I had been suffering with skin sensitivity and was just tired of feeling uncomfortable in my skin. So, I decided to strip away everything and start again. Go back to the basics and take control of my skin. And after a few months of making small changes, I have noticed a complete transformation and I want to share them with you. This is how I take care of my skin at home, that has had my skin glowing.
1. Washing my hair more often
The oils, gels and leave-in products are great for your hair, but can cause break outs. Especially if you wait a long time in between shampoos because they can start traveling from your scalp onto your face.
I didn’t intend to start washing my face more often but two new things in my life made it so. The first is I started hosting a monthly IG live series called Curlfriend Conversations where my co-host and I review natural hair products and share our experiences live on IG. So I am always trying out new products in my lab aka shower.
The second is my new shorter do. Wash days are so much faster without having to work through long tangled hair – I can wash my hair in less than 20 minutes. You can’t be it and I might not ever go back.
Cleaner hair has helped my skin to thrive.
2. Washing my face for 60 seconds
How long are you actually washing your face for? Have you ever thought about it? The phrase “60 Second Rule” was coined by Esthetician and Influencer LA Beautyologist and it is the length of time that we should all be spending cleansing your face.
Sixty seconds is the time it takes to allow for the product to do its job. Your cleanser needs time to be worked into your skin in order for you to get the full effect of its formulation. 60 seconds is longer than you think and my advice is to set a timer or get a cute little hourglass (you know the kind with the sand in it) to keep in your bathroom, so you always wash your face for the proper length of time to get the most out of the product.
3. Switching from physical exfoliation to chemical exfoliation
My poor skin! I used to use face scrubs on a daily basis, thinking that that was the only way to keep my skin smooth and breakout free. And on top of using face scrubs, the amount of additional pressure that I would apply while exfoliating was so aggressive. Thankfully my skin has been forgiving and I now know that those techniques were never necessary.
Once per week (or so), I will use Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It perfects the tone and texture of your skin and gives the best glow. There has been no scrub that I’ve tried, that has given me the glow and smoothness that I get with a chemical exfoliant like this one.
Tip: If you’re new to using a chemical exfoliant, be sure to start off slow to give your skin time to get used to it. Too much too fast can have a negative effect on your skin.
4. Using actives only when and where necessary
Maskne did not miss me this pandemic. Prolonged wearing of masks clogged my pores and gave me the worst chin and jawline acne PLUS the dark spots came with it. It was terrible. I spoke to my doctor about it and she suggested using a face wash that contains benzoyl peroxide, but only on the areas that needs it.
This blew my mind. I always figured that when you wash your face, you must use it all over. But why? My forehead keeps pretty clear and it would dry it out to use a acne face wash on my forehead or any other area on my face that doesn’t need it.
So even now, if I happen to have a breakout, I use my Cerave Acne Foaming Cleanser only on the area that needs it. And when that area clears up, I stop using it, as simple as that.
5. Using products for my skin type
My skin has changed over the last few years and I was late to recognizing it. I was still using normal to combination skin products but my skin is actually dry to sensitive.
If you’re unsure about whether you are using the right product for your skin, the best way to tell is after you’re done washing your face (for 60 seconds) your skin should not feel dry or tight – it should feel supple and comfortable.
When you gently cleanse your skin, it’s less likely to react by overproducing oils that you stripped away. That overproduction of oils, clog your pores and cause the acne you’re trying to avoid in the first place.
6. Double cleansing
Double cleansing is using an oil, oil cleanser or balm as your first pass to remove makeup and sunscreen before going straight in with your cleanser. There are many products on the market that are formulated to do this but I use straight up oil that you can purchase from anywhere. And my oil of choice at the moment, is avocado oil. I take a bit of it into my hands and work it all over my face and it easily breaks down the makeup – foundation, mascara and lipstick. No need to scrub your face a thousand times. And it leaves your skin moisturized and soft instead of stripped. Supple skin is always in.
7. Cleaning up my diet
This was a late entry onto this list. Ever since my son was born and sleep went out the window, my dark undereye circles darkened. Or so I thought. Now mind you, my eyes are deep set, so naturally there will be shadows cast under my eyes, but lately I’ve noticed that my dark circles aren’t as dark as they used to be. And it definitely isn’t because I’m getting more sleep. The only thing that has changed is my diet. I have been super focused on my health and have been eating clean and that new diet has manifested itself into better skin.
And that’s it, I am no dermatologist or professional, but these are the changes I’ve made in my skincare routine, that have shown me tremendous results. And I love it because the changes are simple and helpful for anyone to try.
With Love & Confidence,
