The beginning of the year is as good a time as any to think about how you can improve your skincare regimen. Most importantly though, if you’ve been battling with a skincare challenge for a while, see a dermatologist as soon as you can. That’s what I did eight years ago and it was life changing. I had a severe dry skin problem, and as it turns out, the pricey skincare cosmetics that I was using were overly harsh and irritating my skin. It was that simple, yet I needed a professional’s diagnosis to steer me in the right skincare direction.
Skin types differ and so does the advice on how to best take care of them. It’s a case of trial and error, picking a point of view, patience, and a bit of luck. And just when you think you have it all sorted, things change. For what it’s worth, I’ll share my own skincare regimen in case it’s helpful to those who have a similar skin type.
Over the last year, my skin has been on a particularly good wicket. At the moment, Caudalie products are working very well for me. I’m 46 years young and have sensitive, pale, dry skin. I’m not prone to breaking out, and my pores are small. I burn easily, but tan easily too. My skin thrives in a humid climate. Personally, I much prefer the look of shiny or ‘dewy’ skin as opposed to matte skin. I go to great lengths to amp up the skin’s natural oils because the appearance is fresh and healthy to my eye.
Daily Facial Routine
My facial routine covers my face and the front of my neck. I cleanse at night to remove dirt and make-up. I do NOT use a cleanser in the morning as it strips the oil from my skin. I apply sunscreen in the morning and reapply later on a very sunny day in the Summertime. I use a tinted moisturizer for dry skin instead of foundation, because I prefer light coverage. I do not use facial powder because it dulls the appearance of my skin. For the rest I apply a vitamin serum and two moisturizers in the morning and at night.
Here are the exact products I use:
Weekly Exfoliation
I exfoliate with a gentle buffing cream and apply a moisturizing mask straight afterwards at night, twice a week. These are the exact products I use:
Daily Body Routine
I use a body wash instead of a bar of soap because it’s more moisturizing. Although I try different body washes, body creams and lotions from time to time, I always come back to Nivea because the products agree with my sensitive skin and I like the way they smell (I am not allergic to scents.)
These are the exact products I use:
Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and sufficient sleep also have a positive effect on your skin. I go to yoga three to four times a week and walk our doggy Sam daily on top of long shopping days with clients. Nutrition and cooking are hobbies of mine, so I eat what I think is a reasonably healthy diet. I cook our meals from scratch most days of the week and enjoy it. Too much sun has a negative effect, so I try to stay out of harsh, direct sunlight unless I’m wearing a hat. I try to get good quality sleep, despite it falling short of eight hours a night.
Over to you. Are you happy with your current skincare regimen? If not, how would you like to improve it.
