Whether you’re trying to develop a skin care routine, have a ton of products but don’t know how to use them, or just have a few random questions about how to enhance your skin, we’ve got you! Skincare can be daunting, especially if you’ve never really had a system in place or find that your skin is changing. The good news is, if you have a skin care issue, we have a solution.
IN A NUTSHELL
Main Takeaways: Everyone should have a skin care routine that they start earlier and adapt with age; there is a proper order in which to apply your products; and eye cream is necessary earlier than you might think.
Good to Know: Of the terms “natural”, “clean”, “green”, and “organic”, the term “organic” is the only one that is regulated by the government.
Recommended Products: Deluxe Set, One Lip Wonder Lip Treatment, and Prince Charcoal Detox Mask.
What Is the Proper Skincare Routine/Order?
Although there aren’t a lot of hard and fast rules about skin care, when it comes to the order in which you use your products, there is a right way and a wrong way. A lot of this has to do with making sure you’re allowing the products to work at their optimum level.
Here’s the order in which you should apply your skin care products (twice a day) to get the most out of them:
1. Cleanse. Wash your face with a natural facial cleanser. Add a small pump of cleanser in your hands and gently massage onto damp skin. Rinse it off with lukewarm water and dry with a clean facial cloth or sponge. This will prepare your skin for the next steps.
2. Detox with a mask. This is an optional step you can do one-to-three times a week. An effective, purifying mask draws out impurities, cleanses pores, and nourishes the skin, so your serum and moisturizer will absorb into your skin and be effective.
3. Tone. Spritz on a hydrating toner all over your face. This will help control your oil, hydrate your skin, and prep your skin for the rest of your products.
4. Add serum. Using the right serum can help even and brighten your skin, reduce the appearance of dark spots, and soften the look of fine lines. There are many different types of serum on the market, all targeting various concerns. If you are looking for an overall ideal serum to start with, use a serum with vitamin C. Vitamin C is a highly effective antioxidant that will not only help protect your skin from environmental factors, but will give it a fabulous glow.
5. Apply eye cream. Why eye cream before moisturizer? Because you’ll be a lot less tempted to try to use your moisturizer for your eyes! Moisturizers are great, but they are not formulated to work on the thin, delicate skin around your eyes. A little goes a long way with eye cream, so gently tap on a dab of eye cream with your ring finger.
6. Moisturize. Like cleansing, this is a super-important step in keeping your skin healthy and looking its best. Gently massage a hydrating moisturizer all over your face and neck. Not only will this deliver just the right amount of moisture to your skin, it will help reduce the appearance of fine lines.
Don’t forget to moisturize your lips, too! A lip treatment will help prevent dry, flaky lips and keep them smooth and plump.
What is the Difference Between Clean/Natural/Organic vs Regular Skin Care?
If you’re a beauty follower, you’ve probably noticed the terms “Clean,” “Natural,” and “Organic” being thrown around quite a bit lately, but don’t necessarily know what they mean. The answer you receive might depend on who you ask, as there are really no official definitions about some of these classifications. What we’re presenting here should be considered accepted definitions, rather than official terminology.
Clean – You know the “do no harm” vow that doctors take? That’s basically what “clean” beauty is. A “clean” product will not contain any ingredients that are likely to harm the skin, but that doesn’t mean it contains all-natural ingredients. Clean beauty products may still contain synthetic ingredients, provided they do not include known toxins. “Clean” can also refer to the manufacturing practices and overall sustainability of a product.
Natural – “Natural” beauty products, have mostly natural ingredients. However, the term doesn’t mean much when it comes to sustainability. It is also not regulated, and natural products may still include synthetic ingredients.
Organic – The term “organic” is actually regulated by the USDA. For an ingredient to be labeled as organic, it has to be certified by the USDA. That basically means no genetically modified organisms, no pesticides, no fertilizers, no growth hormones, etc. were used when growing that ingredient.
It’s actually rare that an entire skincare product would be certified as organic by the USDA, as their certification is mostly geared towards food products. However, there are other organizations, such as Ecocert, which provide organic certification that are more specifically designed for skin care products.
Regular - “Regular” products can contain just about anything and everything, so if a product doesn’t specify one of these other classifications, check the ingredient list very carefully to make sure it isn’t filled with ingredients you don’t want. If the label includes parabens or fragrance, you might want to consider moving on.
How Do I Minimize the Look of Wrinkles?
The million dollar question! Thankfully, modern beauty products—along with some very sage advice—have finally risen to the challenge. Here are some thoughts about how to keep those wrinkles as indiscernible as possible:
Moisturize – The right moisturizer will not only make your skin feel more hydrated, it will help plump it up so your wrinkles are less visible. It also keeps your skin from becoming dry and cracked, resulting in more lines. A retinol moisturizer like Youth Fairy will deliver ample moisture and nourishment while employing powerhouse antioxidant retinol to get to work on diminishing the look of wrinkles.
