It’s Skincare Season — Charger Press

Photos and article by Cora Kuhlenbeck

With the onset of Covid-19 and quarantine, many people all over the world have picked up new hobbies, one of the most popular: skincare. Skincare has become the newest internet infatuation, with many influencers gaining popularity for their tips and tricks on how to better your skincare routine. While most internet obsessions tend to fade out, it seems this one might actually outlast its current peak.

So what is skincare and why is it important?

Skincare is considered to be the “range of practices that support skin integrity, enhance its appearance, and relieve skin conditions.” If you were to ask any dermatologist or esthetician about the importance of skincare, they would likely tell you that a structured and personalized regimen is essential to keeping your skin nourished, healthy, and youthful looking. The skin is the largest organ on your body, not to mention the barrier between your body and the outside world. Thus, it is critical that we keep this organ healthier and for longer. Knowing your skin type can also be greatly beneficial. This will help you monitor what comes in contact with your skin, allowing you to keep the things that irritate it at bay. Having a skincare routine can ultimately establish other healthy routines that will positively affect you, because when you feel good, you look good, and that will push you to pursue an even more confident lifestyle.

How can I create a routine?

Before developing a routine, it is important that you know your skin type, as this will determine the type of products you should be using on your skin. The three main types of skin are oily, dry, and combination skin. Once you have figured out which category you fit in, you may begin to find your cleanser. For oily skin, most people tend to lean towards a facial wash that is less hydrating and more focused on oil removing, exfoliating, or deep cleansing. For those of you with dry skin, pick a cleanser that is hydrating, refreshing, and gentle. Now for combination skin, finding a cleanser might be a little more complicated. Usually a gentle cleanser or cleanser containing lactic acid and hyaluronic acid is helpful in combating combination skin. This is because lactic acid helps to shed dry skin and hyaluronic acid helps to maintain moisture. After finding a cleanser, you may consider serums or toners used to target specific skin concerns such as wrinkles, dark spots, and blemishes. The last step in any routine is to moisturize and use SUNSCREEN. This step is important in locking in all the ingredients you just used on your face. Also, though often forgotten about, sunscreen will keep your skin from aging because it protects from the damage of UV rays. Now that you have curated a customized routine, it’s time to find the right products!

Cleanser

Listed below are brands with some of the best cleansers on the market, that also aren’t too expensive.

Cerave
- Offers a variety of cleansers specified for different skin (normal to dry or normal to oily).
- All cleansers made with 3 essential ceramides.
- $9.89 at Target
- Personal Review: I have tried MANY cleansers, and I do have to say that the Cerave foaming facial cleanser for oily skin is my absolute favorite. I feel that it does a good job purifying my skin of the excess oil it accumulates throughout the day, while not over drying my skin. I always feel clean, hydrated, and refreshed after using this!

Paula’s Choice
- Offers cleansers that go beyond skin type, such as pore reducing, make-up removal, and redness relief.
- Cleansers for all skin types.
- Average cost is $14.00 on Paula’s Choice website.

Bliss
- Offers cleansers that come in different forms: cleansers, jelly, sticks.
- Skincare quiz to help you specify skin and products.
- Average cost is $12.00 on Bliss website.

La Roche- Posay
- Offers multiple cleansers for all skin types.
- Has cleanser options for sensitive skin.
- Medicated cleanser for those who struggle with acne.
- Average cost is $13.00 on La Roche- Posay website.

Masks

Though not essential to a skin routine, masks are often used to boost the surface of skin. They are good for exfoliating, extra moisture, or brightening.

Ulta Sleep Mask
- Improves skin texture as well as brightening and balancing complexion.
- The hyaluronic acid penetrates and nourishes skin cells.
- Sea kelp replenishes essential vitamins and minerals which leaves skin feeling softer and healthier.
- $7.69 at Ulta.
- Personal review: This mask is very lightweight and you only need to put a small amount on your skin, which saves the mask and money.

