Before we dive into the topic, here’s some background that you should know. I have encountered multiple skin problems throughout the years including closed comedones(whiteheads), blackheads, impaired skin barrier, dark spots, and so on.
I have combination skin when I was in my teenage year. My T zone was oily while the rest of the face is normal to dry skin. My skin only started breaking out badly when I was 16-17 years old. This continues for at least 5 years I believe. I also developed some dark spots around my cheek area.
I was a skincare junkie at that time with no knowledge at all. All I do is blindly follow the advice and just purchase whatever that person recommended without a second thought. I will use products to tighten enlarged pores just because someone recommended it.
Well, this shouldn’t surprise you. After two years, my skin barrier was compromised. That was when I started learning more about skincare because my skin was easily triggered by almost anything including dust, hot shower, or products that contain fragrance.
So here am I, sharing this journey and hopefully will help you transform your skin too.
This is my skin now (photo taken in the year 2022). I have cleared my skin, healed my skin barrier but the dark spots remained. Occasionally, I’ll have pimples around my chin area but it’s not a big deal.
Don’t Just Listen to Advice, Understand Your Skin
Living in this digital era, information is everywhere. We are absorbing pieces of information in all forms of social media, however, some of the information is misleading and false. It is crucial that you prioritize your skin types and conditions before any advice.
For instance, retinol is such a hype. Almost all skincare brands carry a retinol product. Retinol benefits skin in multiple ways such as fighting acne, reducing wrinkles, brightening your skin, and much more. However, if you have an impaired skin barrier, you shouldn’t be using retinol as your top priority is to repair your skin barrier. Hence, make sure you understand your skin, know your needs before you actually incorporate a new skincare habit or add a new product.
Check Out The Ingredient List, Not Just The Price
I had to learn this the hard way after my skin barrier was damaged. My skin is easily sensitized, therefore, I had to be extra careful in choosing what to put on my face. I didn’t learn the ingredients because I want to, is because I have to. But I have to say, it’s definitely a good practice that benefits your skin in many ways.
First of all, when you understand the ingredient list, you will be more aware of what you actually apply to your skin. While I agree that some ingredients such as preservatives, solvents are not avoidable, some are just unnecessary such as fragrance. The perks of studying the ingredient list are that you get to decide what you want to put on your skin consciously.
Moreover, the more you study the ingredient list, you will also spend your money wisely. You wouldn’t want to spend your hard-earned money on a product that is infused with preservative, fragrance, mineral oil than the actual active ingredients.
Double Cleanse Your Skin
When I was in my teenage year, I had whiteheads and blackheads all over my face. I did not realize the importance of cleansing the skin. I was new to skincare and makeup. BB cream from Korea was very popular among my friends. So I jump on the bandwagon as soon as I learn about the product. I remember the sales associate told us that it’s an all-in-one product. It can be your sunscreen, primer, and foundation. The best part is you don’t even have to remove it with a makeup remover, just a regular cleanser will do. I assume you already know what happened next. My pores were all clogged and developed into whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples very quickly.
I can’t emphasize enough the importance of cleansing. It is the most important step in your skincare routine. I practice double cleansing whenever I have makeup and waterproof sunscreen on. It is essential for clear and healthy skin.
Use Sunscreen Everyday
Sunscreen is actually one of the first skincare products that I own. I live in a tropical country and apply sunscreen almost every day since I was 15 years old. The UV index in my country is extremely high. Just imagine that you will get sunburn in 15-20 mins without putting on sunscreen in the afternoon. Here’s some reference on how strong is the UV daily. So it’s not a choice to skip sunscreen. UV rays can cause wrinkles, leathery skin, liver spots, actinic keratosis, and solar elastosis according to American Cancer Society.
My best advice is to pick a sunscreen that is suitable for your needs when you first started. You can use sunscreen that has a light watery texture if you have oily skin. Most people gave up putting on sunscreen because they did not find a sunscreen that works well on their skin. Common reasons include white cast, feeling greasy, and balling up.
My favorite one is Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk. It has a light almost like a fluid texture, doesn’t leave any white cast, not greasy at all. So if you are also living in a country with strong UV, I strongly recommend you to try it out.
Use Minimal Skin Care Products
It could be an overwhelming experience when you browse all the skincare products available. Every day there’s a new discovery of skincare products and ingredients, but remember not all of the products work well on your skin.
In my 15 years of skincare experiences, I learned that to care for your skin effectively, using fewer products is almost always better than more skincare products. I regretted not realizing it earlier. Using multiple harsh products on my skin has damaged my skin barrier in the long run.
A lot of people do not understand that the skincare journey is more like a marathon, not a sprint competition. A lot of people will think a product works best when it gives immediate effect after a single-use. An old good example would be face scrub which used to be super popular because it gave this immediate smooth and brightening effect. But more often than not, a product like this usually does more harm than good for your skin. In the long run, you might damage your skin barrier if you use it frequently.
Try to keep your skincare routine as minimal as possible. My skincare routine is always double cleansing, toner, serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen. I do use a face mask once-twice weekly.
