Don't get me wrong, I DO wash my face more than just once a week (but not every day because that's bad), this is just my routine when I'm off my rocker upset and want to feel better.
STEP 1: GENTLE CLEAN
Make sure you get your face nice and wet when you do this: from experience, dry rubbing with this product leaves it on the skin and can make it feel tight. This isn't for getting all of the dirt off, just most of the surface dirt, so I don't scrub super hard.
Bioré deep pore charcoal cleanser
Great for oily skin!
Also, is there anything more pleasing than using up all your product?
This is also what I use when I'm fresh out of the shower.
STEP 2: TACKLE THE BLACKHEADS
Gentle reminder: those little dots on your nose are more than likely sebaceous filaments and happen when oil forms around a hair follicle - don't worry, they're perfectly normal, and everyone has them! If you aren't sure if what you have is blackheads or not, talk to a dermatologist.
Garnier Skin Active Clean+ Blackhead Eliminating Scrub
The one listed on Walmart's website looks different, but they carry the one without plastic micro-beads as well.
STEP 4: EXFOLIATE THAT SKIN, YO!
I use a gentle exfoliator but to each their own.
For this step, I usually use my hands because I have torn open my skin before with an exfoliator, and I assure you: it's not a pleasant experience!
Up&Up Skin refreshing Apricot Scrub
Up and Up also has a blemish controlling apricot scrub and a deep clean exfoliator scrub.
St. Ives also has a fresh skin apricot scrub.
From experience, the Up and Up is a lot finer and more gentle on the skin.
Step 5: Mask it up!
It wasn't until I was in my senior year of high school when I learned about the magic of face masks. Had I learned about them sooner, I'm confident I would have saved myself a TON of embarrassment...
L'Oréal Detox-Brighten Pure Clay Cleanser
This stuff feels amazing and leaves skin glowing and glorious! They have other kinds as well, so if your skin is different, you can get what works for you.
Feel free to stop at this point if you so desire, but I do have one more extra and optional step for anyone trying to combat redness or splotches.
(OPTIONAL) STEP 6: REDUCE THE RED!
I dealt with a lot of redness in my younger years, and if any of you youngsters want to avoid that, then boy howdy, is this'n for you!
You can also do this earlier in your routine to help with blackheads.
Remember to be gentle!
St. Ives Blackhead clearing Green Tea Scrub
This stuff feels as amazing as it smells and makes your skin super soft!
It also helps to calm redness, and it feels really good!
FINALLY: MOISTURIZE!!
Alright y'all, listen here: we just used a lot of stuff on our face to get rid of the sins of society, so our skin needs a little bit of help. Whenever you wash your face, ALWAYS MOISTURIZE. Yes, your skin is capable of bouncing back on its own (the human body is an amazing thing), but there's no harm in helping it just a little bit. It's like when you get out of the shower, you put lotion on? Well, this is lotion for your face. It's face lotion!
I don't have a picture of it, but I use the St. Ives Timeless skin Collagen Elastin Moisturizer. It comes in a 10oz jar, and it lasts a while - a little goes a super long way!
St. Ives is pretty inexpensive, but their products may not be for everyone. For example, if you have sensitive skin, it might not be a good idea to use a coarse exfoliator, and you might prefer the Up and Up more since it's a finer texture.
Some important things to know:
-What works for me may not work for you: finding a skincare routine that works for your skin type takes time and patience, but you can always ask a dermatologist for help.
-DO NOT WASH YOUR FACE IN THE SHOWER! I wash my face in the bathroom sink after I get out of the shower. Speaking of, don't use boiling hot water in the bath or shower - your skin produces oils that help protect it, and stripping it of that causes dry, flaky skin and no one wants that. Remember: you aren't shabu!
-Before you wash your face: WASH. YOUR. HANDS. There's really no point in washing your face if you have dirty hands because you'll just be mixing that dirt into your products.
TO ANY MEN WHO MAY FIND THEMSELVES ON THIS POST:
Listen, guys, there's no shame in practising good personal hygiene and keeping your face clean. No, it's not "girly" and no one's gonna think you're "gay". Just wash your face...
-If you're looking for a first-time skincare routine, I have two things to tell you:
1.) Listen to your skin. Ex: If it's dry, don't use products for oily skin, because that will make you drier, and
2.) Drink more water, less sugar. I'm not going to sit here and preach to you about how water is the best and only drink (After all, coffee is my bae!), but just drink more than half a cup a day. When I first started taking good care of my skin, the first thing I did was drink more water and I cut out energy drinks. Immediately, I noticed that I felt better, I wasn't as sluggish, and my skin felt so much better!
We always talk about how we don't want wrinkles or dark spots or crusty skin when we reach elder status. The best way to prevent that? Wash your face!
