By Kat Eftink
Skin care is important. Yes, I know I don’t have to tell you that. I’m assuming you’re reading this because you know it’s important. It’s self-care. It’s calming. It should be a part of your day and night routines. And if it’s not, that’s okay! It’s never too late to start. Let’s dive into skin care ins for this summer!
1. Know your skin type!
If you take one thing from this article, take this. Knowing your skin type is the most important factor of a skin care routine because how will you know you’re buying the right products? Let’s be real, skin care is expensive, and I don’t want you to waste your money.
There are five different skin types: normal, combination, dry, oily, and sensitive. If you have normal skin, you’re not too dry or oily, with few or no blemishes, and barely visible pores. If this is you, tell your skin you love her right now, you’re lucky.
Combination skin types have oily and dry parts, blackheads, and large pores. That’s my skin type. And without my skin care, my skin gets quite oily, especially on my forehead. Additionally, without the right moisturizer, my nose can get a bit rough.
Next, we have dry skin. You have nearly invisible pores, a dull complexion, visible lines, red patches, etc. Your biggest enemy is heat like hot showers or sun rays. Your best friends are rich moisturizers and humidifiers for your home.
Oily skin friends, you knew you were next. Oily skin types have enlarged pores, dull or shiny complexions, and blemishes. Do not pop any pimples. It’ll make them worse, it’ll take longer to heal, and potentially leave you with a scar. If you have a tool for popping pimples or blackheads, put that down.
Lastly, sensitive skin shows itself through redness, dryness, burning, or itching. The best thing you can do is learn your skin’s triggers and make sure you wash your face with gentle hands and gentle products.
2. Sunscreen is a MUST
You should be applying a nickel-sized amount of sunscreen to your face, neck, and ears (even behind your ears) every day. Don’t just apply it once, you need to be reapplying it throughout the day. An SPF of 30 or higher is recommended to make sure you’re blocking all harmful UV rays. Sunscreen helps prevent sunburn, skin cancer, and premature aging.
The New York Times put together a list of the 11 Best Sunscreens for Your Face of 2024. Some of the sunscreens they listed were Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30, Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++, Banana Boat Light as Air Face SPF 50+, and Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40.
3. Simple Skin Care Routine
Cleanser, toner, treatment, moisturizer, and sunscreen. That is all that you need. It’s tempting to have a long routine. New products are trending every other week, and it’s hard not to succumb to all the adorable packaging out there, but long skin care routines are often pointless. Products might interact poorly with each other. You could be clogging your pores. Plus, keeping it simple will help you stay on track with your routine if you’re just starting out.
Now listen, I am not a dermatologist. The best thing you can do for yourself is get a professional opinion. Sarah Crapa, aesthetician at Sarah’s Aesthetics said, “Sun damage is the greatest threat to great skin. Don’t go anywhere without your sunscreen.” See, I wasn’t playing about step 2.
Since you’ve made it this far, here’s what I use for skin care that helps balance my combination skin:
1. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Cleansing Oil for Face
2. Garnier Micellar Water with Rose Water and Glycerin, Facial Cleanser & Makeup Remover
3. The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil – Purifying Vegan Facial Oil
4. COSRX Snail Mucin 92% Moisturizer
5. Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Sunscreen for Acne-Prone Skin
Don’t forget stress can reveal itself in your skin. So, try not to stress about skin “imperfections” because you are still perfect, beautiful, and kind!
Follow us on social media @ProjectYouMagazine for more practical tips and local businesses that’ll help you stay on track!
