Hey, Mommies! How’s your skincare journey? A mother’s job is never-ending. You have so much to deal with that you can’t help but feel drained. You hardly have any energy left to pamper yourself. As it turns out, even your self skincare routine ends up taking a seat on the back burner.
Fret not, super mommies! You don’t need an elaborate or complicated beauty regimen to achieve a clear and glowing complexion. Tons of self skincare ideas are simpler and more flexible so that even moms with the most hectic schedules can still manage to maintain their skin and manage breakouts.
How to pull off an effortless self skincare routine
It’s 2021, and prioritizing your well-being should be paramount. As always, the first thing you need to know before incorporating any kind of skincare ritual is to know your skin’s condition. Do you have dry, flaky skin? Are you prone to acne and crazy breakouts? Is controlling the oil on your skin a major struggle for you?
It is not always about filling your arsenal with the most expensive brands. In the long run, you might end up splurging cash over face washes, toners, and creams that do more harm than good to your skin.
Identify which products are ideal for daily application from those best used once or twice per week. An example of this is the use of exfoliating creams and masks. Exfoliation should be done once a week, depending on your skin condition. When done excessively, it can slough off the barrier on the outer layer of your epidermis. As a result, your pores open and become more susceptible to dirt and infection. If you have sensitive skin, it is best to skip this step. Meanwhile, if you need an extra intensive type of self-care during your period, you might want to look into using facial masks as an additional treatment for problematic skin and sudden breakouts.
Masks and serums are add-ons that are not an essential part of your regular self skincare routine. However, these products help enhance your glow and skin texture. They are meant to enhance and balance the effects of regular cleansing and toning.
That said, what basic products are a must-have in your personal beauty formula?
Cleanse
Cleansing the face is the first step to any kind of skin pampering routine. It replenishes your skin by washing away all the dirt and oil that have accumulated on your face. It preps your face for the succeeding treatments and products that will be applied to it later on. Washing your face becomes even more crucial if you like to wear makeup. No matter how hectic your schedule may be, never go to bed with your makeup on! It is one of the notorious causes of breakouts and skin infections.
When choosing a facial wash or cleanser, pick one that does not overdry your skin’s surface. Preferably, go for products with ingredients that help lock in moisture. Avoid cleansers with microbeads because these can leave small cuts and abrasions on your skin. The toughness of the texture might even peel off protective layers on your dermis, making you more prone to acne-causing bacteria. Not to mention, these tiny beads added to beauty products are made of plastic and pollute nearby bodies of water once you rinse it off of your face.
Tone
Next to cleansing is toning. Using a toner on your face means triggering your skin’s inner layers to commence restoring its vitality and balance. Toners are akin to essential vitamins and minerals that reinvigorate the skin cells, protect your face from drying, and minimize your pores. If you have oily skin, then this step will benefit you greatly because it also aids in regulating sebum production and even your complexion.
Some skincare brands have toners with a thicker consistency, while others offer products that are more lightweight and are created with a water base. The key is to check the effect of your chosen toner. Does your skin feel a little tighter or dryer once the product is applied and absorbed on your face? If so, then you need to switch to a toner with a milder concentration of ingredients.
Sun Protection
Sunscreen is often an undermined part of caring for one’s skin. Mommies who spend time outdoors, either to run errands or work should not skip adding a trusty layer of protection against UVB and UVA rays. The constant exposure to the harsh rays of the sun speeds up your skin’s aging process and contradicts the positive effects of religious skin cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. Dermatologists recommend sunscreen with an SPF no lower than 30. You can also go higher if you want full protection from the sun. Anything lower than that SPF 30 will give you a more penetrable barrier against the skin-damaging UVA and UVB rays.
Moisturize
Moisturizing your skin religiously is the secret to retaining a youthful glow and an even complexion. Dry patches on your skin typically reveal fine lines, wrinkles, and even make acne scars more prominent. Applying moisturizer after cleansing and toning keep your face well-hydrated while reducing the appearance of fine lines. It retains the plump texture of your skin so that you retain your youthful glow.
Night Cream
A night cream, preferably one with retinol, is the last but definitely not the least important part of your daily skincare routine. A popular type of night cream is one that contains retinol. Retinol is considered a holy grail for anti-aging products. It adds an extra layer of moisture to your skin, enhances the texture of your face, reduces wrinkles and fine lines, and overall aids in achieving flawless skin.
Taking good care of your skin is the easiest and best way to pamper yourself. In this day and age, self-care and a self skincare routine especially for moms should be normalized and encouraged more. After all, it is not that easy to take on several roles and responsibilities. Don’t feel guilty about taking a step back and spoiling yourself first, mommy! You deserve it.
Author Bio
Kat Sarmiento writes articles with the hopes of reaching out to more people. Her writing is focused on lifestyle, science, and smart hacks, that will definitely (well, hopefully) be useful to her readers.
