Do you ever get overwhelmed with all the choices you have when it comes to skincare and cosmetics? I know I do! While I love a trip to Sephora as much as the next girl, I admit that I feel a bit overwhelmed when I go there. There are shelves upon shelves upon shelves of beautifully packaged products. SO MANY PRODUCTS.
Which ones are good? Which ones actually do what they say they will do? Am I paying for a celebrity or brand name, or am I paying for a good product? Does the product contain harmful ingredients? Will I like it? Am I buying the product just because it is the one at eye level on the shelf? Is the manufacturer ethical? Do I trust the employee who is helping me? Is it the best choice for me and my skin? These are some of the questions that ran through my mind when I used to shop for skincare in stores.
Well, I am here to give you some comfort. Skincare does not have to be complicated! You don't have to be overwhelmed because good skincare can be quite simple. The top 2 things you can do for your skin: Cleanse and moisturize every day. If you start with these two simple steps, I promise you that over time you'll see a difference in your skin. Then, if you choose to add in the "extras," such as anti-aging or correcting serums, you can, but you should first start with the simple foundation of clean and hydrated skin.
Now, I don't expect you to take my advice just because I said it. In the legal world, we call that, "Ipse dixit." That's Latin for "he said it himself" and it describes an assertion without proof. So here's some research I did to back up what I'm telling you here.
Why You Should Cleanse Your Skin
Removes Dirt, Oil, and Pollutants. During the day, your skin accumulates bacteria, pollutants, viruses, dirt, and dead skin cells. When you wash your face, you are removing these impurities to give your skin a fresh look. If you don't wash your face, your skin will be covered with dirt and grime which makes it difficult for other products (like moisturizers and serums) to penetrate your skin properly.
Helps Maintain Proper PH and Hydration. Regular facial cleansing (along with the use of a moisturizer) helps the skin maintain a proper level of hydration. Dehydrated skin looks and feels rough, wrinkled and aged. Cleansing helps manage PH levels of the skin, which enables sufficient water and product retention.
Helps Maintain Clear Skin. Tiny glands under the skin make oil called sebum to protect the skin. These glands use hair follicles as the pathway for the oil to reach the skin's surface to form a barrier that prevents the penetration of bacteria or other harmful agents. Dirt buildup on the skin's surface can cause blockages of the follicle, trapping sebum, sweat, and dead skin cells. The lack of sebum on the skin's surface allows bacteria to penetrate the follicle causing inflammation. The result? ACNE. Proper skin cleansing clears pores of debris to prevent dirt buildup, allowing the sebum oil to reach the skin surface unimpeded, thereby reducing breakouts.
Other Benefits of Cleansing
Regular cleansing is essential to keeping your skin looking radiant and healthy.
Cleansing helps anti-aging products and treatments work properly.
Cleansing helps maintain proper pore size.
Cleansing encourages proper skin hydration and prevents the production of excess oils.
Source: West Lake Dermatology
Why You Should Moisturize Your Skin
. . . daily moisturizing is vital for healthy skin, yet some think of it as an aesthetically-inclined habit.
Keeps Your Skin Young. The skin on your face is very sensitive to environmental changes and is one of the most frequent areas of the body known to develop skin cancer. Your face also sheds cells more rapidly than other parts of the body and needs moisture to repair itself, which allows younger skin cells to rise to the surface. And, the massaging movement of your hands used when applying moisturizer helps stimulate blood circulation and new cell generation.
Reduces Skin Problems. Using a moisturizer every day can reduce the chance of developing extreme dryness or oiliness. Both extremes are harmful for your skin and cause common skin conditions like acne.
Conceals Skin Blemishes. Using a daily moisturizer helps hide the skin’s blemishes . That is because moisturizing tends to make the skin have a slight sheen.
Source: UT Medical Center
What I Use
While I haven't always been good about a skincare routine, the older I get, the more I pay attention to caring for my skin. The two things I do each and every day without fail are wash my face and apply moisturizer. My skin type is best described as combination, a little on the dry side at times. I have been using LimeLife by Alcone skincare products for over a year and a half, and I love how my skin looks and feels! For my cleanser, I use Dream Clean, and for my moisturizer, I use Skin Therapy.
Dream Clean is cool because what makes it foam is a natural fruit extract, Soapberry. Even better, Soapberry fights acne-causing bacteria and inhibits melanin production, reducing the appearance of age spots and sun damage. Aloe Vera creates a shield to keep moisture in and pollutants out, Extract of White Tea adds antioxidant benefits, and Spirulina Platensis Algae firms skin. You can read more or get it here.
WHY I LOVE IT: It smells like a high-end spa and completely cleanses my face. I love the lather, and I love that it is an all-natural product without harmful chemicals.
Skin Therapy is a win because it moisturizes with naturally hydrating ingredients, such as Safflower Oil, Evening Primrose, Pomegranate Sterols, and naturally occurring sugars. And then, Oat Protein calms and soothes. Sterols can hold double their weight in water and deliver that excess water into surface skin cells. You can read more or get it here.
WHY I LOVE IT: It is a gentle effective moisturizer. It does its job while not making my skin greasy or holding up my makeup application in the mornings.
Do You Have A Skincare Routine?
Skincare doesn't have to be complicated or overwhelming! I would love to help you get into the habit of taking care of your skin. Let's start by establishing a regular cleansing and moisturizing routine customized just for you! While I use Dream Clean and Skin Therapy, LimeLife by Alcone also offers Quench Cleanse, a cream cleanser for dry skin, and Cool Balm, a lighter moisturizer for those with oily skin. If you're open to trying LimeLife by Alcone skincare, and you're not sure which products you need, I would love to help you.
COST SAVINGS ALERT! LimeLife offers cost savings when you purchase more than one product at a time. For example, if you decide to try both a cleanser and a moisturizer, you will save money if you choose the "Fresh Start" collection versus putting the two separate items in your cart or purchasing them at different times. Take your routine one step further and check out our "Skin Confidence"collection, where you add in the facial masque/exfoliant of your choice!
If I can help you, please don't hesitate to reach out. Even if you choose to go with a different skincare brand, take care of yourself and your skin by cleansing and moisturizing daily. I promise you'll feel good about it!
Thanks for joining me, friends.
XOXO,
Erin Shea
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