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
- When mixed with apple cider vinegar, this mask utilizes the power of natural made clay to draw impurities out of the skin. It also works by constricting facial tissue, which draws blood flow to the face.
- It helps ease the appearance of scars, blemishes, and dark spots. It also controls sebum (oil) production, which is great for acne prone skin!
- $8.00 at Target.
- Personal Review: This is THE ultimate mask! I love that it is very affordable and comes in great quantity. It has helped reduce my acne so much, and works wonders when purifying your skin. Every time I use this mask my face is left feeling soft and healthy for days. Number 1 product I would recommend.

Serums

Serums are used to target specific concerns on your skin. This could be redness, the skin barrier, dark spots, or aging.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
- This serum is great for restoring the skin barrier and retaining moisture.
- It also contains vitamin B5, which has anti-inflammatory properties and draws moisture from the air to keep skin hydrated.
- Vegan and cruelty free.
- $6.80 at Ulta.
- Personal review: I love using this serum before I apply my moisturizer. When I wake up in the morning, I can definitely notice the difference in my skin, as it is more supple, hydrated, and dewy looking.

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA2%
- Lactic acid in this serum brightens, smooths, and evens skin while also making it firmer.
- Used as a light exfoliant that breaks up dead skin cells, this serum helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, lines, and dark spots.
- Vegan and cruelty free.
- $6.80 at Ulta.
- Personal review: Upon buying this product, the Ulta worker suggested I only use this serum once a week because I am still young. However, using an anti-aging product while you’re younger is actually more effective because your skin is able to better absorb the ingredients. I personally like using this serum because not only does it change colors, but it really does leave my skin with a glowing feeling.

Moisturizer

As mentioned earlier, moisturizer is a critical step in any skincare regimen. This is because it locks in all the ingredients previously applied to the face.

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizer + HA
- Thicker cream that applies smoothly.
- Vegan and cruelty free.
- $5.80 at Sephora.
- Personal Review: This moisturizer is alright. It is thick when it comes out of the bottle, however I feel that I still have to apply it more than once for my skin to feel hydrated.

Cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion
- Lightweight cream for normal to dry skin.
- Contains 3 essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
- $12.99 at Walgreens.
- Personal Review: I really liked this facial lotion because it was lightweight, yet I only needed a small drop to hydrate my entire face. I also feel that the ceramides boost the effectiveness.

Sunscreen

While it seems quite obvious, people still forget to wear sunscreen! What a lot of people don’t know, however, is that it should be worn everyday, in any season, after moisturizing. This will greatly affect the skin barrier, keeping it healthy and youthful looking even as you age.

Cerave Hydrating Sunscreen Face Sheer Tint SPF 30
- Protects from the sun while also getting the light coverage of a tint, similar to a concealer.
- Only protects from SPF 30.
- $17.99 at Walgreens.

La Roche-Posay Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 60
- It has a velvet texture and melts in the skin without leaving a white residue.
- Good for all skin tones because it doesn’t leave the white cast behind.
- Protects from high rays of SPF 60.
- $21.99 at Walgreens.

Tips and Tricks

Don’t feel like you need to break the bank finding good skincare products. Most of these products, and others, can be found at your local drugstore or cosmetics store.

Don’t be turned away by the fact that many products are clinically or chemically formulated. These products are literally created by science to benefit your skin!

Natural doesn’t always mean better. Many times manufacturers will put the word “natural” on their packaging to sell their products. This usually is just a cover up of all the fragrances, essential oils, and cheap substances they are actually selling.

Stray away from fragrances and essential oils! Yes, it smells lovely, but those very things that smell good are actually masking the harm they’re causing to the skin on your face. Save the fragrances for your perfume!

If you struggle with acne, finding products with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide is great for targeting those tough areas!

Remember that skincare is a personal journey! What works for some people might not work for you. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t seem to find anything out there that agrees with your skin. There is always something new to be tried! Also, talking about your skincare concerns with a dermatologist is a great way to find what will work for you!