Discover What Your Skincare Routine is Missing
Cleansers, tonics, moisturizes, and, “Wait. Exactly how much SPF do I need everyday?” Developing the right skincare routine for you should be fun and we're providing guidance on the most important steps:
- Cleanse
- Exfoliate
- Moisturize
- Protect
First, a bit about skin:
Did you know?
- Skin is the largest organ of the body and accounts for roughly 15% of your body weight.
- Every minute, your skin sheds over 30,000 dead cells, and renews itself every 28 days.
- Your skin has its own bacteria microbiome of over 1000 species and around 1,000,000,000,000 individual bacteria.
Your skin is very complex and skin on different parts of your body needs special attention., So it’s no wonder skin care dominates nearly 24% of the health and beauty industry, an industry that was valued at $532 billion in 2019. With so many products to choose from, how do you determine which to use and a routine that is best for you?
Your Routine
Your skincare routine, and the products you use, should be dictated by 3 factors:
- Skin type - dry, oily, or combination,
- Desired results - brightening, even skin tone, reduce the appearance of wrinkles - to name a few, and
- Quality - the ingredients
There are a number of natural ingredients you can use to improve the health of your skin. A few of the specific vitamins and nutrients found in nature that help the health of your skin are:
- Vitamin A to treat sun damage and cellulite.
- Vitamin D to reduce spots and aging.
- Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, regenerates .vitamin E and provides sun protection. Vitamin E works similarly.
These natural ingredients should be incorporated into your daily routine, and we provide recommendations for natural alternatives at every step below. Here are the 4 most important steps for your daily skincare routine.
Cleanse
Given our skin sheds over 30,000 dead skin cells every minute, clean your skin in the morning and night to keep your skin fresh.
Starting with a clean face is vital to experiencing all the benefits your skin care products have to offer. Use your favorite make-up remover to wipe away make-up, dirt and airborne free-radicals that have collected on the surface of your skin throughout the day.
Double-cleansing, after removing make-up, is recommended to make sure your skin is clear of any harmful bacteria and dead skin that have built up over the course of the day. This means cleansing once to remove the top layer of dirt and oil, then again to make sure any remaining contaminants are removed.
A natural alternative
Use coconut oil to remove make-up and excess dirt. Rub a pea-sized amount of coconut oil on your face and wipe away. We recommend using cotton pads and wiping until the pad shows clean. Follow-up by washing your face with your favorite cleanser.
Exfoliate
Cleansing removes dirt, oils, and bacteria from the first layer, your epidermis, which is actually waterproof. Using a gentle exfoliator helps break down dirt, oil, and bacteria, and you can slough away layers of dead cells as well. Exfoliating every day will help reveal brighter, smoother skin, given fresh skin is always at the surface.
A natural alternative
Mix oatmeal and whole milk together for a natural exfoliator. The ground oatmeal exfoliates the skin, while whole milk dissolves dead skin cells.
Moisturize
Replacing moisture after cleansing and exfoliating your face is vital to the health of your skin. Dry skin tends to produce excess natural oil to compensate for what was removed during steps 1 and 2. Additionally, dry skin is prone to irritation, redness, inflammation, peeling, and skin damage.
Adding moisture back into your skin helps heal scars, and prevent signs of aging. Your moisturizer also creates a protective barrier between your fresh skin and harmful elements you come in contact with throughout the day that may damage skin. If you use an acne medication, it should be applied before your moisturizer.
A natural alternative
Babassu oil is a lightweight moisturizer that absorbs quickly into the skin. It also helps fight bacteria that causes acne. Combine a pea-sized amount of babassu oil with equal parts water to help your skin absorb the oil. Apply to your skin and let sit.
Protect
Use an SPF every day to protect your skin from sun damage. Exposure to harmful sun rays can not only lead to sunburn, but will cause your skin to age quicker as well. Daily use of an SPF can also help prevent skin cancer - the most common form of cancer in the United States. When shopping for the ideal sunscreen, look for SPF 30!
A natural alternative
Almond oil, hemp seed oil and coconut oil all provide low-level sun protection, but there are plenty of organic natural sun screens to try!
Pamper Yourself
Set aside 1 hour every week for a special spa day. Choose your favorite mask, under eye treatment, and other specialty skin care products and give yourself a facial. The weekly boost may be just what your skin needs to be healthy and glowing! And you’ll feel better after a little you time.
About Pearline's Apothecary
We proudly create 100% natural, handmade, vegan soap in a variety of therapeutic fragrances. Each soap is crafted in small batches to guarantee quality, back to basics with pure skin care products, with attention to detail and a personal touch.
Disclaimer: This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For educational purposes only.