When it comes to taking care of your skin, many people think that professional treatments are the only way to go. But in actuality, your home skin care regimen is 80 percent of having great skin and clinical/professional treatments account for only 20 percent. We know the saying “beauty starts from within” – and this couldn’t be more true for skin health! With a consistent routine at home, you can give your skin an overall boost and maintain its health over time.
Before diving into how to build an effective home skin care routine, let’s start by understanding the basics of healthy skin: don’t smoke or drink too much alcohol, limit sun exposure (it ages skin!), use a broad-spectrum sunscreen, and stay hydrated. All of these are important for keeping your skin in tip-top shape. Now let’s move onto the home regimen!
A good home skin care routine should include cleansing, exfoliating (which removes dead skin cells from the surface of your face), toning, moisturizing, and applying eye cream. It’s best to use products that are specifically formulated for your skin type – whether it be oily, dry, combination or normal – as this ensures you get the most out of each step. Cleansers should be gentle yet effective at removing dirt, oil and makeup; look for ones that contain ingredients like aloe vera or chamomile for a soothing effect. Exfoliation should be done no more than twice a week as overdoing it can cause irritation; opt for chemical exfoliants like lactic acid or glycolic acid which will gently dissolve the outer layer of dead skin cells. After exfoliating, apply a toner to balance your skin’s pH and hydrate with a good moisturizer that is appropriate for your skin type. Finally, use eye cream around the delicate area of your eyes to reduce puffiness or dark circles.
Now let’s move onto professional/clinical treatments – these are just an added bonus on top of your home routine! Professional treatments such as facials, microdermabrasion, peels, laser treatments and injections can help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin texture or even out skin tone. These treatments should only be done once in awhile as they are more intense than regular home care.
So there you have it – a good home skin care regimen is 80 percent of great skin! By simply sticking to a consistent routine that suits your specific needs, you’ll have glowing skin in no time. And if you ever feel like giving yourself an extra boost, add in professional/clinical treatments for 20 percent of great skin! With this knowledge under your belt, get ready to show off that beautiful complexion!