I didn’t struggle with acne or facial skin issues as a teenager. And in my brief stint as a model, my face was the delight of makeup artists because I didn’t need much work to be ready for shoots. Fast forward to my 21st birthday, I couldn’t keep up with the red, angry zits on my face. This was the beginning of my use of cleansers, scrubs, and ointments for my skin. I’m still bummed that some of the products I used didn’t work because the problem was hormone related.
Between sorting out my hormonal imbalance and eating right, it took me a few more years to finally get back to the discipline of following a skin care regimen. I still fall off the wagon from time to time, but there’s always a basic level of maintenance: washing my face with a daily facial scrub and using a separate face towel from my body towel. If you want to unlock the next level of good skin though, you must do more than my bare minimum. This five step regimen works well: Wipe, wash, cleanse, tone, and moisturize.
We know that sounds like too much work for many of us, but achieving great skin even with genetic advantages requires consistent effort. So, The Lady’s Room is here to encourage you to keep at it using these few tips.
Know Your Skin
The routine may be the same, but products vary from woman to woman. The best products for sensitive and/or oily skin are different from those for dry, normal, or combination skin within or across brands. You may be consistent, but if you are using the wrong products for your skin type, you are wasting your time. Before you buy products to start any regimen, learn about your skin from your dermatologist or online.
Keep It Simple
Don’t add new routines because they appear trendy. Especially things like daily charcoal scrubs, clay or avocado masks, and steaming. Those can be done once in a while as a major treat for your skin, but keep your daily routine confined to the regular 4-5 step regimen. When it comes to these things, consistency is the key to the results you want, and simplicity improves your chances of being consistent.
Use Combination Products
Some products help you ‘kill two (or more) birds with one stone’. A cleansing face wash doubles as the second and third steps in the standard regimen, while a cleansing toner combines the third and fourth steps. You get to achieve consistency while reducing your effort and maybe even your expense.
Use Affordable Products
It is pointless to buy a great product once because of its great branding and popularity, and then not be able to use it as consistently as you need to because of the cost. Do a bit of research to find what works for your skin and your pocket. It might take some time and effort, but you’ll get your best results by consistently using good products you can afford in the long run.
Pursue A Healthy Lifestyle
You don’t have to turn into a fitness guru overnight, but you do have to take care of your body from the inside out to complement your efforts. If you are constantly stressed, dehydrated, sleeping poorly, or eating junk, your system will rebel. All that toxicity will show on your skin, frustrating your best efforts and tempting you to give up.
Avoid Fads
Many fads are based on unsubstantiated claims and the myths sometimes end up being harmful. For instance, the homemade garlic spot/pimple treatment was trending for a while but lots of people got bad burns using it. Imagine doing all that consistent hard work only to end up worse off because of one random fad. Don’t do it!
We hope you meet and exceed your skin care goals with these tips. Please share your tested and trusted tips with us. We love to hear from you.