The Commandments of Good Skin

If only I could go back in time and give myself this list of skincare tips.

I broke out pretty bad as a teenager (and beyond) and recall scouring the internet (or magazines) high and low for some good quality advice. Blogs weren’t exactly around then, and after reading the hundredth article that told me to “simply use Proactive”, I was frustrated, to say the least. In this age of the internet, I think it’s great that we have a plethora of good quality information available at our fingertips. From the likes of Caroline Hirons and Paula’s Choice to informative YouTubers like my favorite Dr. Dray, there are many more reliatble places to increase your skincare knowledge. Today, I’m excited to share with you my Commandments of Good Skin. Through the years, these rules took me a lot of trial and error to figure out. I now stick to them religiously. While some are simplistic in nature, individually and especially combined they make all the difference.

Here they are:

1 / Cleanse Morning and Night - And Before You Put Any Product on Your Skin

This may seem like a given or simple enough, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t cleanse AM and PM. I know there is some confusion about when to cleanse. How often is too often?

My rule of thumb: always cleanse in the evening (more on that below) and, if you’re acne prone, cleanse in the morning before putting on any product (including makeup).

For me personally, cleansing is a must in the AM. Now, you shouldn’t use the same cleanser in the morning as you do to perform a deeper cleanse in the evening. Instead, use a very mild, non-detergent like cleanser. Some may prefer to simply opt for a splash of water, toner, essence, micellar water, etc. to prevent stripping of the skin if you are particularly dry. You can certainly still achieve a clean slate if you opt for this route, it largely depends on your skin type or issue.

2 / Double Cleanse in the Evening

I will save this from being a very long rant and just have you read this.

If you wore makeup or sunscreen that day (which should be most days when it comes to spf), use a makeup remover of your choice (balm, oil, micellar water, etc.) to remove your makeup. News flash: this does not count as washing your face.

Now that your makeup has been removed, it’s time to properly cleanse. Grab a cleansing formula that suits your skin—foaming, non-foaming, gel, or mousse cleanser—and begin cleansing.

You are now properly cleansed and ready for product! I have a post coming soon on my routine and product favorites.

3 / Don’t Use Your Body Towel on Your Face

In the shower, we use a lot of rich, creamy, and emollient products like body wash/oils and conditioners that can linger on our towels. We don’t want that residue on our face. I use a separate, clean hand towel to pat my face dry.

4 / Fresh Washcloth, Every Time

I recommend using a washcloth in the evening (after you’ve removed your makeup) to cleanse your face. Now, if you use a washcloth to cleanse your face, please please please use a new one every. single. time. Washcloths collect a lot of bacteria. You don’t want that on your face (it will absolutely contribute to breakouts). I know it sounds excessive, but head to Target/Amazon and buy cheap packs that you can go through daily and send straight to the laundry room after using.

5 / Change Your Pillow Cases at Least Once a Week

Any side sleepers out there? Think of how up close and personal your cheeks get with that pillowcase. Between sweating in your sleep and the oils and products from your hair, pillowcases collect a lot of grime. This is a great one for those struggling with breakouts.

6 / Sleep with Your Hair Off Your Face

Same concept applies here as with the pillowcases—the products we apply in our hair can be highly comedogenic. Sleep with your hair in a top know or braid to keep it off your face while you sleep. Bonus that it maintains any effort you put into styling your hair.

7 / Don’t Touch Your Face—I repeat Don’t Touch Your Face

An oldie but a goodie. Your hands have bacteria, oil, and who knows what else on them. From using your phone to your laptop, we touch a lot of surfaces constantly. Notice that you’re breaking out in a distinct area like your cheeks or your chin? This could be the culprit. Every time we touch our face or rest our chin in our hands, we are introducing that grime to our skin. Hello breakouts.

