Let’s talk skincare ! Your skincare routine is essential to make your skin glow and prevent signs of tiredness and aging. Our skin is porous and absorbs what we put on it so it’s important to be mindful of which products we use.
I never really had any guidance on what to do, and with all the things we can read online today it’s difficult to know where to start sometimes, without adding 17 steps to your day. I haven’t looked into the Korean skincare secrets yet, but we hear it’s all the rage. However I know I don’t want something that is too complex, nor am I looking to look glassy. I feel like this is for Instagram and not real life.
There are multiple things that help me have good skin, or simply look refreshed and ready to take on the world: skincare routine, sleep and food. Let’s see what the steps are, and maybe what you can take away from it.
Skincare Routine Step-by-step
When I was trying to get pregnant (which took a while), I looked into everything that was in my environment, from cosmetics to foods and kitchen utensils, etc. I had been using an organic cosmetic brand, Tropic, for a few years but I had not done the research myself. So when I compared the list of endocrine disruptors and cancer-promoting ingredients with my creams and serums, I was so pleased to realise that Tropic actually delivers on the natural front. No bad ingredients were found in any of my moisturiser, day cream, night serum, SPF, make-up, nothing. So my cabinet looks like an advert for Tropic really 😀
Good skincare does not mean you have to break the bank, however you do need to check your products for nasties or they’ll break your skin. Invest in the right products, and in a brand you trust.
So let’s start with the basics, then work our way through it.
Wash my hands – it might sound silly but there’s no point in washing your face with dirty hands – or drying it on a dirty towel.
Wash my face – I use a facial soap with shea butter which has literally changed my life. Or at least my face. My skin is incredibly smooth now, and even little spots I had prior to using it have disappeared. I use the Friendly brand, perfect for natural and no-plastic packaging. I love their solid soaps and shampoos too. At the end of the day, I remove make up first with a gentle make-up remover, and we talk about a double cleanse.
Toner – it helps prepare the skin for the cream / serum you’re about to apply so it’s a nice easy step to add to your routine. Mine is a mist that I spray onto my face and I LOVE it.
Face cream – day cream (light on the skin) or night cream (heavier and full of good stuff for the night). What I love about Tropic is that you have the option to buy a refill bottle instead of the whole bottle, so you can re-use some items (and they knock a couple of pounds off). You can also choose a scented or unscented version.
During the day, apply make-up – optional of course. I have a sheer foundation from Tropic, which was my first product. I wanted organic make-up and upon trying, I was converted. Back in my teenage days, I used foundation to hide acne more than anything else, but foundations can be heavy on the skin and even create more problems. So now I only use that very light foundation or their BB cream, with a bit of blush.
At night, I add a serum on top of the night cream. I love that step because it allows me to massage my face easily and smooth out lines, thanks to the oils. The evening routine is so important because you might have been out in a polluted environment or just need to let your skin breathe before you go to bed. The night is when our bodily functions repair, and that includes our face.
Extra Steps to Look After Your Skin
Ideally your foundation offers SPF protection, if not, you need to apply it. It’s something I’m looking to get better at, and apply it more regularly. I have a tinted sunscreen which works great when I want an even face tone but not add layer after layer of product.
Exfoliation once or twice weekly helps rejuvenate your skin. It takes between 28 and 40 days for your skin to renew so you might as well help the process by getting rid of dead cells. You can use so many natural ingredients to make it at home, like coffee grounds or sugar to mix with lemon juice or coconut oil.
I use clay masks as well, it used to be part of my Saturday morning routine pre-baby, and I want to get back on that train. Clay masks are super cheap and all natural, that’s why I love them (5€ per tube at Cattier that lasts for so many uses, you can’t beat that).
Sleep for your Skin
I don’t think I need to write pages on that, but your sleep will greatly impact your skin. Ideally try and get as close to 7-8h of sleep every night as possible. It has great other benefits of course, but as far as your skin is concerned, the repairing functions of your body are hard at work while you sleep. Your grandmother was right, you need your beauty sleep !
Another thing worth mentioning is pillow cases. We need to wash them at least once a week because our hair can absorb pollution and other things we don’t want to see end up on our face. We sleep on it every night so we should build the habit of washing them as regularly as possible. The fabric used for them matters too. I haven’t been converted to the silk pillowcases yet, not sure if this is an Instagram hoax or actually worth it. Let me know if you’ve noticed a difference for you.
Food for the Glow
You could have guessed, your diet will also impact and can improve your natural glow. Foods with antioxidants – like berries – are great to reduce the apparition of wrinkles. And vitamin C is fantastic to help get that glow – pick any bright coloured vegetable really. Healthy fats and protein will promote collagen production and reduce the aging process, so fill up on avocados and nuts. Find more details on how to glow thanks to food as an essential part of your skincare routine.
Last but not least, water is your best friend. It helps flush out toxins that are not welcome in the body so drink at least 2L of water a day (increase in summer and if you exercise). You can add lemon to your water or cucumber to flavour it and add a detoxifying element to your water.
And of course, cut out sugar when you can because it makes the skin break and dehydrated.
I hope this helps you understand why your skincare routine is really important to look your best naturally. And if it pushes you to add a few steps to yours, then yay ! Let me know in the comments what works best for you and what your routine is like.
