I'm 32 and I can honestly say that I've spent most of my life wondering why others have it better. Better on their face! I compared myself to others and tried to find the cause of my skin problems. Why does my friend's face look like a fresh peach just picked off the tree, and I - despite using exactly the same cosmetics - look at most like I've just finished chasing a bus? My skin was tired, shiny, and red in places.
The labyrinth called care
Wandering through the maze called self-care, I kept walking down dead ends, adding more and more things that didn't serve me to a long list .
As a teenager without constant internet access, I had no idea how to care for my skin to get out of this with my face intact . A lot has changed since the days when my morning ritual was to wash myself with soap and pat on a greasy cream from a blue box.
Through trial and error, I learned that my oily skin doesn't like drying alcohol toners at all , and toothpaste doesn't work on individual pimples. Ultimately, it turned out that I don't have oily skin at all, and that eye cream should be applied UNDER the moisturizer, not ON top of it .
How to properly care for sensitive skin? Check here !
There were also moments when I felt tired of skincare . Everything seemed complicated. The multitude of products, formulas, rules made my head spin. So I limited my skincare to just a gel and a light cream, only to be amazed by someone's glow a moment later and go back to scheming.
Fortunately, now everything is within reach. What was once an enigma of the cosmetics world is now not only accessible but also accessible. Every beauty routine blog breaks down the intricacies of beauty care into prime factors and even deciphers such mysteries as INCI composition!
What does care mean to me now?
For me, skincare is now somewhere next to spiritual practice. You could say I anoint myself with great devotion. My cosmetic bag has been carefully composed and as soon as I forget to pack some of it in my suitcase or, oh my, the whole thing, I panic. The mere thought of washing my face with hotel soap makes my throat dry. I consider my current skincare routine to be the best I've ever had.
Which doesn't mean I've stopped searching...
I scroll through social media looking for advice and science that will revolutionize my skincare routine yet again. And what happens? Every time I think I can’t be surprised by anyone or anything anymore, someone or something does.
What do I want to share with you?
To make some sense of it all, I write articles on You KNOW for people who are just starting this whole crazy adventure. I started by explaining what basic care is ( you can check it out here ).
Experimenting is good, but it takes a lot of time and money. So I invite you to join me in an adventure that will allow you to save one, the other, or both. Below I am attaching some interesting facts that came to my mind while preparing to write this text. I think they are a good complement to our care content.
When to use what?
I know it's easy to get lost in skincare routines. It took me a long time to figure out that the perfect time to apply a face mask is when you... have time for it. And of course, it's no big deal if you apply it on a day off while drinking your morning coffee. But the general rule is that your morning skincare routine should focus on prevention and protection during the day , and your nighttime routine should focus on cleansing and repair. Following this rule, a face mask is a great option for nighttime, because after a thorough cleansing, the skin is supported in regeneration and nourishment while we sleep. Win-win!
And makeup? Does proper care eliminate it?
Absolutely not. However, try to choose non-comedogenic cosmetics (those that do not clog pores). And after the whole day, you MUST remove your makeup.
Another thing: makeup products should be replaced regularly. Do you have lipsticks that have been with you for many, many years? It's high time to say goodbye to them!
Eye area
If you tend to have skin irritations around your eyes, make sure your face cream has been tested for this area and is safe to use on it. Face creams tend to migrate and sometimes their ingredients or concentrations are too strong for the delicate skin around your eyes.
And one more thing: don't share your makeup tools with others, and if you do happen to get an eye infection, replace all the cosmetics you've used in that area after it's healed. Otherwise, you could get infected again.
Not bad for a start, right? But remember, we're just getting started. Stay tuned!
Created at: 30/08/2022
Updated at: 13/10/2022