8 / Have a Pimple? Take Care of it This Way

We always hear or read: do not pop or pick a pimple! But how am I expected to just walk around with this creature on my face? When you have a pimple (or ten), try this method instead:

Gently cleanse your face to remove debris. Grab one of those handy washcloths and run it under hot water. Place your finger under the washcloth and gently drag it over the pimple. This is great for getting rid of whiteheads specifically while doing less damage to the skin. If it’s under the skin, like a pustle or cyst, don’t touch. I think we call all testify that this does more harm than good. Forcing it out (if it even comes out) damages the skin, leads to more post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and the zits seem to spread and multiply within the area. For pimples under the skin, treat it with a chemical exfoliant in the evening and gently pat on an oil-free moisturizer. Drying lotions and potions do not work for under the skin pimples! It just makes your skin unnecessarily flaky and your makeup look bad.

8 / Exfoliate Two Ways

Physical and Chemical Exfoliants.

Physical Exfoliants

A non-abrasive physical exfoliant can be anything from a washcloth, a Clarisonic or Foreo, or a face scrub. Just make sure it is gentle and won’t cause micro tears (aka surface inflammation) on the skin. This is good for removing surface level dead skin or debris.

Chemical Exfoliants

Chemical Exfoliants can exfoliate down at the pore level (if formulated with the right PH). When I first discovered this via Paula’s Choice, I felt like a scientist. Suddenly, it all clicked. She helped me better understand my ingredient arsenal, which acids worked for which skin problems, PH levels, etc. Read about the different types of chemical exfoliants and proper pH balance here.

9 / USE A TONER (OR TWO)

This guide explains all. Why you should tone, what a toner should and should not do, good/bad ingredients, etc. This transformed my skin. Are you doing it? And if so, are you using the right one?

10 / Use Disposable Sponges and Wash Your Makeup Brushes Regularly

Any Beauty Blender addicts out there? Scroll away now. I can’t imagine a more unhygienic tool for applying makeup. If you are breakout prone, this could be a major culprit. Even if you have the diligence to clean a sponge very frequently, why dedicate that much time? I get a large, cheap pack of the latex-free sponges and use/dispose of them daily for applying foundation and concealer. This made a big difference in my skin as un-washed foundation and concealer applicators spread bacteria and oil on your skin. You also get a nearly similar result to using a beauty blender or a buffing brush. I find I can get away with using brushes for contour, bronzer, blush, highlight, etc. as I use them very light handed and only on targeted areas. I still clean these once a week to keep things clean.

11 / Moisture, Moisture, Moisture

For so long, when I had acne, I assumed it was my moisturizer that was breaking me out so I wouldn’t it use it ever. Looking back, I was essentially drying out my skin excessively by doing this, and in fact, contributing to more breakouts. My dermatologist had me on a routine of cleansing with a harsh cleanser, applying a pea size of benzoyl peroxide, and putting no moisturizer, followed by a similar routine with retinol in the evening. So bad! This led to a horrible cycle of stripping my skin and creating a need for more oil. Even if you have oily, sensitive, or acne-prone skin, you must use a well-formulated moisturizer to maintain the skins moisture barrier. It won’t make things worse, I promise. A well-formulated moisturizer will improve your breakouts, skin texture, and your treatment’s ability to reach your skin (and not just sit on top of dead skin).

11 / Be Cautious of Hair Removal Techniques

Your facial hair removal technique could also be causing your breakouts. Acne starts with the perfect storm of oil and bacteria in the hair follicle lining. If you are experiencing breakouts where you remove your facial hair, try switching up your technique. If you are waxing or using a depilatory cream (not recommended if you are acne-prone) and it’s irritating the skin, try threading or another means.

12 / Avoid These Ingredients    

It’s important to know what ingredients cause your skin to react in a negative way. While I am clearly not a chemist and don’t fully understand all product ingredients and how they interact with each other, I do know of a few irritants that my skin does not get along with like waxes, certain alcohols, and fragrant essential oils. Some good ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid work to rebuild the moisture barrier.

Don’t forget to check out the Create Genuine Pinterest to get a list of recommended products.

What are your skincare commandments? Share below!

XAshley