I reposted this picture from @aesthicsby_a on Instagram and my followers went pretty wild for it so I decided to do a more in-depth post on the each of the 10 commandants and explain why they are so important.
1. Thou shall wear sunscreen daily
I will talk about the benefits of wearing sunscreen until I am blue in the face because it is the most important skincare commandant. Protecting your skin from sunlight is the best antiaging skincare tip, because 80% of the visible signs of ageing are from exposure to UV rays. To get the best results you need to wear sunscreen all day every day without fail even on cloudy days. Make sure to choose a sunscreen that is broad-spectrum which means it will protect your skin from both UVA (ageing )and UVB (Burning) rays.
2. Thou shall not use apricot scrub on the face
Yes, I know apricot scrub is ubiquitous in every skincare closet and one we have all used at one point or the other. It is sarcastically known as ”The devil’s scrub” in the skincare community which should give you a hint on if it should be in your routine. The exfoliating agent in apricot scrub contains a crushed walnut powder which can cause micro-tears on the skin. These tears, in turn, expose your skin infections and irritation which can lead to long-term skin damage.
This is especially problematic if you have acne or other skin inflammation because the scrubbing causes openings in the skin leading to more inflammation. These inflamed pores then close up making it a fertile environment for bacteria to thrive resulting in more breakouts. So if you are looking for an exfoliator this is not the product to use, you can check out a list of much better scrubs here.
3. Remove your make up before bed
Removing your makeup before is extremely important due to the fact that over time it can damage your skin. We know that the skin renews itself at night while you sleep and leaving makeup on prevents it from happening. In addition, since most make-up is made of oily substances it can clog your pores leading to acne and blackhead breakouts.
This is why it is important to cleanse your skin thoroughly each and every night to prevent chronic inflammation. The dirt and makeup trapped against your skin can also cause oxidative damage leading to premature ageing. Especially for people with oily skin and acne patients, sleeping in makeup will worsen their skin condition.
5. Remember your makeup brush cleaning day and keep it holy
If you wear makeup you on a regular basis you also need a regular routine for your makeup brushes as well. It is unhygienic to let makeup pile on your brushes which can lead to irritation and texture issues. Makeup caked brushes are less flexible which will affect the quality of your makeup application making it difficult to achieve your desired look.
Dirty makeup brushes are also a prime breeding ground for bacteria which can cause or exacerbate your acne and other skin conditions. Dirty brushes can introduce bacteria into your makeup making it degrade faster and apply terribly. So if you are like me and own expensive makeup brushes taking good care of them will let them last longer saving you money in the long run.
6. Honour the aesthetician and follow their instructions
As a medical professional, I can say with absolute certainty that most people do not follow instructions. Why would you go to an aesthetician or dermatologist to get a procedure done and don’t follow their instructions? Yet expect great results?
Your aesthetician/dermatologist wants you to win, so if you don’t understand the instructions ASK! Or have them write it down. Even if your friend had the same procedure your skin types are not the same so your instructions may vary. So listen to the professional.
7. Eat thy fruit and veggies with anti-oxidants
As much as we want our outsides to look great, what is going on inside our bodies plays a significant role in how our skin looks. So eating fruits and vegetables which are high in anti-oxidants will keep you feeling great and your skin looking like a million bucks. So grab make sure your plate looks like a rainbow of vegetables and your skin will thank you.
8. Thou shall not touch and pick at blemishes
This is what I sarcastically call ”hand in face syndrome” and a lot of us myself included are guilty. You feel a bump on your face and your hands get pulled to it like a magnet very soon you are pinching and prodding. Before you know it a bump that wasn’t so noticeable now looks like mountain Vesuvius is about to explode. This, in turn, leads to hyperpigmentation so dark that even the devil would have a problem with it and your self-esteem takes a dive.
I don’t know how else to say this but ‘’ get your hands off your face! All that touching leads to more clogged pores and the possibility of infections and hyperpigmentation which is difficult to fade.
9. Thou shall not wait to start antiaging
You can never be too young to start antiaging ( see the first commandant ) but when it comes to using actives that slow down the ageing process 25 is a great age to start. So apart from sunscreen, the number one anti-ageing product to be included is retinol. To learn more on why it is important you can read my 2 part series here and here. You also need to include anti-oxidants like vitamin C to prevent your skin from environmental damage among other things.
10. Do onto thy neck and chest as you would unto thy face
Ever heard the phrase turkey neck? This happens when you do not obey this commandment. The neck and chest have extremely sensitive skin like that on the face. So if they don’t receive the same treatment they will end up with a face that looks 35 and a neck and chest that looks 50 years old. So make sure to extend every product in your skincare to your neck and chest. That way you can keep them both congruent and sleep well knowing you have staved off the possibility of the turkey neck.
PS: Bought my book yet? If you are wanting to get your skincare routine by Christmas click this link to get started on your journey to great skin.
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