Most people are familiar with the basic skincare steps: cleanse, tone and moisturize. Following these simple steps will ensure that your skin is at the very least clean and adequately hydrated. But as we grow older and our skin matures, its needs change. If you want your skin to evolve from just “okay” to “radiant,” you’ll need to take your skincare routine to another level. Here are a few things you can do to step up your skincare game:
Switch to Organic Skincare
Most of the inexpensive skincare products you can find at the drugstore are made with cheap, basic ingredients that may not be the gentlest or most nourishing. Some of them may even contain harmful chemicals that could sensitize your skin or cause irritation. Switch to a brand like Well Within Beauty that carries natural beauty products made with the finest plant-based ingredients.
Plant based cosmetics are all the rage these days because it doesn’t contain any harsh chemical ingredients that could potentially damage your skin’s built in protective barrier. Most organic skincare products are well-formulated with plant oils and extracts that nurture your skin from within, giving it a healthy glow.
Introduce Acids to Your Routine
The thought of putting acids on your face may sound terrifying, but facial acids are safe to use and highly effective at rejuvenating your skin and increasing cell turnover. As we age, our skin’s natural ability to shed dead cells and renew itself tends to slow down, resulting in a dull, flaky or rough texture.
Acids like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid and mandelic acid work by penetrating our pores to dislodge deep-seated dirt, oil and dead skin cells. They then give your skin cells a boost, helping them to refresh themselves faster and more efficiently. Slowly introduce acids into your routine one at a time, starting with once a week and gradually working your way up to once a day.
Incorporate Facial Oils
Many people balk at putting oil on their faces, thinking it will make their skin oily or greasy. The truth is that there is a wide variety of facial oils out there, many of them “dry” oils that sink into your skin beautifully without leaving any greasy film or residue at all. Facial oils are exceptionally good at hydrating your skin and refining its texture to get rid of dark spots and discolorations.
Some of the more popular and potent facial oils to try are rosehip oil, sunflower oil, argan oil and tamanu oil. When buying facial oils, you get what you pay for. Look out for pure, cold-pressed and organic oils as these are of the highest quality, and be wary of brands that offer oils at too-good-to-be-true prices—if they seem unusually inexpensive, they may contain cheap fillers that can dilute them and cancel out their effectivity.
These simple steps are quite easy to incorporate into your existing skincare routine, but they can drastically improve the appearance and texture of your skin with consistent use. Be patient and slowly introduce each product, resisting the urge to throw everything on at once. You’ll get better results and see them faster if you exercise restraint, and you’ll notice your skin start to look more radiant and youthful in just a few weeks.