Skincare 101 : A Comprehensive Guide to Protecting Your Skin

Since the beginning of the selfie era where things were done, as the millennials would put it, for the ‘gram – there has been a spike in consciousness towards skincare. After all, we celebrate the ‘no makeup’ makeup look and wear the No Filter hashtag proudly like badges. In the simplest terms : whether it was for the likes or to save oneself from having to put on all sorts of products until a ‘flawless’ look is achieved, great skin became an “it” thing. 

If you are one of the few who did not hop on to the skincare bandwagon and remain clueless up to this day as to how it should be done – worry not as you have come to the right place! In this comprehensive guide, we will be giving you a dummy proof manual to getting started with your skincare journey. While it may seem like a lot of work, you would be surprised to know that protecting your skin can be as simple as choosing lotion with sunscreen, enjoying mask cover sheets and constantly washing your hands. 

Three Words to Live By 

Just by looking through your social media feeds, you will be chancing upon celebrities, beauty gurus and influencers talking about five, six, seven or even ten-step skincare routines. Especially for Koreans who take pride in their wide array of skincare offerings – the whole thing can even go up as far as 14 steps. Different strokes work for different folks. Whatever it is they are doing – that is perfectly fine. However, as a skincare rookie, keep in mind that no matter how many steps a regimen gets upgraded into, it will always just boil down to three vital steps. Cleansing, Toning and Moisturizing, that is! 

Cleansing 

As the term suggests, the goal of this step is to remove any traces of dirt, bacteria and impurities in your face. Take note : Before getting started with any skincare routine – wash your hands! Cleansing is meant to remove the dirt build up such as oil, dust, dirt and even some of the debris that you acquire as you go about your day. Everyone dreams of having clear and blemish-free skin. It may seem like such a small step in your routine but in principle, cleansing is the first step to protecting your skin from breakouts. Sebum is produced by the skin as protection. In order to do that, sebum needs to pass through several layers including hair follicles to get to the top most layer of skin. If it so happens that there is a build of impurities in your face, these follicles will end up getting clogged. Unaddressed, bacteria can get into the follicles and this will cause acne. 

Most importantly, when you are able to cleanse properly, the skin is cleansed and moisturized – this makes it easier for your succeeding products to be absorbed and do their job. Again, none of this would matter if you do not start with the pre-cleansing step we mentioned : wash your hands. 

Choosing the Right Cleanser for You 

As with most skincare products, choosing the right cleanser for you means taking into consideration several different factors. 

• Get to know your skin type. Quick crash course, you will fall under any of these four types : Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination. Among the many different factors we will be talking about, this is probably the most important one. Choosing the right product suited for your skin type matters. This should not be a problem as the market is able to provide a wide array of products to choose from for every skin type.

• Do you wear make up quite often? It would be best to find a cleanser that is able to work extra hard for you. Choose one that is also able to remove makeup.

• Aside from knowing your skin type, consider your skin’s sensitivity. There are a plethora of options in terms of cleansers that do not contain harsh chemicals. 

• If you find yourself a cleanser that is marked ‘gentle’, it means that it does the job without causing dryness or irritation. 

• Do you workout or sweat a lot? Choose a product that targets clogged pores.

Toning 

Now, onto the next and most often overlooked step when it comes to skincare : Toning. One of the reasons a lot of people opt out of this step is because toners in general have gotten a bad reputation over the years. In a previous article, we addressed the question : “Are toners bad for your skin?” The answer is quite simple : It really depends on the kind of product you are choosing. 

A lot of traditional skin toning products contain alcohol. Truth be told, it is the culprit for this step’s bad reputation. In a nutshell, using a toner is an effective way to achieve balance in your skin’s PH level. As a result, it becomes less oily and prone to acne. It calms the skin and prepares it for the next step which is moisturizing. 

Diving deeper into its purpose, toning helps shrink your pores, adds an additional layer of protection and refreshes the skin. Additionally, toners also help avoid the growth of ingrown hairs. 

Choosing the Right Toner for You 

Generally speaking, there are only three things to consider in finding the right toner for you. 

• Alcohol free toners with exfoliant work best with oily skin. 
• Hydrating and moisturizing toners work best with dry skin. 
• For sensitive skin, steer clear from toners with harsh botanical extracts and chemicals as this may trigger a reaction. 
• For combination and normal skin, almost any type of toner works. 

Rule of thumb : Just do not choose a toner that contains alcohol. As in, never. 

Moisturizing 

Last but definitely not the least : moisturizing to seal the deal. As the term suggests, this step is meant to moisturize your skin. Apart from the fact that it definitely feels great, it is also one way to protect your skin from wrinkles in the future. Think of moisturizing as a step that feeds your skin with all the vitamins and minerals. 

Much like cleansing, taking the time to moisturize helps prevent the chances of skin problems. A lot of people believe that when their skin is already too oily (and hence, acne prone) the right thing to do would be to ditch this third step. FALSE! When skin problems, especially acne and oil-related ones arise, all the more reason to moisturize. It is also a way to keep your skin looking youthful as it gives it a boost to repair and stay healthy. As it turns out, that plump and fresh feeling you get after you use moisturize is not just you imagining – it is really the effect of using moisturizer. 

Choosing the Right Moisturizer for You

• Again, take into account your skin type! Since moisturizers are just as common as cleansers, finding one that suits your skin type should not be a problem. 

• Pay mind to the first five ingredients in the label. Examples of these are lanolin, glycerin and petrolatum. 

• Generally speaking, it would be best to opt for a moisturizer that comes from a reputable source ( a.k.a. Brand or company) 

• Choose a cream or lotion with sunscreen. Do not ever say no to added protection from the sun! It would be best to understand that you are taking these steps to protect your skin from damage. One of the biggest kinds coming from the sun. UV rays are the enemy! Because continuous research is being done and “sun protection” has become a buzz word in the beauty industry, finding great options that offer added sun protection would be enjoyable at best. 

• On days when you have more time on your hands than usual : treat your skin to a nice mask cover sheet section. Aside from face masks being one of the ultimate symbols of “self-care”, taking a trip to your local beauty store and choosing a mask is a fun activity in itself. Masks are a great way to hack into benefits that would usually take more time with traditional products. So, go for it! Especially when travelling, most of us hate having to pack every single product into our suitcases. The good news is – masks would be able to cover for your moisturizer’s job for a few days at a time, as long as you choose the right kind. 

We hope this comprehensive guide to protecting your skin helped! Any other beauty topics you want us to discuss in full detail? Sound off in the comments!