Skin Care 101: A Refresher Course
It’s never too late, or early, for a refresher course in Skin Care 101. No matter your age – whether you’re headed back to school or you’ve been out of school for decades – knowing the simple fundamentals of skin care can make a huge difference in your skin’s health and appearance.
These fundamentals can be summed up in five simple skin laws: cleanse, exfoliate, tone, rebuild, protect.
SKIN LAW 1: CLEANSE
Cleansing is the single most important thing you can do for your skin, and the bar soap doesn’t cut it. Proper cleansing will remove oil, dead skin and debris from environmental elements. These are all causes of acne and aging. A good cleanser with salicylic acid will help keep skin clean and acne-prone skin in check. For quick clean ups after the gym or practice, turn to cleansing pads.
SKIN LAW 2: EXFOLIATE
Exfoliation can be in the form of physical exfoliators, like scrubs, or chemical exfoliators like alpha hydroxyl acids. The latter will digest dead cells and initiate cell renewal. This will help keep fine lines away and skin clear. Shaving, for those of you that do, is also a great way to keep the skin exfoliated.
SKIN LAW 3: TONE
Toning after cleansing or shaving will refresh the skin and help strengthen and hydrate it. Look to a toner with peptides, for the strength, stone extracts for nutrients, and sodium hyaluronite, for the hydration.
SKIN LAW 4: RESTORE AND BUILD
Just as you need to recover and rebuild your muscles after a workout, usually with protein and electrolytes, you need to do the same for your skin. Think of exfoliation as the workout and a peptide formula as your protein shake. Rebuild the skin with a peptide and vitamin-rich formula.
SKIN LAW 5: PROTECT
Protect all the work you just did with a daytime protection formula that uses a mineral blocker like zinc to protect against toxins and pollutants. Zinc acts as a natural barrier between your skin and the sun’s rays. Make this part of your daily routine.
Now that summer is winding down, and you’re getting back into the daily grind, be it school or work, remember these simple skin laws to keep your skin looking its best.