The Beginners Guide to Skincare

 

 

Ok, so let’s start with why you need a solid skincare routine. Imagine building a house. What is the first part to be built? Right, the foundation! Your skincare routine will be your foundation to healthy, glowing skin. It really only takes a few simple steps and the outcome will have you looking radiant and feeling a boost of self esteem!  In this Beginners Guide to Skincare, I will show you the 4 simple steps to getting your skin healthy and radiant!

 

Your Simple Daily CORE 4 Skincare Routine

A skincare routine doesn’t have to be tedious or time consuming. In this article I am going to show you a routine that I use myself called the CORE 4. This CORE 4 routine includes four products that will take you less than a minute to apply. Piece of cake!

 

The Core 4:

• Cleanse
• Prevent
• Hydrate
• Protect

 

 

How To Get Started With Your CORE 4 Skincare Routine

You will choose your four products depending on your skin type. You will most likely fall into one of the three categories:

• Normal/Dry Skin
• Normal/Oily/Acneic Skin
• Normal/Combination Skin

 

Cleanse

During the course of a day your skin is exposed to many different environmental pollutants along with harmful UV rays.  These pollutants build up on the surface of the skin trapping oil, sweat, dirt, makeup, and dead skin cells in the pores.  Proper cleansing of the skin every night helps clear the pores of this debris.  Cleansing the skin in the morning is also beneficial as it removes any toxins that the skin eliminates during the night while refreshing the skin.

 

Here are my go-to cleansers:

 

• Normal/Dry Skin – JanMarini Skin Research C-Esta Cleansing Gel. This cleanser is so luxurious and hydrating that I even use it in place of my shaving cream. I guarantee it will be one of your faves!
• Normal/Oily/Acneic Skin – Jan Marini Skin Research Bioglycolic Oily Cleansing Gel 
• Normal/Combination Skin – Arcona White Tea Purifying Cleanser 

 

Prevent

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant commonly found in skincare products. It acts like an army protecting its territory by reducing inflammation and neutralizing free radicals before they are able to damage the skin. When applied topically, vitamin C is a powerhouse of anti-aging benefits that include firming the skin, improving collagen, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, brightening and promoting an even skin tone. Vitamin C also helps prevents sun damage which can lead to wrinkles, skin cancer, and hyperpigmentation. 

 

Here are my go-to vitamin C serums:

 

• Normal/Dry Skin – Mad Hippie Skin Care Products Vitamin C Serum 
• Normal/Oily/Acneic Skin – Obagi Professional-C Serum 
• Normal/Combination Skin –  Jan Marini Skin Research C-Esta Serum 

 

 

Hydrate

When your skin is lacking hydration it can look dry, flaky, and tight. Keeping skin moisturized can help it appear more youthful and supple, keep it softer, smoother and glowing, and help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles along with giving it a protective layer to act as a barrier against environmental pollutants. 

 

Here are my go-to moisturizers:

 

• Normal/Dry Skin – Obagi Hydrate Facial Moisturizer 
• Normal/Oily/Acneic Skin – Complete Skin Solutions Advanced B5 Gel 
• Normal/Combination Skin – Jan Marini Skin Research Transformation Face Cream

 

 

Protect

By the time you’re 18 years old most of the sun damage in your skin has already occurred. That’s because the sun gives off ultraviolet (UV) light that damages your skin and in some cases causes sunburn. Over time, these UV rays of light can lead to wrinkles, dark spots, and other problem areas.  In the long run, this can add years to your looks. I can’t express enough the importance of sunblock. Hence, the reason for this blog! In my personal opinion, sunblock is the number one product that I would recommend over everything else. My reasoning for that? Well, if you’re spending money on all of these other anti-aging products and treatments but you’re not protecting you skin it’s sort of like ripping up your money and throwing it out the window. After all, we’re building the house remember?  You wouldn’t want to live in it without some form of siding.

 

Here are my go-to sunblocks:

 

• Normal/Dry Skin – EltaMD UV Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 
• Normal/Oily/Acneic Skin – EltaMD UV Clear Facial Sunscreen SPF 46 
• Normal/Combination Skin – EltaMD UV Elements SPF 44 

 

*Side note*: Sunblock is only active for about two hours so you will need to re-apply it often throughout the day. This is my favorite product for re-application because its easy to use, portable, and safe enough for me to use on my kids! Brush On Block Mineral Facial Suncreen Powder SPF 30 

 

 

Tips for Success in Your CORE 4 Skincare Routine 

Ok! Now that I’ve covered the four essential products that you will start your routine with it’s time for you to decide on which products are best for your skin type.

• Normal/Dry Skin
• Normal/Oily/Acneic Skin
• Normal/Combination Skin

 

If you feel like you may fall between one of these types, then just choose the product for Normal/Combination skin.  If you’re wondering what order to use your products in below is a simple cheat sheet for you.

 

 AM                           PM

Cleanse                    Cleanse

Prevent                    Hydrate

Hydrate

Protect

 

Common Questions/FAQ About Your CORE 4 Skincare Routine

• What if I forget to use my products one day/night?

  • Don’t sweat it! Life is chaotic and at times you will forget or just be plain ole’ tired. Just get back on the wagon and start again the next day.  

• Should I look for a sunblock with a high SPF?

  • SPF stands for sun protection factor. Simply put, an SPF rating tells you how long you can stay in the sun without getting burned while wearing that sunscreen, compared with how long you can stay in the sun before you burn without wearing that sunscreen. For example, if it typically takes you 15 minutes to burn without sunscreen and you apply an SPF 10, it will take 10 times longer (2.5 hours) to burn in the sun.  A higher SPF doesn’t indicate superior sun protection—it indicates that you will remain protected in the sun for a longer amount of time. You want to look for a sunscreen with 9% Zinc or higher.

• How long will these products last me if I purchase them?

  • Most medical-grade companies will use highly stabilized and more active ingredients that last longer and take longer to lose their effectiveness.  Many of them also use more involved mechanisms of absorption to enhance ingredient delivery to deeper areas of skin. 

• How often do I have to reapply my sunblock?

  • Sunscreens should be reapplied approximately every two hours even on cloudy and rainy days. The higher SPF a sunscreen has does not mean you can stay in the sun for that amount of time. No matter what the SPF is, you need to reapply every two hours. *Always refer to the directions on the bottle*

• Can I just purchase products over-the-counter?

  • You can find quality ingredients at skincare and drug stores , but they are rare, and you need to know what to look for. Many over-the-counter mainstream brands claim to have active ingredients in their products but really there are only trace amounts surrounded by synthetic additives.

 

The Last Thing You Need to Know About Your CORE 4 Skincare Routine

These are 4 simple, core products that when used consistently will make dramatic changes in your skin.  The healthier your skin is the more radiant you will be.  Always remember, “Girl, Wear Your Sunblock!” 

• Please feel free to leave a comment, ask a question, or share this post on your social media!

You can also check out my post on this skincare must have – the facial cleansing brush – here!