Skincare Shopping 101: Making The Right Choices For Your Skin

Skincare Shopping 101: Making the Right Choices for Your Skin

In the dazzling skincare world, navigating the various available products can be exciting and overwhelming. With thousands of brands, it's easy to get lost in the choices. 

Remember a quote for those new to skincare: "Invest in your skin; it is going to represent you for a long time." Establishing a skincare routine that suits you is essential, but it will require some time and effort but is worthwhile. 

This guide will assist you in selecting the appropriate skin care products for your skin type and concerns. Skincare Shopping 101 made simple!

Skincare Shopping Guide For Your Skin

Evaluating Your Skincare Needs
When you venture into the realm of skincare products, you'll soon realize that it's not just a one-size-fits-all kind of industry. Each person's skin has unique skincare needs and concerns, so choosing products tailored to these needs is essential

If you're worried about aging skin and want to maintain a youthful appearance, seek out skincare products containing retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients are renowned for their anti-aging benefits. However, if you experience breakouts, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide may address your skin concerns more effectively.

You Don't Have To Spend A Fortunate On Skincare
Just because a product has high-end packaging and a fancy marketing campaign, it doesn't necessarily mean it's more effective than cheaper options.

The key is looking for active ingredients to achieve your skincare goals. An ingredient is considered active if it has a noticeable effect on the skin. There are many active ingredients available, but they all have different functions. Some provide moisture, others offer sun protection, and some even have anti-aging or chemical exfoliation effects.

Bottom line - you don't need to break the bank to have a good skincare routine. High-quality skincare products come in a wide range of prices, and it's possible to find excellent items that fit your budget.

For instance, keep an eye out for Wildling Beauty discounts to save money. This brand offers holistic beauty and incorporates TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) with beauty tools such as a gua sha for more youthful skin!

How To Determine Your Skin Type
Understanding your skin type is a crucial step in shopping for skincare products, as it helps you make informed decisions about the products that will work best for you. Every person's skin is unique and requires specific care, so identifying your skin type is essential.

Skincare 101 is to determine your skin type. You can examine your skin's texture, oiliness, and sensitivity. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recognizes five main types of skin: oily, dry, normal, combination, and sensitive.Normal skin is well-balanced with a smooth texture, minimal imperfections, and a healthy complexion.

• Dry skin lacks moisture and often feels tight or rough, leading to flakiness, fine lines, and a dull appearance.
• Oily skin produces excess sebum, resulting in a shiny complexion and enlarged pores, and it is more acne prone.
• Combination skin is characterized by both oily and dry areas, with the T-zone typically being oily and the cheeks being dry or normal.
• While sensitive skin is commonly referred to as a skin type, it is essential to note that it can manifest in different ways, such as oily, dry, or normal skin. Some people may have allergic reactions to certain substances and may react depending on their skin. No matter the type, sensitive skin appears red and may feel burning, itching, or dry.

Knowing your skin type can help you find products that suit your needs.

Know The Four Skincare Commandments

Regardless of skin type, the four skincare commandments form the basis of every good regimen. Follow the commandments:

Starting With A Hydrating Cleanser
Cleansing your face like a pro, as I like to say is the most critical anti-aging skincare step. No matter your skin type, you should choose a hydrating gentle cleanser that doesn’t strip your skin. You may not think about it, but your skin accumulates dirt, bacteria, and other daily pollutants. A good cleanser removes excess oil buildup, dead skin cells, and other impurities, leaving your skin fresh.

Bonus tip...Consider the double cleanse method

Hydrate Your Skin
Did you know that dry, flaky skin makes you appear older?

Think about it. Ever apply makeup and notice that it can often accentuate wrinkles and settle into creases? This is a result of dehydrated skin.

To combat this, it's essential to keep your skin well-hydrated. Not only will it look more plump, vibrant, and healthy, but it will also be more resilient to issues like wrinkles.

To maintain healthy skin, it's essential to use a good moisturizer with hyaluronic acid to provide some serious hydration to the upper layers of your skin.

However, if dead skin cells block the way, hyaluronic acid won't be effective. One solution is to pair hyaluronic acid with exfoliating acids like Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) because the benefits complement each other. This perfect skincare duo acids dissolve the bonds between dead skin cells and the healthy epidermis, effectively removing them from your skin. 

Apply Focused Skincare Treatments
Consider treatments to treat a skincare concern, for example, loss of collagen, wrinkles, improving skin tone, dark spots, dry skin, acne, etc.

When selecting treatment serums, anti-aging creams, and even some face masks, it is crucial to look for specific active ingredients, such as

• Retinol
• Hydroxy Acids
• Vitamin C
• Peptides
• Antioxidants

Protect Your Skin
Mother nature isn't our skin's friend. From sun damage or extreme humidity, the weather makes your skin look dull and lifeless, but it can also irritate sensitive skin and accelerate aging.

For a thorough skin care regimen, apply products that shields your skin from daily environmental stressors is important. Incorporating dependable ingredients such as antioxidants and essential fatty acids can aid in preserving your skin's radiance daily. Applying a moisturizer and sunscreen with a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or more is vital for extra protection.

Skincare Tips For Beginners

I know skincare can be overwhelming, so no need to get scared, as I have put together this beginner's guide filled with skincare tips. So let dive in!

When thinking of skincare tips for beginners, one of my favorite quotes comes to mind..."Invest in your skin; it is going to represent you for a long time." Unfortunately, great skin is not something we are born with. Hence you have to invest some time and effort into developing a skincare routine.   

Many do not realize that our daily habits impact our skin, for example, eating habits, exposure to environmental factors like UV rays, makeup, dirt, and other elements, all of which can negatively affect the skin.  

So beauties, without further ado, my Skincare Guide For Beginners!

