I am a beginner, so please help me with skincare advice!

Dec 21, 2013

Jessie H.

Okay, so I am 18 and I have finally decided to put some effort into taking care of my skin. Problem is, I literally know NOTHING about skincare. I need tips!! Like what to do on a daily basis, the difference between moisturizer and cleanser...(haha yes I am so clueless), etc. Please, I need help!

Dec 21, 2013

Cat C.

What type of skin do you have? Oily? Combination? Dry? Normal?

Dec 21, 2013

Hannah K.

Oh boy. Okay start by figuring out your skin type, would be my suggestion. Are you oily? Dry? Combo? Acne-prone, blackhead prone? What are your skin concerns.

Dec 21, 2013

Santana G.

What are your skincare concerns? Then we will help you from there.

Dec 21, 2013

Shanice M.

I'm just getting started into taking care of my skin too.
I just wash my face twice daily with warm water and a facial cleaner by the brand 'simple' (they also do toners, make up removers, moisturisers ECT..)
I use the Nivea creme for my face daily, and also put the night cream on most nights.

It has improved my skin so much and the products are really inexpensive :)
Also you google ways of making natural face masks from products you have at home so it won't cost you a penny!

Hope I helped in some way 😊💗

Dec 21, 2013

Jessie H.

I think my skin is a combination. I have a lot of blackheads. Also, my skin looks really dull, if that makes sense.

Dec 21, 2013

Jessie H.

Thank you Shanice! I will look into those products.

Dec 21, 2013

Hannah K.

For blackheads (my skin concern) I use my Clarisonic (which is really expensive but a total investment, it's made my skin so nice and smooth), and a cleanser with salicylic acid (which actually dissolves the blackheads and breaks down the dirt in pores. Neutrogena is good). Be sure to follow your cleanser with a moisturizer. I like Aveeno, and the Body Shop Tea Tree line.

Dec 21, 2013

Lizzy W.

There are three basic parts to the everyday skincare routine: cleanse, tone, and moisturize.

A face wash or cleanser is to, quite obviously, clean your face! Unless you have extremely dry skin, you should wash your face twice a day, at morning and at night. My top recommendation is the Gentle Daily Skin Cleanser from Cetaphil. It's a very basic product without any weird fragrances or colourants added.

A toner is almost an extension to a cleanser. Most often you pour it on a cotton pad and wipe it across your face, and this is to remove any dirt or oils that your cleanser missed, or leftover residue from your cleanser. However, it can be drying, and not everyone needs it. If you wear face makeup every day, I suggest you use a toner like Bioderma at night to make sure all of your makeup is removed.

And lastly comes to moisturizer. Since both the toner and cleanser strip your face of its natural oils, it's important to replenish some of the moisture to prevent dry patches. I suggest Aqueous cream; it's a basic, lightweight product, it's cheap, and it won't cause breakouts.

If you want to go the extra mile and really be good to your skin, there are two parts: scrubs and masks.

A scrub should be used 2-3 times a week. This will unclog your pores and remove any dead skin cells. Basically, it improves the overall health and appearance of your skin. It will look and feel much cleaner and smoother. I suggest the Gentle Exfoliant from Dermalogica - it's pricey, but works really well. Most drugstore scrubs have exfoliating beads, which can actually irritate your skin and spread bacteria.

When it comes to face masks, there are a lot of options. There are so many DIY recipes using common ingredients like honey, yogurt, and egg whites. As for store bought, you can either buy a mask in a tube for multiple uses, or a one use package. I like going for a facial at a salon every 2-3 months; it's not only a great time to relax, but they do everything from steam your face, extract blackheads, and apply a serum. If you're going to use a mask at home, do it every other week to once a month. Different masks address different problems, like big pores, acne, fine lines and wrinkles, and more.

That is the basics! I hope it helped. I hope I explained it well; let me know if you have any other questions.

Dec 21, 2013

Santana G.

For dull skin I recommend you to exfoliate your skin twice a week. I use Aveeno positively radiant brightening scrub. It is super gentle.

Dec 21, 2013

Jessie H.

Thank you for all of your help! This site is so helpful. I'm actually really excited to try all of your advice.

Dec 21, 2013

Hannah K.

Just be careful, if you try too many things at once your skin could freak out. Start small :)