Stay out of the sun – Did you know that depending on skin type, you can get a bad burn in just 15 minutes? And that exposure to UV light is the primary cause of wrinkles? No matter what your skin type, it is always important to wear sunscreen and protect your skin from the sun and its harmful UV rays.
Seek out Vitamin C – Vitamin C is a true miracle worker, caring for your skin with natural defenses and known for brightening the skin and softening the appearance of fine lines.
Hydrate problem areas – Areas like the lips or the eyes are especially vulnerable to fine lines and wrinkles, so give them a little extra hydration. Use an eye cream and a lip balm to keep them moisturized.
Eat well – The saying goes that you are what you eat– and that’s especially true when it comes to your skin. Eating junk will make your skin look like junk, so when you incorporate foods high in antioxidants, such as colorful fruits and veggies, and take a chill pill on refined sugar and alcohol, your skin will reap the benefits.
How Do I Reduce Puffiness Around My Eyes?
We’ve all woken up in the morning, looked in the mirror, and found that our eyes look as if they’ve been stung by bees. Luckily, there are ways of getting that puffiness under control before you have to log on.
Use an eye cream – Nothing will reduce the look of puffiness faster than an eye cream, especially one that contains green tea, which is exactly why we put it in our Eyes Eyes Baby eye cream.
Use green tea – Don’t have eye cream on hand? Make yourself and a friend a cup of tea. Once the tea bags have cooled off, gently place on your closed eyelids. They’ll bring the puffiness down in no time.
Use spoons – Don’t have green tea? Pop a couple spoons in the freezer for several minutes, then put the convex side on your eyes. The cold will help reduce puffiness under your eyes.
How Do I Even My Skin Tone?
Anyone over the age of 30 knows that skin tone, like skin, has a tendency to change. Thankfully, there are ways to help even your skin tone, with the use of the right products.
Use a serum with vitamin C – It’s well-known that vitamin C helps even out skin tone and leaves it much brighter. Our Nectar of the C vitamin C serum is formulated with 10% sodium ascorbyl phosphate to gently brighten and restore your skin’s glow.
Use a moisturizer with vitamin C – We know we keep harping on vitamin C but when something works, why not stick with it? That’s why we also included a good dose of vitamin C in Crème de la Cream brightening moisturizer to help even out skin tone.
What are the Most Essential Skincare Products?
The basis of every good skin care routine is a good set of products that are right for your skin type and aren’t so complicated you’ll want to throw them out the window after a week. Starting with great products is like starting a meal with great ingredients. The better the ingredients, the better the meal will be.
Here are the basic skin care products you should have in your skin care routine:
Cleanser. It probably goes without saying, but your skin care routine has to start with a clean face. A gentle, natural cleanser is definitely your best choice.
Toner. Today’s toners do everything from protecting the skin, to controlling excess oil, to restoring hydration and balance. In fact, a good toner can help prepare the skin, so that the rest of your skincare routine is more effective.
Serum. While not an absolutely essential part of the routine, serums are the most effective at targeting specific concerns. They have the highest concentration of active ingredients and work in the deeper levels of your skin for some amazing results. If you aren’t sure what type of serum you should start with, our recommendation is a vitamin C serum to provide antioxidant support and brighten your skin.
Moisturizer. Properly moisturizing the skin is one of the best ways to fend off aging and keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay. The right face cream will nourish your skin while locking in hydration for an all day glow. Start with a hydrating moisturizer like H2 Oh Yeah, which is rich in antioxidants. It features hydration hero hyaluronic acid and skin balancing squalane, making it great for all skin types.
Eye Cream. The area around the eye is extraordinarily sensitive. It can be the area to first betray any signs of aging, so treat it with care by incorporating a great eye cream into your skin care routine.
Sunscreen. Protecting your skin from the sun with a good sunscreen is a vital part of a daily skincare routine. You can use all of the above products every day, but if you skip sunscreen, your skin will age all the quicker.
What Age Should I Start Building a Skin Care Routine?
As early as possible. Anyone past their “tweenage” years should be establishing a good skin care routine on a regular basis.
That said, if you don’t already have one, it’s never too late to start. If you’re new to skincare, our Deluxe Set is the perfect thing to get you going. Complete with all our essential products, this 5-step set will help you start your journey to great skin health. Our products are clean, cruelty free and made for all skin types.
When Should I Start Using Eye Cream?
The short answer is “yesterday” but since that’s not possible, let’s just say that if you’re in your 20s, it’s time! The skin around your eyes starts developing fine lines and wrinkles even before your 20s so protect it by using a really, really good eye cream twice a day.
So there you have it—your most common skin care questions answered. As you can see, if you have really great products on hand, and you just follow a basic, twice-a-day skin care routine, it takes minimal effort to have your skin looking its best in no time!
