Every day, you’re faced with a long list of never-ending to-dos, both at work and at home. And when you have such a busy schedule (don’t we all?), properly taking care of yourself can be quite a challenge. Of course, you know that it’s essential to take care of yourself. Still, you hardly have time to keep up with your daily tasks, much more maintain a regular self-care ritual. It can feel like you don’t have a choice in the matter.
Stop it right there! You don’t need to choose between meeting your professional responsibilities, caring for your family, and self-care. There are many ways by which you can save precious time, such as these five-minute skincare routines.
Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels
The condition of your skin when you wake up in the morning will be markedly different from your skin when you go to bed at night. This means that it will also have different needs. So, let’s start with your morning routine. Here are some super easy steps to get your skin prepped for the day.
Dermatologists recommend that you wash your face at least twice a day, and that includes an oil cleansing step in the morning. Although there is less sebum production at night than at midday, your skin’s oil glands continue to produce oil, which you’ll want to get rid of. Your skin also tends to accumulate bacteria and dust overnight. This can come from your pillowcase, from your blanket, and even from the air in your bedroom. All of these can build up in your skin and result in clogged pores. Keep your skin clean by washing with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser that suits your skin type and doesn’t contain alcohol. Use your fingertips to prevent unnecessary tugging of the skin. Then, pat dry with a soft towel.
Grainy and abrasive exfoliators can cause damage to your skin. Instead, use a mild liquid exfoliator or exfoliating lotion. Exfoliation is important because it can slough off dead skin cells, which are dry and flaky and result in dull-looking skin. This process allows new skin to rise to the surface, giving you a glowing and youthful appearance. In addition, exfoliating your skin creates a smooth base on which to flawlessly apply.
What’s amazing about liquid exfoliators is that you just sweep them over your skin, and that’s that! You don’t even need to rinse off. Also, depending on your skin type and condition, you can exfoliate for as little as two to three times a week.
Photo by RF._.studio from Pexels
After exfoliating, it’s important to hydrate your skin. During the day, your skin will be exposed to many harmful substances, such as free radicals, chemicals, and all sorts of environmental pollutants. Moisturizing your skin ensures that it’s ready for the day’s wear and tear.
The sun can be your skin’s worst enemy. Its UV rays can cause sunburn, premature aging, and skin cancer. Applying sunscreen is therefore critical in keeping both you and your skin healthy.
There’s a reason why we combined these two steps into one. It’s because you can save time by choosing either of the following tips. First, you can pour a few drops of your sunscreen into your moisturizer. Apply it, and you’re off! Or you can use a moisturizer that already contains a sun-protective factor or SPF, so you can have both in one go. Make sure your sunscreen has at least an SPF 30.
Like taking off your office clothes at the end of a workday, you’d want to ditch the makeup that you’ve been wearing the whole time. Follow a double-cleansing routine by first using a makeup remover such as a cleansing balm. Apply this on dry skin to soften the dirt and makeup on your skin. Then simply wash off with the same gentle cleanser you used in the morning. While the two-step process is quick, you’ll save even more time if you hardly use any makeup.
Like what we’ve earlier said about exfoliating, the frequency will depend on your needs and skin type. If your skin tends to look really tired at the end of the day, exfoliating it will remove the grime that has accumulated during the day. Exfoliants can also help your skin absorb and respond to the ingredients of your night moisturizer. If you want to exfoliate often, make sure you use a gentle liquid exfoliant formulated for daily use. You may also opt to have a more potent exfoliator and use this twice a week instead, saving you more time.
Your skin cells get the chance to self-repair and regenerate at night. Boost your skin’s self-healing capabilities by using a moisturizer that will nourish your skin as you sleep.
Start off by putting a pea-sized amount onto your fingertips, and then quickly but gently apply onto the skin in circular motions.
If you want to prevent pimples, using a moisturizer with retinol can be one of the more effective and quick pimple hacks that you can find. Retinol can also stimulate collagen and elastin production, prevent fine lines, and treat acne. However, keep away from retinol if you have particularly sensitive skin or suffer from conditions like eczema or rosacea.
What is yout favorite part of yout skincare rountine?
