Skincare for dummies - A skincare knowledge base for beginners

In this article, we will go over skin care in a slightly more extensive way than in the ABCs of Skin Care.
Here you will find, among other things, terminology, practical tips, common mistakes, and proven methods.

1. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser

The first step is to remove all dirt, dust, and other debris from your face.

No matter how much you want to, you shouldn't use regular soap.

Why it's a bad idea: It does too well what it's intended to do: regular soap strips away excess oil from the skin and dries it out.

When your skin becomes too dry, your body starts to compensate: it produces more oil.

This leads us to think our skin is actually oily and wash it even more. The end result: worse blemishes and irritating symptoms.

What to do: Use a gentle, moisturizing cleanser that is designed for washing the face.
When: At least in the morning. If you prefer, you can also wash at night before going to bed.

2. Balance pH with toner

What the hell is pH? Your skin has a thin protective layer (acid mantle) that acts as a barrier to bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants. pH simply tells you how effectively this barrier works.

When you wash your face, you also rinse away some of the skin's good substances, the pH gets mixed up, and the skin is more susceptible to external stimuli.

Toner restores the skin's pH to normal, which is why it is also recommended to use it after gentle cleansing.

What to do: Wash your face, pat dry, then spray the toner evenly onto your face. If the bottle doesn't come with a spray, use a cotton pad.
Wait before the next step: Let dry.

3. Moisturize

Even if you use a gentle cleanser, your skin is still a little dry. Use a moisturizer. Moisturizing tells your skin that it is hydrated and doesn't need to produce extra oil. However, we don't want to clog your pores, so don't overdo it.

What to do: Start small and listen to your skin. It needs more in the winter, less in the summer - and maybe a heavier cream in the winter, a lighter one in the summer. Moisturizer is a basic pillar of skin care when you want smooth, healthy skin.

When: After the toner has dried.