As adult humans, most of us know what we should be doing in terms of what’s best for our health and happiness. But, every now and then, it’s good to get a reminder of the essential beauty routine steps that we may not have thought of before. When it comes to beauty, we’re spoiled for choice in ways to look after our appearance. There’s always some kind of new fad that’s supposed to make your skin glow, a trendy celebrity routine to follow, or a state of the art serum we apparently need to have in our lives.
Most of us probably know that the only steps we actually need to take in our personal beauty routines are the ones that make us feel our personal best — whatever that may mean to us. But if you're just starting out with beauty, or you're always looking for the next big thing, knowing some important (and often forgotten) beauty routine steps is always a plus. Here are seven simple steps that would benefit anyone who wishes to take care of their beauty basics, without all the unnecessary bells and whistles.
1. Cleanse With Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
In a video encompassing her evening skin care routine, Michelle Phan recommended cleansing with organic extra virgin olive oil instead of products containing harsh chemicals. Michelle said, “...it’s going to melt down the makeup, it’s going to be easy to remove, and also it’s going to help nourish the skin too. Just because it doesn’t strip away the natural oils that are already on my face, but it helps break down the products at the same time without irritating my skin.”
2. Moisturize Before Applying Makeup
Ever since I started wearing makeup, I have moisturized before applying my makeup products to my skin. I thought it was an unwritten beauty rule, until I discovered that a friend of mine dives straight in with foundation. Of course, we all have different skin types so what works for one person may not work for another, but some experts recommend applying moisturizer before makeup.
According to Glamour's Lipstick site, “For the perfect canvas, make sure your skin is clean and moisturized.” Makeup artist Rachel Goodwin told Lipstick, “Wait five minutes before you apply foundation to let moisturizer sink in.” I view applying moisturizer as being similar to creating a barrier between your skin and makeup, so the makeup doesn't clog your pores as much as it would without it.
3. Always Remove Your Makeup
I am definitely guilty of rolling in after a night out, or a super late night at work and forgetting to take my makeup off. Dr. James C. Marotta, facial plastic surgeon & skincare expert, warned readers of Good Housekeeping about the damaging effects of not removing makeup before bed, "Sleeping in makeup can be detrimental to the skin's health," Marotta said. "This is especially true because the skin repairs itself at night while you sleep, so makeup can clog your pores and not allow the skin to breathe." So no matter how tired you are, remove the day's makeup to help your skin stay healthy.
4. Banish Blackheads
Blackheads might be the only thing standing in your way of achieving flawless skin. They're super easy to get and if you don't keep on top of them, you could be left with a whole host of blackheads. Instead, it might be a good idea to include banishing blackheads in your beauty routine. Depending on how your blackhead population is and the frequency that you find yourself gaining blackheads, you might want to go for a daily or weekly solution. According to Allure, there are many ways to vanquish blackheads from utilizing a salicylic acid gel, a retinoid, or a Clarisonic.
5. Exfoliate No More Than Three Times Per Week
After a bad experience caused by exfoliating too often, Glamour writer Caroline Solomon spoke to some skincare experts to get the low down on how often we should be exfoliating. Dermatologist Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D. told Ms. Solomon, "Over-exfoliating can cause chronic skin irritation and inflammation, which can lead to accelerated aging." Dr. Tanzi explained that we should exfoliate, “Two to three times a week for normal and combination skin, and once a week for sensitive skin.” There are lots of recipes for homemade natural exfoliators out there, so you needn’t spend a ton of money on exfoliators packed full of chemicals.
6. Apply Sunscreen
Sunscreen should be a vital part of any human's beauty routine, no matter your age, sex, or location. Fellow Bustler Lindsey Rose Black spoke to some experts on the topic of what happens when you don't use sunscreen. Her findings ranged from potential scarring to much more serious and dangerous results. Your skin's health is in your hands when it comes to sunscreen, so start applying it asap!
7. Use A Clarifying Shampoo
Sunday Shampoo, From $25 For 8oz, bumbleandbumble.com
Use a clarifying shampoo such as Bumble and bumble's Sunday Shampoo to give your hair a truly thorough wash. Use it once a week to, "...rid hair of product residue, hard water minerals, pollutants, you name it." However, this product is not for those with color treated locks, although it can be used before color or chemical treatments.
Form your beauty routine around these simple beauty rituals. Add in further steps to suit your beauty needs, but don't forget these seven steps to ensure you've got the basics nailed!
Images: Getty Images (7); Courtesy Brands
