21 of the Best Skin-Care Tips From Skin Care DEPT.
here are 21 skin-care tips dermatologists and beauty experts think are worth following.
SKIN-CARE TIP #1: Wear Sunscreen
As a child, you likely reserved sunscreen for days spent playing outdoors and excursions to the beach. While it’s great that you layered up on those days, it’s equally important to wear broad-spectrum SPF on the not-so-sunny days, too. Despite the way the sky looks, you can still be affected by the sun’s harmful UV rays, which can cause premature skin aging and even some cancers. To reduce those risks, it’s vital to apply (and reapply) sunscreen as part of your daily skin-care routine. Try the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen for Face & Body SPF 100.
SKIN-CARE TIP #2: Double-Cleanse
Do you wear a lot of makeup or live in a city filled with smog? Whatever the case may be, a double-cleanse can be your skin’s best friend. When you wash your face in two steps, you’re able to remove makeup and impurities in a thorough way. All you have to do is start with a gentle cleanser, like the Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water and follow up with a cleanser formulated to address your skin concerns, like the CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser
SKIN-CARE TIP #3: Apply Moisturizer After Cleansing
Cleansing your skin is a great start but without moisturizing it directly after, you’re missing a vital skin-care step. When you apply moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp post-cleanse, you’re able to seal in that moisture to help promote all-day hydration. We like the Lancôme Absolue Velvet Cream, which is packed with SPF and anti-aging ingredients.
SKIN-CARE TIP #4: Massage Your Face While Cleansing and Moisturizing
Instead of a quick lather and rinse, take your time while cleansing and moisturizing your face. When you gently massage your products into your face before rinsing, you’re able to boost circulation and create a fresher-looking complexion.
SKIN-CARE TIP #5: Apply Products in the Proper Order
If you want your products to have the best chance at delivering their promised results, make sure you’re applying them in the right order. Most dermatologists recommend that you apply your skin-care products from lightest to heaviest. For example, you can start with a lightweight serum, followed by a thin moisturizer and lastly a broad-spectrum sunscreen to lock it all in.
SKIN-CARE TIP #6: Cater to Your Skin’s Needs With Multi-Masking
When you multi-mask, you apply different face masks to certain parts of your skin to cater the products to the area’s specific needs. We especially love pairing a detoxifying mask on the oily parts of our face with a hydrating formula on the dry ones. Try the combo of the Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask and Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Mask
SKIN-CARE TIP #7: Exfoliate Regularly (And Gently)
Exfoliation is a key to glowing skin. When you buff away built-up dead surface skin cells, your complexion will look more radiant. Keep in mind, though, that if you feel like your skin is looking dull, the last thing you want to do is scrub hard. This can be damaging to your skin and won’t get you the results you’re looking for. Try the Lancôme Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Ultra Milk Peel for a gentle option.
SKIN-CARE TIP #8: Never Wear Makeup to Bed
Even if you’re exhausted from a long day of work, make sure to set aside time to take off your makeup. When you fall asleep in your makeup, it can lead to clogged pores and potential breakouts. For that reason, you should always wash your face with a gentle cleanser to remove impurities, dirt, bacteria and makeup before hopping into bed.
SKIN-CARE TIP #9: Use a Facial Mist
If you’ve seen someone spritzing their face midday and want to get in on the skin-care trend, know that misting is most beneficial when you use a specially-formulated facial spray. Many of these products are rich in skin-benefitting minerals, like the Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water. We also love the Maybelline New York Face Studio Glass Finishing Spray for a dewy glow.
SKIN-CARE TIP #10: Carry Face Wipes or Micellar Water in Your Gym Bag
Whether you’ve started to head back to the gym or are still doing at-home workouts, it’s important to wipe any sweat off your face post-sweat. When you don’t rinse off immediately, you risk clogging your pores with any dirt, sweat and makeup that’s sitting on your skin’s surface. We always recommend carrying facial wipes like the Garnier SkinActive Clean + Purifying Oil-Free Cleansing Towelettes or a bottle of micellar water for when you need to cleanse on the go.
SKIN-CARE TIP #11: Customize Your Sheet Mask
When it comes to sheet masks, one size does not always fit all. You can make your sheet mask better fit your face with a pair of scissors by trimming the edges. Not sure which sheet mask to try? We suggest the Lancôme Advanced Génefique Hydrogel Melting Sheet Mask.
SKIN-CARE TIP #12: Sleep Well
Depriving your body of sleep can not only negatively affect your productivity, but it can also harm your skin. A study has shown that poor quality of sleep can actually increase signs of aging and diminish skin barrier functions. To keep your skin looking and feeling its best, try getting the recommended amount of sleep every night.
SKIN-CARE TIP #13: Treat Your Neck the Same as Your Face
Becausethe neck is one of the areas of skin we tend to neglect in our skin-care routine, visible signs of aging can start to creep up. To help combat this issue, extend the products from your facial routine down below your jaw. Make sure to moisturize your neck daily and never forget to apply sunscreen on it as well, prior to heading outdoors. For a cream specifically formulated for the skin on your neck, try SkinCeuticals Tripeptide-R Neck Repair .
SKIN-CARE TIP #14: Exfoliate Longer, Not Harder
If you’re trying to give your skin a deep exfoliation, try tacking on a few more seconds to your gentle scrubbing routine instead of vigorously exfoliating your face. Taking a longer and gentler approach with your skin can help remove pore-clogging impurities without causing irritation.
SKIN-CARE TIP #15: Relax and Unwind
A self-care Sunday can do your skin some good. A study has shown that psychological stress, mainly in teenagers, can actually increase the risk of acne. Try some soothing, stress-relieving tactics to help calm your nerves. Curl up on the couch with a good book, soak in a bath, listen to soothing music — whatever it takes to help you unwind.
SKIN-CARE TIP #16: Don’t Lick Your Lips
If you have dry lips, it can be tempting to lick them for relief. Unfortunately this will only lead to increased dryness. To help sooth chapped lips, keep a nourishing lip balm on hand like the Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 or the Lancôme L’Absolu Mademoiselle Lip Balm .
SKIN-CARE TIP #17: Create a Nighttime Regimen and Stick to It
You should be following a proper skin-care regimen at night to cleanse away all of the daily dirt and grime. If you’re a minimalist, a simple five-step routine will do the trick.
SKIN-CARE TIP #18: Be Mindful of Irritants
If you have sensitive skin, products that are formulated with fragrance, parabens, sulfates and other harsh ingredients may be harmful to your skin. To reduce the risk of irritation, opt instead for products that indicate on the packaging that they are either formulated specifically for sensitive skin or dermatologist-tested.
SKIN-CARE TIP #19: Use Products as Directed
Don’t use scrubs that are formulated for your body skin on your face. These scrubs are typically not as gentle and can cause irritation. When in doubt, follow the instructions as listed on the product’s packaging.
SKIN-CARE TIP #20: Change the Way You Sleep
While sleeping on your back may feel weird to adjust to, it’s better for your skin. Sleeping on your side or stomach can cause compression lines on your face and eventually cause creases and wrinkles to form.