1. Cleanse
Use a gentle cleanser in the morning and and exfoliate at night. (If your skin is super-sensitive, only rinse it in the mornings). Exfoliating cleansers contain microbeads that slough off a layer of dead skin cells on your face. (Avoid apricot shards, they tear the skin and you'll pay for it w/ breakouts later). Or just use a washcloth/ facial brush with your gentle cleanser!
Sometimes, exfoliating oily skin too often can cause it to kick into high gear and produce even more oils to replace the loss of moisture. Moisturizing properly can prevent that. Or you may only want to exfoliate every other day or less. Older individuals with drier skin may need to exfoliate twice a day to stimulate cell turnover. Either way, make sure you cleanse your skin every morning and evening!
2. Astringent/ Toner (at night only)
Now that you've removed that layer of dead skin cells, this wonderful liquid can go into your pores and clean them! (The active ingredient is salicylic acid). Bye-bye blackheads! The terms astringent & toner are interchangeable, but astringents tend to be stronger. They usually look like colored liquids in a bottle and you find them in the skincare section of the store (even grocery stores). You pour a little on a cotton round or tissue and put it all over your face.
If you're not used to it, it can sting! Stronger formulas are better for oily skin, and gentle toners are best for drier skin. A super-gentle toner for very sensitive skin is witch hazel. You may even want to do this every other day or less (after you exfoliate); it depends on you.
By the way, the best pore-clearing product I've found is Epionce's Lytic Cream. This line is usually only sold in doctor's offices- it's better than something you'd find in a beauty-based establishment.
3. Moisturize
Use a moisturizer containing sunscreen in the morning, and an anti-aging cream at night. Use a special eye-cream around the eyes. But this step is extremely versatile. The moisturizer you use is ultimately up to you, as long as you moisturize! By the way, it can take a while for really rich moisturizers to absorb (Up to 25 minutes), but don't skimp on it- just be patient.
*Optional: Acne Medicine
Use a cream and rub into your problem areas only. Find one with benzoyl peroxide for the most effectiveness, or one with salicylic acid if your skin is more sensitive.
And that's it! It's super-easy and it feels so luxurious to go to bed at night with clean pores absorbing my night cream :) I hope you can use this foundational skincare routine to find what's perfect for you, and have your skin be the best it can be. :)
God gave us beautiful temples, it's our job to care for them and make them glow!
