Skin's Day Off

A collection of curated posts with your skin's best intentions in mind. Skin-enthusiast sideblog of @caratheillustrious. Created and managed with love, By Ria.

[yourgoodcare]

Exfoliation

Exfoliating your skin is a crucial step in achieving a bright and even skin tone. But not all exfoliates are created equal. There are two types of them- physical and chemical.

Most of use have used or at least heard of physical exfoliates.

But did you know how awful physical exfoliates are for your delicate facial skin?

Physical exfoliates are products that utilize an agent like beads, grains, shavings or crystals (think St. Yves apricot scrub) to scrub at your skin with the intention of removing dead skin cells. But what they’re really doing is causing micro-lesions on your epidermis, leaving it the perfect ground for acne, bacterial infections, hyper pigmentation and can even cause premature aging. The skin on your face is unlike any other on your body and using physical exfoliates is like rubbing sandpaper onto it.

But exfoliation is crucial in achieving a healthy and even complexion. Just not physical exfoliation.

Products like Glossier’s The Solution contain Alpha Hydroxy, Beta Hydroxy and Poly Hydroxy Acids (AHAs, BHAs, PHAs) which aid in cell turnover. Cell turnover refers to your skin’s process of making new cells deep in the reticular dermis (and how long it takes) which also creates collagen. And collagen is what gives skins that plump and rejuvenated look and feel. As an example, babies and children have a very fast cell turnover which slows down as they get older. That’s why they have such dewy and soft skin. 

Chemical exfoliates help slough off dead skin and encourage renewal on a molecular level, whereas a physical exfoliate relies on a product to scrub away at just the top layer of your skin.

Glossier’s The Solution contains all three types of Hydroxy Acids, which is why I love it. It is a toner-style product but is 100% alcohol free and includes ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide to help keep skin hydrated. 

The result?

Skin that is visibly brighter and more even, softer and more plump. Within 4-6 weeks hyper pigmentation will begin to fade and acne, fine lines and texture will begin to dissipate. I also found that the couple of pimples I do get due to hormones will have a much shorten life span than before and heal much quicker. Even when I cannot control myself and pick at a pimple and it scabs, it heals so much faster than before. I have been using this product for almost 2 years and couldn’t be happier. 

As always, read the ingredients list of any products you intend to use and feel free to ask me any questions about the products mentioned!

[yourgoodcare]

Double Cleanse

Making sure that your skin is completely clean but still nourished will ensure that the rest of your skincare performs to its utmost potential without causing irritation.

But it can be very easy to over-cleanse your skin, leaving it to feel tight and dry, or worse, leaving behind makeup or grime from your day.

That's where double cleansing comes in.

The Banila Co. Clean it Zero cleansing balm is a balm-to-oil product that helps penetrate any makeup, sweat, dirt or pollution you might've been exposed to throughout your day. It easily melts off mascara, lipstick and foundation without stripping your skin and without the need to tug and scrub. Simply warm up a small amount between your hands and gently rub all over your dry skin. Once everything has been melted off, use lukewarm water to rinse.

You could technically stop here, but what makes a double cleanse special is the 2-step system which involves truly cleaning the skin. You want to follow the first step with something strong enough to break through the oil and any residual dirt that might’ve been left behind but gentle enough that it will not strip or irritate.

I love using the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser for the fact that it is extremely gentle on my skin but still works well to remove anything my oil cleanser could've left behind. I like to apply 1-2 pumps of this jelly cleanser onto damp (not wet) skin and massage for about 45 seconds. Then, wet hands and massage again for a few seconds and rinse off with lukewarm water and pat dry.

The result?

Skin that feels fresh, clean but still bouncy and soft. The perfect canvas for your next products.

As always, read the ingredients list of any products you intend to use and feel free to ask me any questions about the products mentioned!