Most students who pursue any creative field or fashion design in particular will have the schedule of a night owl. They will sometimes stay up until 4-5am to finish a project along with their own psychological pressures. Are you worried about your skin when you have to “chase your deadlines”? Do you want to maintain your appearance but have no time to do research yourself? We are here to help you and this article is for you!
Before starting on the skincare routine, don’t forget that “No natural beauty is a natural occurrence!” If you are new to the #beauty_starter_kit series then you can access www.thefashionalleyvn.com so you don’t miss tips and advice on skincare.
In this post, I will leave a few products that I’ve used routinely in the past year so I can walk you through each step on your skincare journey.
1. Makeup Remover and Oil Cleanser
Choosing a suitable makeup remover depends on the frequency at which you apply makeup every day or how much your job depends on commuting through the dusty, polluted streets in the city for long hours during the day. Therefore, in my skincare routine, I have a variety of makeup cleansers suitable for each occasion.
For days where I don’t really apply makeup except for sunscreen (which isn’t makeup), I often use a micellar water cleanser: Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water. Otherwise if you are a student and looking for more affordable options, I recommend using Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water. These products are often separated by color. With two different cleansers, I often use the one with a pink lid - specialized in sensitive skin. Those with oily skin should switch to the one with a green cap.
In the days where I apply heavy makeup then I would prioritize using an oil-based cleanser to completely wipe the layer of makeup and dust that has accumulated at the end of the day. I personally think that oil-based cleansers will deep clean your face more than micellar but also I’m not used to the texture of oil-based cleansers because I often apply them clumsily. A few research papers I’ve read show that oil-based cleansers may exacerbate the acne on your face because these products often contain strong chemicals. Despite this, there will still be oil-based cleansers beneficial for different occasions. If I had to pick only one then it would be Shu uemura Cleansing Oil. Other than this, you can consider Micellar Water to cleanse with two products that I’ve mentioned above and use an extra cleanser for your eyes.
My favorite mascara is from the Kiss me brand. The phrase “My tears ruined my mascara” does not apply to this product because it is so waterproof that micellar cleansers even struggle against it. With these types of mascara, you can use their specific Kiss me Mascara Remover or Maybelline Makeup Remover Eye & Lip Makeup Remover.
2. Cleanser
Perhaps the words “double cleansing” is well-known among beauty bloggers of the skincare world to professional dermatologists. Double cleansing includes both makeup cleanser and your standard facial cleanser. Enacting these two steps will deeply clean your face, remove completely the grime and musk, and avoid the horrible fate of acne breakout. In this step, I advise you to use a gentle water-based facial cleanser, the kind that creates foam or one that smoothens when you add more water.
My personal favorite is Paula’s Choice Pore Normalizing Cleanser. This product is also made for sensitive skin (acne) and consists of lighter chemicals and components such as Vitamin B5, Arginine… along with the main acne-reducing component which is 0.5%
3. Exfoliator
Exfoliating your dead skin is also highly important! It will clear blocked pores and make your skin glow. This is also a base step that helps other products get more absorbed by your skin. There are many types of exfoliators such as glucose-based tools or chemical-based exfoliators with lactic and salicylic acid with the purpose of breaking down the “glue” of dead cells. Exfoliating with physical tools should be used once or twice a week, while chemical exfoliators can be used more frequently. For example, I’ve used the Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution With 2% Salicylic Acid during both nighttime and daytime for a while now. Your skincare routine should take place in the nighttime but also read the instructions carefully on when to take products during the day.
4. The Toner
After doing all these procedures, toner is the last step when cleaning your face after you’ve accidentally changed the pH of your face with the skincare chemicals. Toner serves to strengthen the skin barriers so they can continue to absorb the creams. There are many different toners but Korea - the kingdom of dewy skin - produces toners that many people use to moisturize their skin and tighten their pores. Moisturizing toners will ease any type of skin with their light and soothing components.
In the beginning stages of my skincare journey, I used Witch Hazel as my toner but my skin still remained constantly dry. I found out that this product contains alcohol, which dries my skin and triggers unwanted reactions. After this, I switched to Su: m37 Water-full Skin Refresher. It contains bamboo water along with floral extracts. My second choice would be Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner if you can’t find the Su Refresher. When you’re deciding between scented and unscented products, I would recommend unscented as the chemicals creating the scent may trigger unwanted skin reactions.
Final words:
This article contains the 4 basic steps for a recently picked up skincare routine for newcomers. I hope you have grasped the fundamentals on why you need to enact these cleaning steps. See you in the next article when I will share the steps on using recovery products for your skin!
References:
The little book of Skincare - Charlotte Cho