28: NEW GLOW, WHO DIS?: SKINCARE FOR THE NEW YEAR
What better way to start the new year than with clear, fresh skin? Especially after the stressful rollercoaster ride that was 2020. Stress and anxiety are prime culprits in changing the proteins in your skin leading to dryness, breakouts, and wrinkles. So while a successful skin routine requires consistent esthetic care, it is also about feeling good in your body, inside and out.
Once I started to approach my skin care routine as part of a greater whole, I finally started to see reliable results. My own skin has benefitted from less dairy, more water, and some Vitamin D supplements. Your relationship with your body, and your skin, is deeply personal and has different needs. I’ll let you in on some of my favorite skin care tips and tricks, but keep in mind that your skin may respond differently. Finding the right skin care routine should, hopefully, be a fun, experimental process in listening to your body and applying that insight. What better time to start than now?
Find out what type of skin you have
First and foremost, before you begin crafting your specialized skin care routine, it is vital to find out what type of skin you have so you can know how to best heal it. The easiest way to do this is through a blot test. Gently pat a sheet of blotting paper on different areas of your face and hold it up to the light to see what areas are picking up oil and how much. Designate different papers for your T-zone, cheeks, and chin. “If the sheet picked up little to no oil, you most likely have dry skin. If the blotting sheet reveals oil from the forehead and nose areas, your skin is normal/combination. Finally, if the blotting paper is saturated with oil, it is extremely likely that you have oily skin.” I have normal/combination skin since the blotting paper only picks up oil around my forehead and nose.
Get to know your products
Now that you know more about your skin type you can look for products that are made to treat your skin’s specific conditions. We feed our skin with what we put on it so I highly recommend acquainting yourself closely with the ingredients listed in the products you choose. I opt to buy my products from vegan and organic brands like Origins and Deciem. Not only are these wallet-friendly options, but I can go to bed assured that what my skin absorbs is fresh and compliments its natural nutrients.
Keep it Simple
Cleanse, tone, moisturize and repeat. Although your skin type might dictate the type of products you use, I advise keeping your routine simple and easy to integrate into your daily routine. The foundation to healthier skin is built on cleansing your skin from impurities, dirt, and bacteria without stripping away its natural nutrients. For this reason I advise sticking to a gentle everyday cleanser and having another exfoliating cleanser to use once a week. Tone your skin to open your pores and then seal in that moisture with a gentle cream for day (with SPF) and night that moisturizes with natural ingredients like jojoba, ginzeng, and vitamin C. Ultimately, your skin responds best to care and consistency. Although capitalism and a billion dollar beauty industry try to convince us otherwise, you can achieve effective results with only a handful of staple products. Looking through endless products and reviews online can be daunting so take it one step at a time, find brands that you trust, and incorporate it into your daily routine so it becomes your favorite new self-care habit!
Piece of the Puzzle
The skin is the largest human organ, it protects us from bacteria, UV rays, temperature and several other external factors making it a high priority for our survival. However, it is also only one piece of the bigger picture of holistic physical, mental, and emotional health. Nutrition and diet, water consumption, hours of sleep, stress levels all affect the health and elasticity of our skin. I advise approaching your skin care routine as part of your greater wellness practice.
Check in with your skin every now and then to make adjustments or additions to your routine. If you’re spending more time in front of a screen these days then you might want to invest in an under eye cream, if your mask is causing a build of oil around your nose then bump up your exfoliator to twice a week. Our skin and its needs change over time, so taking the necessary time now to best identify its needs is a lifetime investment in your body and overall well being. Because ultimately when your skin is happy, so is your body and when your body is awake and healthy, anything is possible!
