It’s never too late to start taking care of your skin but, equally, it’s never too early. Some people put off thinking about their anti-ageing wellness until the first wrinkles appear, but your skin actually begins to age when you’re only in your mid-20s, albeit not visibly. However, whatever your age, there are steps you can do to enhance your skin wellness, so what are you waiting for?
1. Use a gentle cleanser
If you have oily skin, you need to find an oil-free, foaming cleanser, but if you have dry skin you need to use a cleanser that’s rich and creamy. If your skin is very sensitive, a lot of cleansers may be harmful to your wellbeing, so it might be a good idea to talk to a dermatologist about how you can avoid irritation. Remember to wash your face with cool or warm water, as hot water can strip your skin off its natural moisture and protective layer. For the same reason, when drying your face remember to pat dry, rather than rub.
2. Moisturise
It’s important to use a moisturiser on your face as this will protect your skin, as well as making it look and feel better. Using a lightweight, oil-free moisturiser every day can be helpful if you have oily skin or breakouts, while people with dry skin may need to apply moisturiser more than once a day. To seal the moisture in, may sure you apply your cream or lotion when your skin is damp.
3. Always wear sun cream
Whether it’s summer or winter, a sunny day or pouring it down, a day outside or you’re staying indoors; you need protection from the sun during daylight hours. The rays of the sun can pass through clouds and even windows, so you’re never safe from exposure. This means you absolutely have to wear sun cream on a daily basis, and this needs to contain a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or higher. When you’re buying your moisturiser, you can kill two birds with one stone by choosing one with SPF included. Remember to cover your lips, and to reapply your sun cream all over if you sweat or are outside for a long time.
4. Layer in the right order
It’s completely fine to layer your beauty and wellness products, you just need to do it in the right order to make sure they all do their respective jobs. First and foremost, you need to start with clean skin, and then proceed to apply any prescription creams or gels you might have. In the morning, you should layer on your moisturiser, followed by your sun cream (if it’s not in your moisturiser) and then, finally, makeup if you wear it. In the evening, you should follow up your clean face and prescription cream with an anti-ageing product (if you use one) and then a moisturiser without sun cream.
5. Exfoliate
Scrubbing away your dead skin cells will help your skin to glow. It’s dealers choice as to what you use for buffing, but generally a soft washcloth, spinning brush or a body scrub with synthetic beads will get the job done. If you have dry skin, you can probably get away with gently exfoliating once a week, but if your skin is oily, you may have to exfoliate twice weekly. However, if you have sensitive skin or acne, exfoliating may be irritating to your skin so speak to your dermatologist about the best way to move forward. No matter your skin type, exfoliating too much or too hard can irritate and thicken your skin, so be gentle.