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woman wearing a clay face mask to boost her skincare routine

Taking Your Skincare Routine to the Next Level

Establishing a basic skincare routine is a smart way to keep your skin bright, youthful, and healthy. However, many people want to go beyond the basics and take their routine from beginner to connoisseur.

In this article, we’ll talk about great skincare “extras” like masks, double cleansing, dermarolling, and more that you can add to your at-home routine. Keep reading if you’re ready to transform your skincare.

 

Face Masks

Masks are an amazing skincare extra that can nourish your skin or address other issues, but how do you decide which mask is right for you?

The first thing you should consider is your skin type. People with dry skin benefit from different masks than those with oily, acne-prone skin. Also, consider the time of year and your geography. Many people benefit from moisture-heavy masks in the winter, and people in hot, arid climates can benefit from moisturizing masks, even in the summertime. However, acne-prone skin may breakout easily from heavy masks during hot, humid summers.

Next, consider your specific skin concerns. Are you battling acne? Fighting wrinkles? Craving moisture? Choose a mask that has ingredients proven to address your skin’s problem areas. Let’s take a deeper look at different types of face masks.

 

Clay Masks

Clay masks detoxify and clear skin of pore-clogging impurities. They help to firm and brighten skin, but they can also dry it out. People with dry skin should be careful not to overuse clay masks, sticking to once a week or less.

Sometimes, clay masks can be hard to remove after they’ve dried. Instead of scrubbing your face to get them off, hop in the shower or place a wet, warm washcloth over your face. The warmth and moisture will help loosen the mask so you can rinse it off easily in the shower or at the sink.

 

Cream Masks

Thick, cream masks add nutrients and moisture to the skin to plump it and give it a healthy, youthful glow. Sometimes, they’re marketed as “sleep masks” that you put on before bed and wash off the next morning. Cream masks work well for normal to dry skin, but they may cause breakouts in people with oily, acne-prone skin.

 

Sheet Masks

When the K-beauty craze reached America, one of the first things people latched onto was sheet masks. There are tons of different options, many of which offer moisture or other potent active ingredients like antioxidants and anti-aging compounds.

If you decide to add sheet masks to your routine, make sure that you select varieties that are suited to your skin type and goals. A popular way to use them is during or after air travel to rehydrate the skin. When you’re finished with the mask, remove it with clean hands and gently pat the remaining product into your skin to get the maximum benefit.

Tip: Double the benefit of a serum by putting it on your face and sealing it in with a sheet mask. The mask will help the serum sink deeper into your pores.

 

Exfoliating Masks

Targeted exfoliation can help remove dead cells that clog pores and make skin appear dull. If you have dry skin, be careful not to overdo the exfoliation, or you could cause irritation.

People with oily, acne-prone skin should also go easy on exfoliating masks. Attempting to “dry out” your acne actually causes your skin to produce extra sebum, or oil, to compensate. After you exfoliate, replenish your lost moisture with a gentle, non-comedogenic moisturizer to soothe your skin and prevent it from overproducing sebum.

 

Double Cleansing

Another staple of K-beauty is double cleansing. The process is simple: cleanse with an oil-based cleanser first, then a water-based cleanser.

The goal of the first step is to remove makeup, dirt, and oil that a foaming, water-based cleanser cannot. Don’t be afraid of double cleansing if you have naturally oily skin. Oil attracts oil, so using a facial oil or balm can help draw excess sebum out of your skin. Micellar water and makeup wipes are other great first-step options.

After your makeup is completely off, you should use a water-based cleanser and massage it into your skin for about one minute to finish your deep cleanse. People with dry skin should double cleanse only at nighttime, or they risk drying out their skin too much. People with oily skin may benefit from double cleansing twice a day to manage sebum production.

 

Eye Creams

Did you know that the skin under your eyes is the thinnest, most delicate skin on your body? Since the skin is so fragile, it tends to show fine lines, puffiness, and dryness more intensely than the rest of your face.

Eye creams are packed with moisturizing ingredients to help reduce the appearance of fine lines. They tend to be thicker than facial moisturizers and have great active ingredients like peptides, retinols, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. They also often contain ingredients that help de-puff your under-eye to help you look more awake and alert.

 

Dermarolling

Dermarolling, also called microneedling, is a form of collagen induction therapy. By rolling small needles over your face, you cause microdamage. As your skin heals, it produces more collagen for a plumper, smoother face. Dermarolling is an effective way to heal acne scars and plump wrinkles.

You may also notice that hyperpigmentation from acne or sun damage heals over time. Dermarolling even helps your skin absorb anti-aging ingredients better. Check out this detailed guide to learn how to integrate dermarolling into your skincare routine.

If you decide to dermaroll, start with the shortest needles available rather than going straight for the longer needles. It’s better to ease into the process. Plus, you may find that the shortest needles are sufficient to meet your skin goals.

 

Putting it All Together into One Skincare Routine

So now that you know about lots of great skincare routine extras, how do you put it all together? Keep in mind that in your daily skincare, you should apply the lightest products first, then layer on thicker products. Here’s our suggestion:

Once a week: Dermaroll, exfoliating or clay mask (but not on the same day as you dermaroll)

AM: Cleanser (double cleanse for oily skin), toner, serum, sheet mask (1 – 2 times per week), acne-fighting creams, moisturizer, eye cream, sunscreen

PM: Double cleanse (all skin types), retinoid, thick moisturizer or sleeping mask to lock in hydration overnight, eye cream

Choosing the right products may take some trial and error to figure out what works for your skin. As you expand your routine, make sure that you add just one new step at a time and allow your skin to adjust. If you change too much too quickly, you could cause breakouts.

If you’d like help putting it all together or you have questions about your options, schedule an appointment with Cumberland Dermatology today.

 

Cumberland Skin Surgery and Dermatology provides effective, compassionate general dermatology, skin cancer surgery and cosmetic dermatology solutions for our patients throughout the Southeast. With offices in Hermitage, Lebanon, Brentwood and Hendersonville, Tennessee, we’re your destination for high-caliber skincare. Visit our website at cumberlandskin23.lw.bellmedia.io or give us a call today at 615-257-7128.

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