6 ways to be more gentle on your skin
We all lead busy lives, which is why we wax lyrical about how to start your day the right way, and talk about the different techniques you can try to destress after a long or hard workday.
But what we don’t talk about enough is that in your efforts to be kinder to your mental state, you should also be putting the same energy into being more gentle on your skin, because at the end of the day, the more you look after it, the more it rewards you with a clear, glowing and healthy complexion.
So here are our top tips for being more gentle to your skin:
1
Have makeup free days
Makeup and cosmetics have come a long way in the last few years, so chances are that your makeup won’t be causing your skin great distress (and may even have added skin benefits), but it’s still a good idea to give your skin a break once in a while, as this can help cell regeneration and those prone to congestion.
2
Use a gentle facial cleanser
While this is a great way to be kinder to sensitive skin, all skin types can benefit from using a caring and nourishing cleanser. Using a pH-balanced and fragrance-free formula like Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser will ensure that your skin feels soft and comfortable, with no stinging or tightness post-cleanse.
3
Go easy on the actives
Active ingredients can help target your biggest concerns and do wonderful things for skin, but overusing them can have the opposite effect. Using AHAs (like glycolic or lactic acid) and BHAs (like salicylic acid) too often can lead to over-exfoliation, which could translate into sensitivity, skin irritations or congestion.
4
Don’t do a rigorous exfoliation
When using an exfoliant, you may feel inclined to give your skin a good, hard scrub to really slough away those dead skin cells and get the grit and grime out of your pores, but you could actually be doing damage with this technique. You could be irritating your skin, which can lead to inflammation and redness, cause breakouts from an over-production of oil and compromise your skin barrier, plus increase skin sensitivity.
It’s a good idea to stick to soft, light movements, and ensure you don’t exfoliate any more than every two to three days.
5
Remove your eye makeup properly
Who hasn’t been tempted to remove eyeliner and mascara with some water and rubbing instead of including another step into your nighttime routine? The problem is, not only is water alone ineffective in properly removing your eye makeup, but all that rubbing is comprising the condition of the skin around your eyes, which can lead to irritation and even premature wrinkles. Instead, use a cotton pad or ball and a makeup remover that’s been specifically formulated to tackle hard-to-remove eye makeup, like Kiehl’s Supremely Gentle Eye Makeup Remover.
6
Sleep on silk pillows
Besides sounding incredibly indulgent and luxurious, silk pillows can benefit your skin, too. The gentle nature of the fabric can mean less rubbing against an abrasive surface, which can lead to smoother and softer skin. You’re also less likely to wake up with sleep wrinkles, which means you could be fighting off real wrinkles for a bit longer. If you pick the right fabric, like the 100 per cent pure mulberry silk found in The Goodnight Co Silk Pillowcases, your pillowcase can help your skin retain more moisture while you sleep, and hydrated skin is healthier skin.
Image credit: Getty
Carli was BEAUTYcrew’s Editor from launch in 2016 until May 2020. You can find her words right here on BEAUTYcrew, and previously on beautyheaven.
Brought to you by
