetics you choose that matters, but how you use them. The basic care that will allow you to get the most profit with the minimum of effort, as it turned out, consists of four steps: cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing, and protecting. Moreover, the last two can be easily combined into one. We explain in detail what these stages include and what tools can be used for them.
CLEANSING
Many people cannot imagine washing without foam and believe that the result of cleansing should be “squeaky” skin. This is a huge misconception, which, unfortunately, is actively supported even by some dermatologists. The foam is created by surfactants such as SLS or sodium lauryl sulfate. As hundreds of studies have shown, they irritate and dry out the skin, forcing it to produce even more oil in compensation. It turns out a vicious circle: the skin is oily, we wash it with soap, it becomes even more oily.
In an amicable way, regardless of skin type, choose mild cleansers that do not foam. You will be surprised, but with the transition to them, the skin will become less oily and softer, and the unpleasant feeling of tightness will disappear forever.
And if you cannot achieve a feeling of cleanliness without foam, then those surfactants remain for you that practically do not irritate the skin. Choose soft packs that foam immediately when pressed. Among them, for example, La Roche-Posay Cleansing Micellar Foaming Water.
Our favorite – both in terms of effect and cost – CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. This is a soft gel that perfectly cleanses, but does not dry out the skin at all and is suitable for absolutely any type. For deep but gentle cleansing of very oily skin, look at REN Clearcalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser. Do not be alarmed that the skin will not squeak – it should be so.
It is no coincidence that we offer you variants of pharmacy brands – they are definitely hypoallergenic and will not cause irritation. In addition, they, as a rule, are fragrance-free, so you don’t have to guess what kind of pig in a poke you bought, and the fragrance will not argue with your perfume.
EXFOLIATION
Here we uncover a great conspiracy of cosmetics manufacturers: a scrub does not do anything good for the skin. Aggressive physical exfoliation that leaves your skin soft is actually damaging and rough. The circle turns out again: from the scrub, the skin turns horny, and this makes it necessary to use it more and more often. If you have noticed this, you should know: this is not because you have bad skin, it is the scrub that is to blame.
The easiest way to replace scrubs is with acids. Acids are exfoliated not by physical action, but by mild chemical dissolution of dead cells on the surface of the epidermis. The three most common acids in cosmetics are glycolic, lactic, and salicylic. The acids not only renew the skin, making it soft, but also smoothen fine wrinkles, and also fight against the dullness of the face and help the subsequent care to work better. Salicylic acid products will, among other things, unclog pores and get rid of blackheads due to the fact that they can dissolve fat, unlike other acids.
The easiest acid format to use is tonics. You can use them every day, but you should focus on the sensitivity of your skin. Start twice a week and increase the frequency as needed. In the evening, immediately after washing your face, wipe your face well with an acid toner and start moisturizing.
An excellent toner with salicylic acid is Paula’s Choice PC4Men Soothe + Smooth, which will exfoliate and cleanse pores and soothe after shaving. Among the tonics with glycolic acid, you should pay attention to Clarins Gentle Exfoliator or Holy Land Alpha Complex Lotion. They even out the texture of the skin and are perfectly refreshing.
In addition, a couple of times a year you can look into the salon for a professional peeling. For him, more aggressive means are used, but the process is under the control of a professional cosmetologist. If you were looking for an excuse to rejoice in the onset of cold weather, then here it is: in autumn and winter, when solar activity is rather low, it’s time to do peeling – the risk of getting age spots decreases significantly.
MOISTURIZING
Hydration is needed for absolutely any type of skin: from extremely oily to extremely dry. Skin type is determined by the amount of oil produced, not water, and it almost always lacks water. This is perhaps the main misconception faced by people with problem skin. The worst mistake is to first wash your face with a harsh matting agent and then dry your skin with a towel.
Moisturizing works in two ways, but most creams combine both. The first is water retention, for which components such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid are responsible. They work like tiny sponges that contain water. The second is “locking” the water. Oils and silicones are responsible for this. They cover the skin with the thinnest protective film that prevents water from evaporating. Therefore, you need creams that have both of those ingredients.
It is quite simple to choose a cream: the drier the skin, the denser the texture should be due to the nutritional components. For dry and sensitive, a great option is Shiseido Men Moisturizing Recovery Cream, and for those prone to oily and rashes – light Clarins Men Gel Super Hydratant.
Of course, you can use the same cream twice a day, but in the morning you should choose lighter textures, and at night use rich formulas that nourish and restore, preparing the skin for the next day. An excellent night cream is La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Nuit. You can also use cosmetic oils such as Caudalie Overnight Recovery Oil at night.
A separate item is a cream for the skin around the eyes. This is not to say that you cannot do without it, but since you have already undertaken to replenish your cosmetic bag, you should go all the way. Wrinkles won’t thank you, but this is exactly the effect you are trying to achieve.
PROTECTION
When we say protection, we mean protection from the sun. The sun is one of the most powerful factors in skin aging, mainly due to its wrinkles, age spots appear and elasticity is lost. So you definitely need a remedy with the terrible name “Sunskrin”.
Sunscreens tend to be rather frustrating to use and can leave white marks, but there is a decent one among the variety. For example, SkinCeuticals Sheer Mineral UV Defense SPF 50 – light and fast-absorbing lotion for sensitive skin – or La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL, which is available in both liquid lotion and cream form.
If you are in the sun all day, then you need to renew the protection every two to three hours, since the filters are destroyed by the sun. If you spend most of the time indoors, then it is enough to use funds only before going outside. Fortunately, a huge number of brands add sunscreens in advance to day creams. This eliminates the need for multiple layers of grooming. These products combine hydration, nutrition, and protection.
Check out Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30 or Avène Hydrance Optimal Légère UV. In this case, it is imperative to use a separate cream at night, which does not contain sunscreens. Although they perform an important function, they are not very good for the skin.
Bottom line: In the simplest case, you need four products – a cleanser, an exfoliator, a day cream with sunscreens, and a night cream. This care is a simple starting point to get you started if you haven’t asked about care before. And then you can decide which formulas and ingredients to add and which ones to bypass. Don’t worry, we will help you with your choice.