Create A Skincare Goal And Stick With It
A goal is vital to every undertaking in a person’s life. It can keep you motivated to continue doing something and stay on the right track.  And a daily skincare routine isn't any different.

Say you want to have glowing skin by Spring or minimize those fine lines and wrinkles naturally (no botox).  Whatever your goals are, having them can ensure that you don’t skimp or postpone a skincare routine. Oh, and if you need a little extra push to keep up with the skincare regimen, one thing that I've seen work is choosing to reward yourself with quality skincare products.

The bottom line consistency is vital for an effective skincare routine, so make sure whatever approach, whether a goal or rewarding yourself, you create one you’ll follow daily.

The Power Of Four
The approach to skincare is in 4 -folds: Treat, repair, prevent, and maintain. Preventing is more manageable -– and less costly – than trying to fix them in the future, with cosmetic surgery.  Unfortunately, many get frustrated as they get overwhelmed trying to do too much at once. STOP. The best skincare routine is the crawl, walk, run approach.  Many go straight for the whole kit and caboodle and give up quickly before you start.

So to not get overwhelmed, think of your skincare routine as consisting of four main steps:

• Cleansing — Washing your face.
• Toning — Balancing and prepping the skin for other skincare products.
• Treatments- These are your anti-aging serums and creams.
• Moisturizing — Hydrating and softening the skin.
  

Great, So What Skincare Product Do I Use?
I am not here to tell you which brand to pick, as one size does not fit all, and the same goes with skincare brands.  It is better to focus on products designed to work together to save time and minimize the reaction.

Picking the right active ingredients/ products depends on the specific skin concerns you’re hoping to address or your skincare goal.

Cleanse Your Face Like A Pro
You may be thinking, what do you mean, cleanse my face like a pro? How difficult can it be to wash my face? Isn't it pretty straightforward? Well, there is a way to cleanse your skin correctly, and no, this doesn't include using bar soap and water unless you want to mess up your skin's PH balance, which allows for more bacteria and yeast growth, leading to skin irritations and breakouts.

Properly removing makeup and other grime your skin has been exposed to is a difference between healthy, glowing skin and aging, dry, acne-prone skin.

Make Sure To Use A Face Toner
A face toner is a must and the first product you should use after cleansing your face. By adding the right toner to your routine, you can really up to your skincare regimen, as toners are great for helping to prep your skin for better absorption of all your other skincare products.

After using a toner, you then want to apply your treatment focused serums.

Apply Focused Skincare Treatments
Think of treatments as something to treat a skincare concern, for example, loss of collagen, wrinkles, dry skin, acne, etc.

Some active ingredients to make sure your treatment serums or Anti-aging cream include:

• Retinol
• Hydroxy Acids
• Vitamin C
• Peptides
• Antioxidants
• BONUS ingredient... Full Spectrum CBD Oil
  

Hydration Baby...Moisturizers
Keeping the skin properly moisturized is essential to healthy, younger-looking skin. But what most are not familiar with is what if you are not applying it correctly or have chosen the wrong formula? A poorly chosen product and sloppy application can lead to sagging skin, breakouts, or even worse, dry, cracked skin that can allow bacteria to enter the moisture barrier, causing inflammation, redness, even infections.

The first step in picking the proper moisturizer is to know your skin type and then find a formula to fulfill those needs.

Oily Skin- There is a myth that you do not need a moisturizer if you have oily skin. The truth is if your skin is dehydrated, it compensates by creating more oil. Hence, you want to look for a light, oil-free moisturizer.

Dry Skin- You want to look for something that can provide long-lasting hydration and contains antioxidants and minerals to defend against free radicals.

Sensitive Skin- Look for products that do not have harsh fragrances and chemicals to them.

Dehydrated Skin- Yes, this is different from dry skin; if this is you, a product with hyaluronic acid is your savior.

Combination Skin- Go for a product that offers multi-layered moisture.

Add Some Skincare Enhancers
Once you’ve established the basics, you can add more products to your routine as needed, for example...

Don't Forget The Eyes
The skin around the eyes is much thinner, making it more prone to dryness and quicker to show aging signs. Lack of sleep, squinting, and constant eye movement also hasten the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and fluids collect under the eyes and cause puffiness and dark circles. An eye cream or serum is a great way to replenishes the delicate skin around the eyes and provides long-lasting moisture and freshness. Daily use leads to smooth, youthful-looking, and radiant skin, so you can easily rock your favorite eye makeup look.

Exfoliate For Younger Looking Skin
The key to younger-looking skin and flawless makeup application is smooth skin. Caked on, flakey makeup happens because of the buildup of dead skin cells.  
 
To balance out your skin, you need to buff away those dead, dry, or dying cells. Otherwise, when you apply makeup, you will highlight those imperfections instead of concealing them! It seems contractive, doesn't it? But that layer of skin cells creates false wrinkles, flakiness, creasing, and other issues as your makeup clings to it, which is why it is crucial to exfoliate 2-3 times a week! By doing so, you are sloughing off dead skin, creating a smoother canvas on which the makeup can adhere, making for a more even, flawless makeup look. 

Look At The Ingredients In Your Skincare
The last thing we want is you decided to implement a skincare routine, and you end up looking teenager in puberty with a breakout or red, inflamed skin. Hence you want to be mindful of your skin type and skin's needs, as the skincare products you choose will depend on your skin type. For example, suppose you have sensitive skin. In that case, you want to stay away from products with artificial fragrances and synthetics, as these ingredients can cause your skin to become irritated and dry. Please read the ingredients or go to a website like this one for EWG skincare products only!

So there you go, beauties. We hope that this beginners guide to skincare has helped you simplify the world of skincare and get you on your way to younger, healthier looking skin.