Investing In A Skincare Routine Can Be The Best Thing You Do For Yourself, Here’s Why | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Investing In A Skincare Routine Can Be The Best Thing You Do For Yourself, Here’s Why

You didn't know skin could be *this* good

45
Investing In A Skincare Routine Can Be The Best Thing You Do For Yourself, Here’s Why

In This Article:

I have never put much time or thought into my skincare routine. But, after buying some new products last month and using them every day, I realized just how much your skin can change when you're giving it what it needs.

I have never had naturally beautiful skin. From the moment puberty started, I had a lot of problems with acne. My only skincare product was soap (which was perhaps part of the problem). Thankfully, my acne has gotten better over the years, but it flares up from time to time. Besides that, my skin is oily and has redness.

Especially when I was younger but from time to time now, I get self-conscious about it. I tried to cover up what I could with makeup but would still long for the smooth, healthy skin other girls had. I'd get really frustrated whenever my acne would flare up or simply be disappointed with my skin.

This summer, I finally decided that enough was enough and I needed to take the time to invest in skincare products that might have a chance at reducing or eliminating my issues. I obviously have skin that needs more than bar soap to look good. After using these products, I noticed some small changes immediately, and as the weeks went by, my skin looked and felt amazing all the time. My skin has never been so soft and moisturized, and not only have I not gotten any new acne, my skin tone is starting to balance itself so it's not so red. I hardly wear any makeup anymore, and that's a good feeling.

I've now become an advocate for skincare. If I would've known that simply using different products was all I needed to do to get skin I've dreamed about, I would've done it years ago. Plus, with the resource of the internet, it's so easy to find information about beneficial ingredients in products, the best brands, how to apply the products, and more.

Here are some tips for starting your skincare routine, even if you don't know a thing about the subject.

Identify your problem areas.

There are four recognized skincare types: normal, dry, oily, and combination. Some sources throw in a fifth category of sensitive skin. Because each of these different segments require different needs to fix the issues, you need to know what your skin type is so you can get the right products.

In my case, I knew that my skin type was oily in addition to being acne-prone and red, so I specifically searched for products that are noncomedogenic (won't clog pores), among other things.

Do your research.

There are so many valid resources out there to help you know what to look for in products. If you are like me and don't know a thing about skincare, this step is necessary. You don't need to be a doctor to start a skincare routine, though talking to one can always be helpful.

I read countless articles – and even took notes – on ingredients I need, ingredients to avoid, consistently mentioned products, and more. After figuring out what to look for, I then looked for a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer that was good for oily skin, had high ratings, and was reasonably priced.

Read the reviews.

For really anything you buy online, but especially for skincare products, it's a good idea to read the reviews for the product on retailers' websites to see what people are saying about it. Maybe an article says a certain cleanser is really good, but if reviews for the product are really negative, look for a better option.

I read product reviews from Amazon and Walmart and ended up getting products that were rated five stars and priced well on both sites.

Start out slow.

When starting a new skincare routine, it's in the best interest of your skin to start using the product slowly so your skin has a chance to get used to it. This can mean using a product once a week, then a few times a week, then every day, then multiple times a day.

I started doing my whole routine twice a day, but after noticing my skin was really dry, I dropped to once a day and have been happy ever since.

Do NOT expect immediate results.

It's disappointing but true: your issues will not go away overnight. Because skin cells take at least a month to turn over, you may not see the best results until then or know if the product is even working. This is certainly frustrating if you're eager to get better skin, but consistently using products will eventually give you remarkable results.

It's also worth mentioning here that using new skincare products can make your skin break out even more. This happened to me and I was really disappointed because I thought I was doing something wrong. But after some research, I realized that this was a totally normal condition and my breakout disappeared after a month. Breaking out may be a part of the process for you, so don't assume that it's a sign that your products aren't working.

If you have been wanting to start a skincare routine but haven't started the process yet, I encourage you to invest your time and money into it. If it will make you feel better about yourself, it's totally worth it.

"Take good care of your skin and hydrate. If you have good skin, everything else will fall into place."
-Liya Kebede
From Your Site Articles
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
girl
Pexels

In case you're unaware, "resting bitch face" is the term used to describe when a person's natural, expressionless face makes it look like they are mad at the world. Whether they are walking down the street or simply spacing out thinking about what to eat for dinner, it's very easy for others to assume that this person is either upset or mad at them. Because of this, those of us with Resting Bitch Face (RBF), and especially us women, have all experienced many of the same situations and conversations, including:

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

The Stages Of A Crush As Told By The Cast of "Bob's Burgers"

We all go through certain stages when we have a crush, Tina just explains it better.

44
my heart just pooped its pants
Google

We've all had a crush before. Whether it leads to something or nothing, the process has all been the same. The awkward feelings, the stalking, and the stress of trying to keep this huge secret. The feeling of becoming a total spazz is something that cannot be avoided, and the most spazzy family that can relate to this feeling is the Belcher's.

Keep Reading...Show less
university
University of Nebraska at Omaha

Creating your schedule for the upcoming semester can be an exciting process. You have the control to decide if you want to have class two-days a week or five-days a week. You get to check things off of your requirement checklist. It's an opportunity for a fresh start with new classes (which you tell yourself you'll never skip.) This process, which always starts out so optimistic, can get frustrating really quickly. Here are 25 thoughts you have when registering for classes.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Thoughts Of A 5th Year Senior

What about those of us who don't do it all in four years?

1293
college shirt
pointsincase.com

"College will be the best four years of your life" is a phrase that we have all heard growing up. College is painted as a magical place to us while we are in high school. A place you go to learn, meet your best friends and probably have the time of your life while all of this is going down. Four whirlwind years, where everything that you've known changes and you start to learn what it means to live on your own, have a job, etc. But what about those of us who don't do this all in four years? Major changes, hard courses, switching schools, career paths changing, these are just a handful of factors that could extend your four years to five, six or seven. There is nothing wrong with taking extra time to graduate, but returning as a fifth-year is a little different. Most of your best friends have most likely graduated and moved and while you may be one of the oldest undergraduates on campus, you might feel as awkward as a freshmen. A world that became home and comfortable to you is still there but it's slightly different than you've known it to be and you have to find a groove to fall into. These are thoughts you'll have as you look ahead to returning to your college campus, with a victory lap planned.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

17 Times "Friends" Accurately Described Life

You can't say that no one told you life was gonna be this way.

389
friends

In the 12 years since it went off the air, "Friends" continues to be adored by millions. The show that gave generations unrealistic expectations about love (or should I say lobsters?) and New York City apartments had a charming cast of characters that everyone could relate to at some point or another. Here are 17 times Ross, Monica, Joey, Chandler, Phoebe and Rachel accurately described life.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments