Skin care for beginners

A common connotation about skin care is that people do it to be 'maarte'. Some people think that putting effort into taking care of your skin is unnecessary because you wash it when you wake up or when you take a bath anyway - so why bother with the numerous products?

Skin care is important because our skin is exposed to dirt practically the whole time we're out (or even at home), so we don't really know what kinds of chemicals or air pollutants are stuck to our skin. Just because we can't see them doesn't mean it's not there. Skin care helps us remove dead skin cells and dirt that may have accumulated while we're outside. Making sure your skin is clean helps you prevent pimples or other skin problems you might face.

Because we're getting older and older each day (let's face it, it's the truth), we need to take better care of our skin. We're not the same people we were five or ten years ago. No matter how much we deny it, aging has different effects on our skin - some of them are even unpleasant. So what do we need to do? We need to take care of it in the way we can. 

You might think "Why do I need to do it? I'm already busy as it is!" but believer it or not, skin care takes only a bit of your time. You can do it in 2-3 minutes tops, if you're in a rush! Here's an easy step-by-step you can do if you just want a quick and easy routine.

Washing your face helps you get rid of dirt and dead skin cells, and it prepares your skin for the products you'll put on after. When you wake up or when you're getting ready for bed, you might notice that your face has gotten a bit (or a lot) oilier. Washing helps prepare your face for the products you'll put on, so this is a very vital part of your skin care routine. 

When you're done washing, pat your face carefully instead of rubbing too hard so you won't harm your face. 

A toner is essential for extra cleansing after you wash your face. No matter how hard you wash your face with a cleanser, there will be some elements left and a toner can help you with that. Using a toner will also help your face get back to it's natural pH level. 

Wait for your face to dry from being washed before using a toner. Put some (not too little and not too much) on a cotton ball and wipe it gently all over your face.

Moisturizing is another important part of a skin care regimen. A moisturizer will hydrate your skin so it won't get dry. It's important to use this in the summer or even during the cold months - in short, you need to use this all year round!

The moisturizer will serve as a protection for your skin while helping it stay young and fresher-looking. If you like to wear makeup (or even just foundation and powder) without using moisturizer, it can make the powder and the creams cake up and you wouldn't want that! With a moisturizer, your face will look smoother and it won't appear dry. 

Use a moisturizer after the toner has dried on your face. Instead of rubbing it harshly on your face, spread it carefully all around your face and your neck. 

You might think you only need sunscreen on beach or park days, but that's not true! It's important to wear sunscreen even when you're just going to work or school. The Philippines is a tropical country which means more often than not, the weather is hot and humid. Even a short walk to the mall can leave you sweating because the sun is up. A sunscreen can protect your skin from the damages that might be caused by the sun. It serves as an additional barrier for your skin. Sunscreens can protect you against UVA rays, while sunblock is made to protect you from UVB rays. For maximum protection, you can choose a product that will protect you against UVA and UVB rays. 

Put sunscreen all over your face once the moisturizer has dried. The sunscreen can leave your face feeling sticky, so we suggest using a primer before putting powder and/or foundation/concealer. Still, make sure the product has dried on your face before putting on makeup!

There's a huge variation of facial washes or facial cleansers you can try, from local products to high end stuff. The best way to choose one for you is to pick something that's in your budget (since you'll be using this a lot), and something that's good for your skin type. If you get acne a lot, or you want something that brightens your face, look for a product that helps in that regard.

The first set of products we've used when we started with our skin care regimen was the Céleteque DermoScience starter kit.

As pictured above, the starter kit has a facial wash, toner, and a moisturizer. If you're still starting and you don't want to search far for good products, we suggest using this kit. You can buy these products at Watsons or drugstore branches,  at department stores. You can also order the set online at Lazada for Php 457 by clicking this link.

After you've tried this, we're sure you'll get the desired results. Céleteque also has other products (even a sun-protect moisturizer) that are worth trying! And when you're feeling more adventurous about trying other skin care products, you can look for some online or in BeautyMNL.

To summarize, here's what you should do:

You can even add more products (such as a eye cream, serum, peel mad, and a facial mask!) to customize your skin care routine. But don't forget the four items we've indicated above, before anything else!

At first or at times when you're too lazy to function, you'll think about forgoing your skin care routine. But once you see how much your skin has improved, we assure you you'll love doing this as it's a vital part of self care!

Share with us your skin care tips below!