As a cosmetic chemist, women always ask me, “What happened to that soft and smooth skin I used to have?” Simple. Over the years, our diets, environmental pollution, sun damage, and our other bad habits eventually take their toll on the skin.
What skin care manufacturers don’t want you to know is that the key to radiant, glowing skin is to be proactive rather than reactive. Still, it’s never too late to start taking care of your skin for today and for the future.
Here is my recommended beginner skin care routine. Regardless of what else you do with your skin, if you stick to these 3 things consistently, your skin WILL become healthier and more youthful-looking.
Step 1. Wash Your Face Twice a Day
Skin is our body’s largest organ and oxygen is vital to healthy blood flow and our ability to heal ourselves. To make your skin soft, I suggest an exfoliating cleanser, formulated specifically for daily use. Cleansing and exfoliating regularly removes impurities accumulated throughout the day, revealing the fresh skin hiding under all that oil, makeup, and dirt. Giving your face some breathing room gives it an opportunity to fight off toxins and bacteria that cause various dermatological issues.
The first step to washing your face should be to wash your hands. Washing your hands before washing your face ensures that dirt and blemish-causing bacteria from your hands doesn’t get transferred to your face. This is an extremely important step that is often overlooked.
Next, wash with a soap-free cleanser – using your hands! That’s right, don’t use a washcloth or sponge, as both can actually irritate your skin and spread bacteria. Rinse using lukewarm water.
Regular exfoliation before or after cleansing helps to get soft, smooth skin quickly. If you do not have an exfoliating cleanser, make sure to use your favorite exfoliator after cleansing. Exfoliate for about one minute (but not more than two), to get rid of dead skin. Don’t apply pressure – you want to gently exfoliate without irritating your skin. Rinse again using lukewarm water.
When you are finished, pat your face dry (don’t rub!) using a clean cotton towel. Rubbing irritates skin and hastens the return of unwanted bacteria.
David’s Cleanser Recommendations
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Step 2. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!
Of all the ways to get soft skin, making sure your skin is moisturized may be the most important thing to remember. Our bodies are made of mostly water and without it, it’s impossible for our organs—including skin — to remain healthy and functioning properly.
No matter what your skin type, you need a natural moisturizer that will lock in vital nutrients and moisture. Avoid synthetic ingredients that can actually damage the health of your skin, or even accelerate the signs of aging.
Remember, your skin is naturally absorbent and acts as a medium in transferring these toxins into your body, where they can enter your bloodstream and cause a plethora of problems. This is why it’s important to use a product in which the active ingredient mimics that which occurs naturally within the body.
David’s Moisturizer Recommendations
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Step 3. Protect Your Skin from the Environment
Take it from me – there are few things more horrifying to a skin care expert than the number of people who believe that sunscreen is something you only apply when you go to the pool or beach.
Most of us go outside everyday and every time we do we’re exposed to the sun’s rays. Chronic overexposure makes skin feel leathery and lessens its elasticity, causing wrinkles. Sunscreen is actually a vital part of a proactive daily skin care regimen and a key to maintaining soft skin over the long haul.
Stay up-to-date with my newest formulations – I have sunscreen in the works!
Beginner Skin Care for Men
I know this is more than 3 steps, but there’s an extra special step for the men! Washing and shaving your face with soap – which I know many of us do – severely dries out the skin. It even makes it easier for us to get nicks and cuts. Soap’s pH is too harsh for the skin on our faces.
Make sure you’re shaving with moisturizing shaving cream for a smoother shave and hydrated skin. My Protein+ Shave Cream from PUR attitude is the perfect solution!
How to Take Care of Your Skin for Beginners
Make these three easy steps part of your daily routine and I guarantee that you’ll find yourself on the skin care defense much less often. In the process, you’ll score baby soft skin that everyone will want!
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