Beyond the face moisturizer: how to have a healthy skincare routine

Learn how to take care of your skin the right way

It is very likely that you have heard of “skincare routine” before. It is basically a series of care of skin, most often that of the face. After all, in addition to our hair, another important aspect of our health and self-esteem is the condition of our skin. However, do you know what a healthy skin care routine[1]How to Build a Skin Care Routine. (n.d.). T Magazine Guides – The New York Times. Retrieved January 23, 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/guides/tmagazine/skincare-routine looks like? You should know that it goes far beyond the well-known facial moisturizer (which is very important, actually).

Skincare

Several questions may arise in our minds when choosing skin care products, such as which ones to use, for what reasons, and in what order[2]Siegel, E., & Mazzone, D. (2020, July 27). How to Layer Skin-Care Products in the Correct Order. Allure. https://www.allure.com/story/how-to-layer-your-skin-care-products. Simply put, a skincare routine should have 4 fundamental steps: cleansing, toning, nutrition and, finally, hydration. It is important to know that the products used in these steps[3]Metzger, C., & Metzger, C. (2020, September 14). This Is the *Exact* Order You Should Apply Your Skincare Products. Cosmopolitan. … Continue reading differ for each type of skin – oily, dry or mixed. In order to help you, today we are going to explain the essential points when assembling your skincare routine!

STEP ONE: CLEANSING 

One of the best feelings in life is having a clean and fresh skin, isn’t it? It is also very important, as impurities accumulate throughout the day and can clog our pores. Therefore, it is recommended to wash your face with a facial cleanser, suitable for your skin type, at the beginning and at the end of the day. And, of course, if you wear makeup, don’t forget to use a makeup remover before washing your face with water and the cleaner, ok?

But beware! Although the feeling of cleanliness is wonderful, DON’T overdo it! If you wash your face several times (more than 2-3 times a day), important components for skin nutrition will also come out, leaving it dry or even causing a rebound effect on acne-prone skin.

cleansing skincare
You should wash your face both in the morning and before you go to bed at night

STEP TWO: TONING 

After your face skin is clean, it’s time to balance its pH. There are several toners: some for acne skins, which act to unclog pores and remove excess oil, and others for dry skins, which have a water-based formula that helps hydrating. Try to escape from alcohol-based tonics though, because they can end up irritating your skin.

Before moving on to the next step, it’s nice to know two things:

  1. Try to use the toner on alternate days at the beginning, so that it does not cause any irritation. If you don’t feel the need to use it, no problem! It’s something optional.
  2. After applying it, wait a few minutes before applying the next products, so that the skin absorbs the toner’s components.
skincare toning
Although toning is very nice for your skin, it’s an optional step on the skincare routine!

STEP 3: NUTRITION

In this step, you will use a miraculous product: the serum. Serums are a concentrated combination of moisturizing, antioxidant and nutritious elements. Which basically means all the best! Some of the most famous – and wonderful – are those of vitamin C, which help to brighten the skin, giving it a more uniform tone, in addition to preventing inflammation, and those of hyaluronic acid, which moisturizes the skin and leaves it super soft.

Serums can be used both in the morning and at night, but remember that you should always use sunscreen to avoid stains and irritations.

STEP 4: MOISTURIZING

After the serum, nothing better than a moisturizer to guarantee a perfect hydration! If your skin is oily and you are afraid to use this product, know that there are specific facial moisturizers for those who are prone to acne. So, no excuses! The moisturizer is what guarantees the protection of your skin against the aggressions of daily external factors. In addition, using it as the last step in your skincare routine ensures that other products are absorbed by your skin.

Face moisturizer
Moisturizing your skin garantees its daily protection

We know that oftentimes our skin ends up being neglected, either because of the stressful and busy daily life or because of an obsession with hair care (if the latter is your case, take a look at the Metro Brazil website to see incredible Brazilian hair products! You won’t regret it). But now, you know  how important it is to have a healthy skincare routine. So plan yours and watch the change happen! But remember to always seek help from a dermatologist to know the best for you, alright?

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