How To Build A Simple Skin Care Routine
By Zhao Lu
If the idea of the infamous 10-step skin care routine seems overwhelming, take heart: skin care doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Rather, a simple skin care routine can be a fun, relaxing way to take care of yourself and your body. In this post, we’ll help you build a skin care routine to keep your skin looking youthful. Keep in mind that this is meant as a starting point, and you can add on any additional elements to fit your needs.
Body Care
Many people assume that a skin care routine is all about the face. But good skin care should focus on your entire body! While it may be tempting to save time by getting dressed right out of the shower, your skin care routine should include a gentle body lotion that offers hydrating and moisturizing properties, allowing your skin to remain soft, balanced, and healthy. Don’t wait until you see dry, cracked areas of your skin before moisturizing your body -- it’s far better to get into the habit now before problems develop.
We recommend applying body lotion after showers or baths when your body has been stripped of oils and can lose moisture. If you find that your skin is drying out more often, you can reapply as needed throughout the day. TEA.L body care is lightweight and absorbs quickly, perfect to lock in moisture after a shower or a long day.
Face Care
You don’t need to layer a ton of creams and serums on your face (unless you want to!) in order to start seeing results. We recommend following these basic steps in the morning and at night to take care of your face:
The first step of any good skin care routine is to wash your face with a cleanser (The New York Times offers a great breakdown of recommended types of cleansers by skin concern -- oily, dry, sensitive, etc.). This is especially important in the evening in order to wash off skin care products and cosmetics, as well as cleanse the pores of oil, sweat, and debris. Use your hands to work the cleanser into a lather, then apply to your face by rubbing in small circular motions, as if you are giving yourself a massage.
After cleansing, the next step is applying a toner. Although toner is optional, we recommend it for its numerous benefits, which include boosting hydration and balancing your complexion. Toner can be applied either with the tips of the fingers or with a cotton pad. Green tea and Vitamin E are known to be good ingredients for toners due to their hydrating and antioxidant properties. All TEA.L products contain these ingredients, too!
The last step in facial care is to use a moisturizer. (Again, see The New York Times for recommended types of moisturizers by skin concern). As with body care, facial lotions are designed to hydrate, moisturize, and soften the skin. In the morning, it is typically better to use a lightweight moisturizer, while at night you can use a heavier one to soak into your skin as you sleep. TEA.L moisturizers use non-pore blocking oils to work with all types of skin and avoid breakouts. For example, our Green Tea + Guayusa Face Care line is hand-crafted with carrot seed, rosehip, tamanu, and argan oils to supercharge your skin care with extra nutrients.
If you wanted to apply additional serums as part of your skin care routine, these would go between the toner and the moisturizer steps. However, serums are not necessary, especially if you are just getting into the habit of following a simple skin care routine.
When trying a new face care product for the first time, spot test it on another part of your body (such as your arm). If your skin doesn’t have a negative reaction after 24 hours, then apply some of the product on a small area of your face. If you don’t get a negative reaction there either, then you can start incorporating the new product into your routine.
Eye Care
While eye care is optional, it is an important step if you begin to suffer from bags or irritation. Caffeine and hyaluronic acid are two ingredients that can help. Caffeine acts as an anti-inflammatory and may help improve circulation in the skin under the eyes, while hyaluronic acid may hydrate and brighten the under-eye area. Both of these ingredients are present in TEA.L eye care.
Apply your eye cream by placing a small amount on your ring finger, and then lightly tapping the area around your eyes. Similar to facial care and body care, paying attention to eye care now may also help to prevent skin problems in the future.
Sun Block
It doesn’t matter how in-depth your skin care routine is if you don’t protect your skin from the sun! In the morning, use sun block or a moisturizer with SPF as the final step in your facial skin care routine. You should also protect all other areas of your body that may be exposed to the sun -- arms, legs, neck, etc. -- even during the winter. Dermatologists recommend sunscreens with an SPF of at least 30, as well as broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB ray) protection. Reapply as needed throughout the day.
Additional Tips
In addition to having a simple skin care routine, there are plenty of lifestyle tips you can follow in order to keep your skin in peak condition. These include getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and reducing your stress levels. Taking care of yourself also takes care of your skin!
Your nutrition and hydration can also affect your skin. That’s why you should drink plenty of fluids and maintain a well-balanced diet. We recommend drinking tea frequently both for its hydrating and strong antioxidant properties, both of which can help to keep your skin happy and healthy.
Finally, in any skin care routine, consistency is key. It can take time before you start seeing results, so maintain your routine for several weeks before changing it up.