Skincare is practices used to provide health and protection for your skin. In this article, you will learn about popular skincare products, how to use them, and some popular brands.
(Not all products may be suitable for you, make sure you choose products that suit your skin type or it could cause irritations.)
Four main skin types (click on the links for a guide of what to use & avoid)
-Oily- Oily Skin 101 | The Bar | Neutrogena®
-Acne prone- Acne: Types, Causes, Treatment & Prevention
-Dry- Dried Skin on Nose: Causes, Treatment, Prevention & When to Get Help
-Sensitive- https://geneo-us.com/facial-treatments/caring-for-sensitive-skin-treatments-routines/
Cleanser (morning & night)
What it does and how to use it:
The first step before any skincare product usage is to cleanse your face. Wash your hands before so you don’t put extra bacteria onto your face. In the morning, wash with cold water to reduce puffiness, at night, with warm water to remove impurities. Massage the cleanser onto your face in circular movements, not rubbing too aggressively. Rinse and dry with a clean towel or let it air dry.
Popular brands:
Cetaphil and CeraVe are brands to consider when buying cleansers.
Toner (better for night, can do morning & night)
What it does and how to use it:
Toners strip off additional dirt in your pores, hydrate your skin, and balance your skin’s pH level. This impacts the appearance of your pores, making your skin look tighter. Pour it on a cotton pad or your hands, and wipe around your face and neck.
Popular brands:
E.l.f. Cosmetics and Glow Recipe are popular toner brands.
Spot Treatments (morning & night)
What it does and how to use it:
Spot treatments come in many forms: gel, patch, serum, cream, etc. They’re used to reduce dark spots, acne scars, etc. Apply on areas that need treatment.
Popular brands:
Brands for spot treatments could be Neutrogena and Mighty Patch.
Moisturizer (morning & night)
What it does and how to use it:
Moisturizer is used to moisturize & hydrate your skin. It has many benefits like softening the skin, keeping the skin barrier healthy, and preventing dry skin. Apply on damp skin, all over your face, neck, etc.
Popular brands:
Cetaphil, ELF, Aveeno, and Neutrogena, are popular moisturizer brands.
Sunscreen (morning)
What it does and how to use it:
It is really important to use sunscreen every day, even on rainy/cloudy days, because UV rays can still go through clouds and reach your skin. Reapply sunscreen every two hours, on every area of exposed skin.
Popular brands:
Supergoop!, Neutrogena, & Aveeno, are brands you should look into for sunscreen.
There are many people who use skincare products and know their benefits. For example, Mrs. Lee, the nurse at FWPA, has been doing skincare for around 3 months. A tip she gave was, “Always use moisturizers with a SPF 15 or higher.” She recommends moisturizers, saying there are different types for your face, hand, body, etc, so make sure you get the right one.
Angelena Krivoruchko, an eighth grader, has been doing skincare ever since sixth grade. A tip she gave was to “Please be consistent with washing your face to prevent breakouts.” A product she recommends for teenagers is the Clear Proof Deep-Cleansing Charcoal Mask by Mary Kay, explaining how it helped her get clear skin.
There are people who don’t do skincare as much, like Mr. Filler, who did it once, but stopped. “Once, I tried skincare when I was a teenager, and I had acne and it made it worse,” he explained. However, people have different skin types, and some people don’t need it at all to keep their skin healthy and stable.
Make sure to figure out whether or not you need skincare, find the products right for your skin type, and use it correctly and consistently to get the results you want.
