Psst: if you haven’t started a skincare routine and you’re past the age of 25, here’s your gentle reminder to get going. Each morning and night, cleansing, moisturizing and applying serums go a long way in protecting your skin from the first signs of aging. Plus, it helps to prevent dry skin, cumbersome breakouts, and other ailments that aren’t so fun to manage. Your skincare habits can also serve as your self-care time to go a little slower, give yourself some TLC, and feel calmer. If you want to get more out of your ritual, consider this your guide on making it a special daily escape, just for you:
Be mindful and present.
First and foremost, setting the scene is the best way to make your skincare ritual more meaningful. After all, it’s called a ‘ritual’ for a reason: it’s time you spend with yourself, unbothered by anyone or anything else, says Masha Amelina, PA-C, the founder of MesoLyft Skincare. “The energy and love you put into yourself and your skin will bring forth more visible results if you take it up a notch,” she explains.
How so? By being in the moment as you go through the steps of your skincare routine. During this time, Amelina says to tell yourself how beautiful you are as you imagine your skin getting better and tighter. “To take this concept even higher, try putting on meditation with affirmations on getting younger and more beautiful every day while you’re doing your skincare ritual,” she adds.
Try dry cleansing and double-cleansing.
If you’ve already had a go-to routine for a while, you may be growing bored of it. And hey, your pores might feel redundant, too. Introducing new techniques can help you fall back in love with your ritual — and potentially improve your complexion, too. One easy way to switch it up is to make small yet meaningful changes to steps you already take.
For example, dry cleansing. Face washing, in general, can be seriously underrated, but it’s an important way to begin your routine with a fresh face, says Janel Luu, the CEO of Le Mieux Cosmetics and PurErb. If you’ve been using water, try a new method by first applying foaming or gel cleanser. Next, add water, massage over the skin again. Finally, rinse well and then pat dry. Why is dry cleansing more effective? Luu explains on a dry face the cleanser doesn’t get diluted with water at the beginning of the cleansing process and spreads more evenly to lift off dirt, dead skin cells, and makeup.
To go even deeper, go through this same ritual again to double-cleanse your pores. Luu says that you’d be shocked to see micronized makeup and BB creams staring out at you from your pores or crevices of the skin after cleansing once. These bad boys could develop into breakouts or milia, those tiny white bumps under the skin that may never go away. “Do a second cleanse using a gel cleanser, which will help clear pores and sweep away stubborn debris,” she adds.
Pick the best time of day – for you!
As with most parts of life, there is no ‘right’ way to go through your skincare ritual. Some people keep it straightforward with three steps, while others go through five, ten, or more. And while your best friend may look forward to her P.M. routine, you may find more benefit from the morning. That’s why if you are struggling to commit to a full masking and microcurrent nighttime routine because you are ready to relax, try switching your time of day, says Jaclyn Palmieri, the esthetic operations manager at Hand & Stone. “Of course, still make sure to wash the day off at the end of the night but bring out the bells and whistles when you have the time and energy,” she continues. “The best skincare ritual is the one that you can commit to — no matter what time of day that is.”
Rotate and customize your serums.
When the weather turns colder and harsher, you probably swap out your lightweight moisturizer from the summer for a heavier, thicker formula in the winter. This helps to hydrate and quench your skin, keeping it radiant, no matter the temperature. But are you doing the same for your serums? As Luu reminds, there is a serum for every season and for every reason. And rotating your products is an excellent way to get more out of your skincare ritual.
“If you don’t want to buy new products for every season, customize what you already have,” she suggests. “In these days of skincare advancements and ever-evolving technology, serum rotation is the name of the game because the skin can have a diminished response to the same ingredients when used over time. That’s because when you customize or cocktail different serums, your skin responds to different active ingredients.”
Combine several treatments at once.
Your skincare ritual might not feel like being at a spa right now. And since it feels ordinary, it might not provide the sense of calm or happiness you hope for. Amelina recommends combining several treatments at once to force yourself to slow down. “One of my favorite things is to use more than one beauty device at once. You can wear one of them, like an infrared mask, gloves, or sheet mask. Then, use another one, like a microcurrent device, simultaneously. This way, you’re getting several benefits at once and double the pleasure.”
Give yourself a facial massage.
Massage isn’t just for the pros! Palmieri says it’s super simple to give yourself an at-home facial massage, and it can elevate your skincare ritual majorly. In addition to being uber-relaxing, they’re also beneficial for our skin. “Facial massage tones facial muscles and relieves tension, boosts circulation in the face, releases toxins, and can help with lymphatic drainage,” she continues. “The main benefit to providing facial massage at home is the increased product absorption with your corrective serums, creams, and moisturizers. This adds a bit of self-care and spices up your skincare routine into a skincare ritual.”
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