Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.
One of the most common health related problems that many people face every year, specifically more than 733 million, are skin conditions such as acne. It can be very damaging to a person’s emotional development, self-esteem and self-confidence. This is why there are thousands of products available that are advertised to treat it, and hundreds of thousands of guides on how to do so.
Many of these guides would advise you to buy dozens of these products, and the routines can be quite complicated, expensive and are easy to give up on. A lot of the guides specifically target those who are desperate to see results, and some recommend the use of some dangerous methods which cause more harm than good.
Treating and caring for your skin doesn’t need to be difficult or expensive, and sticking to something as basic as a 3-step skincare routine can help. This is the routine I’ve been following and seeing great results with for the past 8 months, I get all my products from Misumi Skincare here, while it’s not the cheapest brand I think it sits a good value versus price ratio.
In This Post:
Cleanse
You may not want to believe this, but throughout the day your skin becomes dirty and is covered with many different things, such as dead skin cells, bacteria, dirt, dust, viruses and pollutants. This is why the first step of the skincare routine should be washing your face, aside from also boosting hydration.
Another reason to wash your face, even if it is the only step you will be able to do for whatever reason, is that when you sleep with an unwashed face, you will transfer the abovementioned things onto your pillow. Tossing and turn, as well as friction, will rub those things into your face and either clog your pores which will result in a breakout, or cause infections.
You will also want to wash your face because the bacteria, dirt and so on will form a layer over your face, making it difficult for any products you use to penetrate your skin.
Moisturize
The next step is to moisturize, and it is very important. One of the reasons you should moisturize is that throughout the day your skin loses moisture, and as a result could become dry, which will lead to a breakout. In that case, you will need to use a moisturizer for dry skin.
Another problem that dry skin could cause would be the overproduction of oils, which will then clog the pores and cause, you guessed it, a breakout. This is why it’s important to know what skin type you have; normal, dry, oily, combination (both oily and dry skin) and sensitive, as this will determine the product you need to buy. If you buy the wrong moisturizer, you will only be making the problem worse.
The best time to apply your chosen moisturizer is when your skin is still damp, this is because it is easier for the moisturizer to be absorbed by the skin. Using moisturizer during the winter months is also a good idea since your skin will dry out from the harsh winds, hot showers or baths and dry interior heating.
Sunscreen
Using sunscreen is something that many people don’t do, as it is assumed that we should only use sunscreen if we are trying to avoid sunburn or if we are planning on going to the beach. The reality is that your face is always exposed to the sun, and it has some negative effects on the skin.
If you are suffering from acne, you definitely need to use sunscreen as the infrared heat from the sun is one of the things that causes breakouts. The sun also causes your skin to dry out, which as mentioned can lead to breakouts and oily skin, due to the overproduction of sebum. Sweat is also caused by the heat, and as a result Cutibacterium acnes can thrive on the skin due to how the heat changes how the sweat degrades.
Another thing that happens when your skin is exposed to too much sun is that melanin is produced, which is what causes your skin to darken when in the sun. This is a problem for those who have acne scars or since those are contrasted by the darkened skin since melanin isn’t produced on those areas. More importantly, using sunscreen reduces your chances of getting skin cancer.