Timeless Skincare Advice

The lessons we learn about skincare change and evolve as science advances and new information comes to light. For instance, how we used to think it was inadvisable to wear vitamin C in the daytime because our skin would become photosensitized by UV rays, but now it turns out that wearing your favorite vitamin C serum during the day is a great idea because its antioxidant properties protect against free radicals, environmental pollutants, and other potential irritants. Wear the appropriate amount of sunscreen, and re-apply after every 2 hours of sun exposure.

There is some timeless skincare advice, never going out of style no matter how many new ingredients we discover or how many trendy tools are created. Think of them as skincare commandments if you will. They are a handy reference guide, anchoring your skincare practices with good foundational knowledge. Keep them in mind, and the rest will come in time.

A lot of people are under the misconception that they don’t need moisturizer because they have oily skin. That assumption would be incorrect. Everyone needs a moisturizer step in their routine, whether combo, dry, or sensitive. The trick is to pick the right texture for you. Oily skin types tend to fare better with light gel creams, while drier skin needs an emollient cream and an even richer occlusive in the winter. Moisturizer is necessary for preventing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and maintaining healthy skin.

Just as your clothes and accessories change with the temperatures, your skincare wardrobe should rotate depending on what time of the year it is. Watery toners and light lotions may be fine for a humid summer but should be switched out for extra-hydrating versions in the winter. This is especially important if you live in a place with climate conditions that can adversely affect your skin. If you’ve ever experienced a Chicago winter, you know how true this is. Everyone should be adding a little something extra during the colder months. Even those with oily skin need extra moisture in the winter, it just might not be as thick as a creamy sleeping pack.

The skin on your face is some of the most sensitive on your body and should be treated as such. Be moderate in all aspects from the temperature of water used when cleansing, to the kinds of products you put on it. If you spent a lot of money on a beautiful, one-of-a-kind article of clothing, you would do your best to take care of it, right? Even taking it to a dry cleaner to ensure that it gets the best care. Treat your skin with the same reverence. It plays an important part in the regulation of many of your body’s functions and should be kept in optimal health at all times.

One major lesson all of us have learned in the last year is just how many surfaces our hands touch every day. Imagine a typical pre-pandemic workday involving a commute. The average person would touch turnstiles, ticket machines, handrails, and other high-traffic areas on their way to work. Now imagine transferring all that random bacteria onto your face with an absentminded swipe of your fingers across your face. Gross right? Every time you’re tempted to touch your face unnecessarily, take a mental note of where your hands have been since their last wash. Only ever touch your face with clean hands.

Hydrated skin is healthy skin, but your serums and creams shouldn’t have to bear all the responsibility. Aside from that, your other organs need water to function properly. One simple way to calculate how much water you should be drinking every day is to take your weight in pounds, divide it by two, and drink that amount in ounces. If you’d like to be a little more advanced in your calculations, you can download an app that adjusts your recommended intake according to your activity level and weather conditions. Your diet is also important, so make sure to eat balanced meals full of essential vitamins, minerals, fats, antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients.

Adhering to a skincare regimen is great, but it may not do you much good if you’re not using the right kind of products for your skin. A light, gel cream with cherry blossom extract might sound like your brightening dreams come true, but your dry skin won’t thank you for that decision. Neither will it thank you for slathering it with products containing coconut oil because it’s supposed to be great for the skin, even though you’re allergic. It doesn’t matter what everyone else is doing, find what works for your skin and stick with that. Exploration is great within reason

Wearing sunscreen is one of the best things you can do for your skin. Sunscreen protects not only from harmful UV rays which can cause cancer and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. You should wear SPF every day. Don’t be fooled by the overcast skies, UV rays can still penetrate cloud cover. Apply two fingers of SPF 50 sunscreen to your face and neck, and three fingers if you’re applying with a brush or sponge. You do need to wear sun protection indoors, especially if you’ll be by a window, as the sun’s rays can pass through glass.

I always say that a good skincare routine is useless if a person doesn’t clean their makeup tools. And that’s because a brush that has been used to apply makeup and left to sit with a mixture of skin oils, old makeup, and dirt is only going to transfer all that residue back onto clean skin, also contaminating makeup products like eyeshadow palettes and blush compacts when the brushes are dipped into them. You don’t have to wash your brushes every time you use them, too frequent washing can actually be damaging to the bristles. A quick spritz and wipe of a daily brush spray will clean and disinfect your brushes, leaving them ready to use again. Clean with soap and water after a few uses, and wash beauty sponges after every use.

There’s a reason why it’s called beauty sleep. Your skin does all the important work while you snooze, repairing and rejuvenating after a day of of exposure to stress and pollution. Without an adequate amount of rest, your skin can age faster and its ability to recover from environmental damage can be compromised. A body that isn’t well-rested will present physically as dark circles, dullness, and dryness without the increase in cell turnover and collagen production. So put away the electronic devices, turn off the TV, stop practicing revenge bedtime procrastination, and let your body get the downtime it needs.

Can you think of any other advice that will always be valuable?

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