In Skincare, Less can be More
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the assumption that the people who care the most about or have the most intricate routine to care for their skin will have the best skin, but that’s not quite true.
In fact, as far as having a good skincare routine, sometimes less is more. Obsessive skincare, such as using skincare product after product, doing multiple facial masks a day, and constantly touching your face (washing is included in this) is simply not good for your skin. If you’re constantly interfering with your facial skin somehow, you could be disrupting its acid mantle. The skin’s acid mantle is a thin layer on your face that essentially acts as its first line of defense against bacteria and irritants. It preserves your skin’s microbiome, and it exists on your face naturally.
If you disrupt your skin’s acid mantle, this could allow bacteria to get into your skin and cause breakouts. Disrupting the acid mantle could also increase the pH of your skin, which is associated with a variety of skin diseases. Read more about this from the Journal of Integrative Dermatology, linked below.
Consistency is Key
The urge to wash your face just “one more time” is understandable. It can be tempting to constantly rinse your face, as it may give you the sense of security that you are doing as much as possible for your skin. But take a moment to consider the way that athletes train. They don’t lift weights all day, everyday, because that would result in no muscle recovery. They don’t run all day, because that would result in serious fatigue and put them at a heightened risk for injury.
Instead, what efficient athletes do is plan their workouts, complete them, and call it a day. They know that going into the gym with no plan will result in no progress. They need to recover, and it’s important for them to know when they’ve maxed out what they can demand from their body that day. And athletes who have developed such an optimal schedule most likely got there through experimentation. You should treat your skin the same way; develop an effective and doable skincare routine, and stick to it. Make changes as needed, but don’t switch it up on a whim.
Giving yourself time with a certain regimen will allow you to learn and notice things about your skin, which is unique to you, like a snowflake.
This doesn’t mean that a skincare routine is the only thing you can do for your skin. Again, think of the daily habits of athletes. Though they may have finished their workout, they do other things to get better. This can be stretching, watching film from one of their games, or reading about the sport. Likewise, the next time that you feel tempted to indulge in “extra skincare” outside of your routine, consider the variety of options you have. Try and reduce your stress levels through meditation. Drink plenty of water. Read an article on skincare. Take a walk if it’s a nice day out – Vitamin D is important! These are things that will help your brain and body, and in turn, your face.
Conclusion
What we mean when we say “less can be more” in skincare is that too much clutter or redundancy in your skincare routine can be damaging. If you don’t have any actual skin conditions, the only things that are absolute “must-haves” in your skincare routine are a face wash to use twice a day, a moisturizer, and a sunscreen. Incorporating our facial masks into your routine should come after finalizing a face wash and moisturizer that works for you.
Our facial masks are designed to provide additional benefits, like hydration and a bright complexion, and can act as a substitute for other products that you may have in your routine. For example, one of our customers reported being able to eliminate aftershave from their routine entirely, as using our Hydrating Facial Mask after shaving had reduced their razor bumps and irritation.
Take our 1-2 minute Skin Needs Quiz today to get guidance specific to your skin needs, a recommendation for the facial mask best suited for you, and a 35% discount code!
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