Skincare 101: The Basics

To my nearest and dearest, it’s no secret that I’m a junkie to the point of obsession I really love skincare. You name the treatment, there’s a very good chance I’ve tried it. And yet, you can stuff your face with fillers and Botox, or get the most expensive laser; it won’t make much of a difference if you don’t comply to the most basic rules of caring for the dermis. I’ve thus decided to compile a list of the 10 things you should absolutely do if you want that  #goodskin.

1- Skincare starts at the top of the forehead and ends at the nipples

That’s right, ladies and gents! If you want to look your best (and maybe a decade younger) for the rest of your life, you absolutely must bring down every product you use on your face down to your neck and chest. Lest you want that smooth-face-leather-bag-bosom look.

2- A good dosage of ZZZs will do wonders for your skin (and a broken sleep pattern will wreak havoc on it, too)

Sleep is when our entire body and the cells that live in it regenerate themselves. So make those 8 hours a night a priority. Not only will your mind feel a lot sharper; your skin will be de-puffed and glowy, too.

3- Put down that nasty cigarette 

Need I really go into details for that one? Nicotine is the absolute worst for your skin, and let’s not even talk about what it does to your throat and lungs. Spoiler alert: it’s a word that starts with a “c” and that ends with an “er”. So do yourself a favor and quit that disgusting habit.

4- And that fifth glass of Pino Griggio too!

So…a little alcohol won’t harm you. But if your idea of a casual after-work evening at home is downing a glass of Chardonnay the size of your head (getting your dishes from an American retailer can be so confusing…), you might want to think again. Not only will you be completely dehydrated and blotchy the next day, you will have filled your body with toxins, which will have boomerang effect on your face. Not a pretty sight. Everything in moderation.

5- The sun is your skin’s public enemy number 1 (S/O to P. Diddy) and using a DAILY protectant of SPF 30 or higher is non-negotiable

Did you know that over 90% of the signs of aging are attributed to sun exposure? Hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, etc. You name it, the sun’s probably caused it. And remember: do to your neck and chest what you do to your face, so slather that baby up like your life depends on it!

6- Lather, rinse and MOISTURIZE

Moisturizing alone does not really have any anti-aging benefits per se. But you know what it does help with? Skin texture and overall plumpness. And this, in turn, will help your skin looking and feeling its best.

7- Get that body movin’ (and not just for your tush)

We all know it: exercising is great for the mind and body. Not only do you feel invincible while doing it; you get to revel in that endorphin bliss thereafter. However, an added and often overlooked benefit of exercising is what it does to your skin, namely how blood flow improves your skin quality. Want that lit-from-within glow without having to go through a painful peeling? Hit the gym a few times a week (or get another type of workout, if you know what I mean, hehe) and you will see a definite improvement.

8- Retin-A is nothing short of the golden standard when it comes to anti-aging

And there are studies galore to prove it! By helping speed-up skin-cells turnover, which, sigh, decreases by the minute as we age, Retin-A, a vitamin A derivative, helps out with: skin texture, hyperpigmentation and smoothing out fine lines/wrinkles, all the while stimulating collagen production in your skin. It’s a no-brainer, really. Consult a dermatologist and get yourself some of that magic potion, stat! 

9-Exfoliate with caution

We’ve all heard of the supposed benefits of exfoliation and how it will help get you rid of dead cells. But there IS such a thing as over-exfoliating, especially if you follow the above advice and use Retin-A, which is basically a chemical exfoliant. You see, your skin actually needs a moderate amount of dead skin cells on it in order to better protect it. Not to mention the skin on your face is delicate! Simply washing gently should suffice, but if you absolutely must exfoliate, do it no more than once a week. REMEMBER: YOU ARE NOT BEEF CARPACCIO! 

10- If you can only afford one beauty treatment, do this

And by this, I mean facials. No need to spend a small fortune on it too! In fact, my facialist is Montreal’s best kept beauty secret and she is rather inexpensive at 65$ a session. But man, oh man, does she get all the junk out with that much-needed, albeit slightly painful extraction. I go twice a year and it works wonders, so I highly recommend you go #treatyoself and do the same.

While I can’t say that I abide to every single rule on here (it’s mostly a vino issue, really), I do try to follow them as much as possible. Please let me know down in the comments what YOU do to keep your skin as smooth as a baby’s butt!