Cleanse – Morning and Night – Always
Skin cleansing is a must morning and night. Use a gentle (sulfate-free) cleanser geared to your skin type to remove the sweat/oil/drool that accumulated on your face overnight.
A great cleanser at an affordable price is CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser for normal to dry skin types, or their CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser for normal to oily skin.
For your night-time cleanse, if you wear makeup and/or SPF products, you need to double cleanse your face and neck. This means using a makeup removing balm, oil or micellar water as a first cleanse and a gentle, water-based, sulfate-free cleanser as your second cleanse. The double cleansing process ensures all makeup and SPF products are fully removed for clean, hydrated skin. Skin that is not properly cleaned will not fully absorb the products you put on top of it. For some skin types, it can also lead to clogged/enlarged pores or acne.
I currently use Garnier Micellar Water applied across my face with a cotton pad as my makeup/SPF remover. The Body Shop’s Camomile Cleansing Butter is another great makeup remover.
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- Exfoliate
Exfoliation is the act of removing dead skin cells on the outermost surface of your skin. The benefits of regular exfoliation can include:
reduced pore size
better absorption of skin care products
reduction or prevention of acne/blackheads
smoother skin texture
brighter, more even skin
reduced signs of sun damage
potential anti-aging benefits
reduced fine lines
a reduction in ingrown hairs
Exfoliation can be done with a mechanical exfoliant (or”scrub”) or chemical exfoliant (acid). Acid exfoliating ingredients can include glycolic, salicylic and/or lactic acid. You can read more about how to exfoliate your skin and my favourite exfoliation products here.
I currently acid exfoliate my skin both morning and night. For acid newbies, I suggest you start out with a 5% glycolic and work your way up to daily use. If you have acne or blackheads, consider adding a salicylic acid exfoliant to your routine to deep clean pores.
I’ve been using acid exfoliants for over 10 years; if you are new to acid exfoliation, start slow and see how your skin reacts to it. If you experience dry or irritated skin after exfoliating, consider reducing the frequency or finding a milder formula. Don’t over do it; you could end up like the Joker, circa 1989.
If you’re truly terrified about putting acid toners on your face, try out an acid-infused moisturizer. I’m currently loving Neostrata’s Night Repair Cream, infused with 6% glycolic acid. This cream moisturizes the skin while providing the benefits of acid exfoliation for a gentler application.
I highly recommend acid exfoliation for everyone, as tolerated. It will take your skin to the next level and give you a radiant glow.
**Note: If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please consult with your doctor before using an acid product for exfoliation.
- Hydrating/Soothing Toner
I normally follow the exfoliation step with a soothing, hydrating toner. Toner restores the pH balance of your skin (which can be altered after cleansing/exfoliating) and makes skin ready to better absorb the products you put on after it. Toner also hydrates the skin and can soothe irritation, depending on the ingredients included. Look for an alcohol-free toner with glycerin in the ingredients for hydration. Ingredients such as aloe, chamomile, oatmeal will soothe irritated skin.
Recent toner favourites include The Body Shop’s Aloe Calming Toner and Aveeno’s Positively Radiant Toner.
- Moisturize
Well moisturized skin looks plump and healthy. Using a moisturizer made for your skin type will help your skin retain its moisture and avoid dehydration. Look for a moisturizer that includes hyaluronic acid as a main ingredient to ensure your skin retains maximum moisture.
My current favourite moisturizers are Nature Republic’s Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel (morning) and The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream (night). And yes, I love anything with aloe in it.
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- SPF Coverage
This step is soooooooooo important for skin. If you plan to leave the house when the sun is out, you MUST use products containing sunscreen. Always. Even if it is cloudy. No excuses. No buts. There is no point buying fancy serums, retinols or skin creams if you plan to step outside without sunscreen. Why? Sunscreen reduces the sun’s ability to damage your skin. Sun damage can cause wrinkles, skin discolouration and possibly skin cancer. Yikes.
It is especially important to use sunscreen after exfoliating, which can make your skin even more sensitive to sun damage (but this is a moot point because you never leave the house without sunscreen, right?). Look for a sunscreen that provides broad spectrum coverage with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. I recommend CeraVe SPF 50 Face Lotion