Let's Talk Skin Care: Importance of a Daily (and Nightly) Routine

Welcome back to my blog! Today's post is about the importance of a good routine of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing! On almost a daily basis I hear "I wash with bar soap", "I don't moisturize, I'm too oily", "I don't do anything at all". While some people don't appear to have significant issues with their skin, continuing to not cleanse properly and avoiding moisturizing is going to wreak havoc on your skin!

Here is the basic routine : Cleanse, tone and moisturize. But with what? and when? You're going to see everywhere that you should wash your face twice a day and follow the same routine morning and night. That is only half true. In the morning your skin should only need and quick toning with your toner or micellar lotion (depending on the sensitivity of your skin) or an astringent(with salicylic acid, for oily or acne prone skin). Followed by your daytime moisturizer with SPF(or a separate sunscreen if needed) and eye cream, I like to use an eye gel because they're cooling, soothing and they de-puff and revitalize the eyes.

At night is when you should be doing the optimal cleansing. I always recommend a gentle cleanser because they don't strip the skin of its natural oils and the NMF(natural moisture factor). For a gentle cleanser it is best to use a milk cleanser for all skin types, or if your skin is prone to acne or extreme sebum secretions(super oily) then I would recommend a micellar gel as it is very gentle and great for sensitive skin conditions. Micellar waters and gels do not need to be rinsed, however when using them to remove makeup I recommend a second swipe with the products or a quick rinse.

Why do we cleanse? To remove makeup that was applied, and the oil and dirt we may have accumulated throughout the day. Everyone knows that you should cleanse at night, but not many people actually do it! It is obvious why we should cleanse at night, but some don't realize that by not following the basic routine at night they are causing more premature aging, more clogged pores, more acne, more sensitivity, and more risk for reactions towards makeup and bacteria.

There are many types of cleanser you can use and find on the market, like gels and foaming cleansers. The only time I would recommend a foaming cleanser is for acneic skin to use a mouse that is still quite gentle and  doesn't have a harsh lather, but will effectively remove excess oil and dirt from the pores as well as any surface bacteria, followed by an astringent or gentle toner and a moisturizer. I will have posts about skin types and the right products for each type coming soon.

Some of my favorite cleansers are La Roche Possay milk or gel(micellar) cleansers, Phyto 5 milk cleansers, Uriage Micellar Water, Dr Renaud Cleansing Milk, and even Spectro gel and Cetaphil are good choices!

After cleansing at night,  use your toner or astringent and follow with your nightly moisturizing routine. I always recommend a serum packed with antioxidants and vitamins that are specific to any "cures" your skin needs(anti-aging, anti-acne, anti-redness, etc) then your rich night cream with complementary ingredients to your serum. And of course a rich hydrating eye cream specific to your needs(puffiness, dark circles, aging and fine lines, etc).

For the toners, if you have balanced to dry skin or sensitive skin I recommend a hydrating toner that specifies dry or sensitive skin. If you have mature skin you can use the same type of toner. For oily skin I recommend a hydrating toner or an astringent depending on how clogged the pores are and if there is acne present an astringent will help to disinfect. Toners are necessary in the routine because they bring the skin back to the natural pH level after cleansing, and they prep the skin to better receive the moisturizers and serums you would use. Click here for my post on the pH scale and why it is important for your skin.

I like to use thermal waters for toners as well as a mid day refresher. Thermal waters are natural spring water that have extra minerals that are naturally present. These minerals help to rehydrate and remineralize the skin when it is lacking hydration or it is quite sensitive. Companies that have these thermal waters are Vichy, Avene Thermal Water, Uriage Thermal Water, La Roche Possay. The waters are also considered sterile cosmetics because when packaging these products the labs are all sterilized, the scientist are showered and suited in a sterile head to toe suit and the products are put in a pressurized can (like hairspray) so they do not require a preservative.

After toning comes moisturizing. Serums and heavy creams can be used during the day (usually winter when the air is dryer) however, they work best at night. The reason for this is that when you are resting and sleeping, your skin is also resting and regenerating itself 30% more than if you were awake and running errands and allowing pollution and damaging UV rays to attack it. When your skin regenerate itself at night it readily accepts the products you apply that much better. This is why I say that if you're going to spend the money on a good quality, somewhat expensive cream buy the night cream! And if there's some leftover, get the serum too!

What is a serum and why should I use it? Serums are additives to a skin care routine that are lighter in texture than a lotion and they penetrate the skins layers all the way down to the dermis (second layer) while the creams and lotions only go down the first layer. This is why the serum is applied first and why it is so effective! some of my favorite drugstore serums are the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum, Reversa Antioxidant Green Tea Serum, Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum, and the list could go on forever! My favorite professional line is Phyto5 and they have everything from day and night creams, cleansers and toners for all skin types and serums that can be used while doing a mini facial massage to get the circulation moving and also to be applied under the complementary clay masks or night creams. They are worth looking into and I will have some product reviews coming shortly!

Thanks for reading and please share this along with friends and family and of course feedback and questions are always welcome!

Presley Charlotte :)