Although you may believe that you have dry, oily, or sensitive skin, do you truly know? Knowing your genuine skin type can help you shop for cosmetics the next time you’re in the store. In reality, using the wrong products for your skin type — or even famous Internet tips — can exacerbate acne, dryness, and other skin issues.
How to create your own skin care regimen
Which DIY skin hacks aren’t healthy, even if they seem to work, how to treat certain skin conditions like acne or scarring which DIY skin hacks aren’t healthy, even if they seem to work.
Building a daily skin care routine
A daily skin care programme can help you maintain general skin health and alleviate particular concerns like acne, scars, and dark spots, regardless of your skin type. A daily skin care routine consists of four essential stages that should be completed once in the morning and once before bedtime.
1. Cleansing: Choose a cleanser that doesn’t leave your skin tight after washing. Clean your face no more than twice a day, or just once, if you have dry skin and don’t wear makeup. Avoid washing for that squeaky-clean feeling because that means your skin’s natural oils are gone. Cleansers known to work well for all skin types include Cetaphil and Banila Clean It Zero Sherbet Cleanser.
2. Serums: A serum with vitamin C or growth factors or peptides would be better in the morning, under sunscreen. At night, retinol or prescription retinoids work best. Makeup Artist’s Choice has an effective vitamin C and E serum and retinol available.
3. Moisturizer: Even oily skin needs moisturizer, but use one that is lightweight, gel-based, and non-comedogenic, or doesn’t block your pores, like CeraVe’s facial lotion. Dry skin may benefit from more cream-based moisturizers like MISSHA Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream. Most brands will label their products as gel or cream on their packaging.
4. Sunscreen: Apply sunscreen with at least 30 SPF 15 minutes before heading outdoors, as it takes a while for sunscreen to activate. Darker skin tones actually need more sun protection because hyperpigmentation is harder to correct. Try EltaMD’s sunscreen, which offers broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Suitable for all skin types
Keep yourself hydrated.
At least once a week, change your pillowcases.
Before going to bed, wash or wrap your hair.
Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before heading out every day.
To test how your skin reacts, start with a basic and uncomplicated routine. You can then add other products like exfoliants, masks, and spot treatments to increase your skin’s health if you’re comfortable.
Also, remember to patch test new products, especially if you have sensitive skin. This can aid in the detection of allergic reactions.
DIY Hacks to avoid
For typical skin concerns like acne pimples and dark patches, people claim that DIY remedies like lemon juice and toothpaste work miracles. Even Oscar winner Emma Stone claims that baking soda is her skin care secret. However, because these techniques might damage your skin’s barrier, they may cause more long-term harm than good.
Avoid these do-it-yourself blunders
Lemon juice: While it contains citric acid, it is far too acidic and might create dark spots following sun exposure. It might also cause your skin to become dry and irritated.
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) Baking soda, with a pH of 8, will stress your skin, severely reduce your skin’s water content, and produce dry skin.
Garlic: Garlic, when eaten raw, can cause skin allergies, eczema, and other skin conditions.
Toothpaste: While toothpaste’s chemicals destroy bacteria and absorb oil, they can also dry up or irritate your skin.
Sugar: Sugar is too harsh for the skin on your face as an exfoliator.
Vitamin E: Applying vitamin E to your skin can irritate it, and it hasn’t been proven to improve scar look.
Although some of these substances are natural and inexpensive, they are not tailored for your skin. Even if you don’t experience any obvious negative effects, some substances can cause long-term or delayed harm. It’s important to utilise cosmetics designed specifically for your face. Before attempting DIY skin care, consult your doctor or dermatologist.
When to see a doctor or dermatologist
If your skin problems do not improve with over-the-counter products, you should contact a dermatologist. Prescription treatment for more severe acne, scarring, or other issues may be required, such as oral antibiotics, birth control, or topical prescription retinoids.
For deeper cysts or acne patches lodged beneath your skin, your dermatologist may conduct an extraction.
Keep in mind that the way goods perform depends on your skin type. Even when using a natural product, using the wrong one might cause breakouts, pimples, and redness.
It’s crucial to figure out your skin type and tailor your skin care routine accordingly. You can also take notes on product ingredients to determine if any of them are producing allergic reactions on your skin.
After cleansing your face, look for products that include these substances and incorporate them into your routine.
