Tips for your daily skincare routine

Cleanse, tone and moisturize

Do this twice a day, once in the morning before you put on makeup and once at night before you go to bed. This will give your skin a chance to heal and breathe overnight rather than being clogged by dirt or make up.

A few minutes after cleansing, tone your face with toner and a cotton pad. Toner is used to restore your skin’s natural pH levels which were probably altered during cleansing. By restoring your skin to its natural pH, you also make it more resistant against bacteria and micro-organisms. It’s most essential with people who have an oily skin type. If you don’t have an oily skin type, choose product that’s designed to be sensitive. So after cleansing and toning you should moisturize with a face moisturizer for your skin type. This step can NOT be avoided, even if you have an oily skin type. It’s especially important for those with dry skin.

Simple changes can soothe dry skin. Be consistent in your skincare routine. Dry air, travel, stress and poor diet can make Dry skin itch, crack flake and even bleed.

The following are common tips to help you protect yourself from dry skin conditions and having dry skin conditions become worse.

1. Skincare routine

   • Limit your time in the shower or bath to 5 or 10 minutes
   • Don’t have the water too hot
   • Use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser
   • When applying cleanser to remove dirt and oil, don’t use so much it becomes a thick lather.
   • Gently dry yourself with a non-irritating clean towel. Blot your skin gently.

2. Apply moisturizer immediately after washing.

   • Ointments, creams and lotions (moisturizers) work by trapping existing moisture and oils in your skin. To trap this much-needed moisture, you need to apply a moisturizer within few minutes of washing in the shower or washing your face and hands.
   • Slather on the moisturizer immediately so that you create an effective covering to protect your skin throughout the day.

3. Use a quality ointment or cream rather than a lotion.

   Ointments and creams are less irritating and more effective than lotions. Carry a non-greasy hand cream with you and apply it after each hand washing. This will greatly help relieve dry skin. Wear lip balm if you suffer from dry lips.

4. Use only gentle, unscented skin care products.

   Some skin care products are too harsh for dry, sensitive skin. When your skin is dry, stop using:

   • Deodorant soaps
   • Skin care products that contain alcohol, fragrance, retinoids, or alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA)
   • Avoiding these products will help your skin retain its natural oils.

5. Wear gloves.

   Our hands are often the first place we notice dry skin. You can reduce dry, raw skin by wearing gloves. Be sure to put gloves on before you:

   • Perform tasks that require you to get your hands wet
   • Go outdoors in winter
   • Get chemicals, greases and other substances on your hands

6. Choose non-irritating clothes and laundry detergent.

7. Stay warm without sitting in front of an open flame or other heat source which can dry your skin.

8. Use humidifiers if your home is very dry.

 

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