Starting a skin care routine?

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Hi, I'm new to the forums :D /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />
 

I'm a 19 year old male, and I'd like to get perfectly clear skin, if possible, but I'm unsure how. I don't have that much acne (1-2 pimples per 1-2 week), but I do have little blemishes and just general unevenn skin tone.

Atm I'm not doing anything for my face, not even washing it. Some weeks ago I tried putting some almond oil on my face before going to bed, but it didn't really work. I sleep on my stomach so much had disappeared next morning, and it also looked a lil greasy (Probably overdid it?) and I THINK it may have given me some acne too. I also tried "exfoliating" with oatmeal, didn't notice much of a difference there either though.

As far as I understand the order of a skin care routine is:

Wash with water

Cleanse (with?)

Exfoliate (i.e. oatmeal)

Moisturize (i.e. almond oil)

Could anyone help me establish a solid routine using only natural ingredients, if possible? I want nice skin, but without my skin ending up looking totally overdone, fake, or feminine. I have heard honey, oils and stuff should be good, but I'm really struggling to put it all together. 

Help is appreciated.

 
I can't think of any all-natural cleansers, but cleansing AT LEAST once a day is very important (twice max). Also, don't exfoliate with oatmeal every day because it can harm your skin if you do it too much. 2-3 times a week is good. USE SUNSCREEN at least SPF15 every day even if it's cloudy and/or you're mostly inside. Drink lots of water/tea and eat fruits and vegetables, stay away from junk food. Exercise is good, just be sure to wash the sweat off your face after or it will clog up your pores. The less you drink or smoke, the better your skin will be.

 
Hi Kuplo2!

Let's be honest, you don't want a whole skincare routine based on naturals. You really don't. Masks are great, but really, everything else is just a waste of your time. I recommend Neutrogena to everyone, and I'm recommending it to you too. Use one of their acne washes or use the Exfoliac for problematic skin. Wash your face twice a day; once in the evening, once at night. I wouldn't suggest using an exfoliator everyday, that's not really good for your skin, it leaves it irritated. Instead of using a gentle one everyday, I prefer using one that really does the job once a week. The St. Ives ones are amaazing, After washing your face, pat it dry. The next step is investing in a good toner. A natural toner that isn't too messy is rosewater. Just dab some with cotton and lightly rub it onto your face. After that, moisturizer. Never ever use oil as a moisturizer, whether you have dry skin or oily skin, and definitely if you have acne-prone skin. Everyone wants something different with a moisturizer, so buy the smallest bottles until you find one that you like. Personally, I like the Clean & Clear shine control one because I like a moisturizer that moisturizes but doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy. Now, use a face mask once a week. If you want something natural, go for yogurt and oatmeal, or honey, or almond oil (but really, coconut oil is better). If you don't want to (or don't have time to) make it, you could buy a pack or two of the Nivea masks; they work great!

Other than just buying products and all that, you have to be healthy. Drink lots of water, eat tons of fruits and salads, exercise. You could even try out meditating! This part is of course optional (other than the drinking water part), but I've always felt that whenever I meditate, my face just glows and I feel more calm.

Hope I helped, even a little bit!

pinkchampagne

[P.S. Just a small tip if you get sunburnt easily: SUNSCREEN]

 
Not all things natural are good, and not all things "chemical" or manufactured are bad. Though I don't necessarily recommend Neutrogena, there are general guidelines to commercial products that can keep you as safe as possible:

-avoid fragrance

-avoid drying alcohols (check out this cheat sheet by an esthetician)

-avoid sodium lauryl sulfate (sodium laureth sulfate is milder and can be used as tolerated, but avoid it if you want)

-MAYBE avoid parabens and silicones (the jury is out on these, pretty much any research you can find is funded by either anti-paraben/silicone groups or pro-paraben/silicone groups, unfortunately)

Sunscreen is ALWAYS necessary, even if you don't sunburn. Light and oxygen are the number one causes of skin aging. Apply every day unless you aren't going to see ANY sun (even through a window). I don't follow this rule either, it's a hard habit to get into... but I'm trying! And honestly, even if it wasn't for it's superficial effects it's worth doing in order to avoid getting skin cancer. There are no "natural" sunscreens. You may be able to find something that is just zinc oxide (the primary ingredient in sunscreen).

If you truly want an all "natural" regime, here's what I suggest:

-water: it's important to introduce water to the face at least twice a day. Follow up with toner -> moisturizer -> sunscreen. You can use a fragrance and alcohol free cleanser (I can't think of any "natural" ones atm) after rinsing with water to wash away dirt and oil.

-toner: helps balance your skin's pH after increasing it due to water (water is pH 7, skin is more around pH 4-5). Diluted apple cider vinegar is a good toner. Use a 50/50 ratio of ACV to water. Make sure to use RAW and UNFILTERED (Braggs is a popular brand). I do not recommend rosewater as a toner because rosewater is literally roses in water, it does not change the pH of the skin. 

-mechanical (physical) exfoliation: should only be done as tolerated, but regularly. See what your skin responds best to. I do not suggest using oatmeal as a mechanical exfoliant unless you blend it finely in a blender. With such large flakes you are bound to scratch your skin too much. Same thing goes for crystalline substances such as sugar and salt (I think they are too harsh for the face, especially for regular use). Ideally, you're looking for as fine a scrub as possible. I've heard rice flour is great for this. I find most people exfoliate 1-3 times a week; I exfoliate 4-5 times a week very lightly and I've had no problems. Exfoliation would be done after washing with water, before toner.

-chemical exfoliation: this isn't "natural" but is your best bet for truly ridding yourself of acne. Chemical exfoliants are alpha or beta hydroxy acids. You may know these as retinols or salicylic acids, respecitvely. Benzoyl peroxide is sort of an exfoliant as well, though it's more of an antimicrobial substance. Each has different properties and are best for certain kinds of uses. For people our age it's better to stick to salicylic acids and benzoyl peroxide because retinols can be harsh on the skin. CeraVE makes some fragrance free moisturizers with SA (I've only found the body one, try and find one made for facial use). You can buy BP pure but it's VERY drying so I suggest keeping the percentage low (2-3%). Some make a whole regime out of BP and use super high concentrations (10-20%); I'm hesitant about it.

-moisturizer: unlike what was said above, many oils are GREAT for the skin, even those prone to comedogenic breakouts. You should really only be using 5-10 drops for your entire face, tbh. A very, very light layer. Did you use almond oil, or sweet almond oil? Sweet almond oil has some great properties for the skin. You should use cold pressed, extra virgin, and organic if you can find it. Other great facial oils: coconut (warning: can be comedogenic), argan, jojoba, maracuja. Avoid essential oils, which tend to be phototoxic (react in sunlight). I love argan oil, myself -- a good quality argan oil is pricey but will soak in within minutes.

-masks: not 100% essential but fabulous if you want soft, clear skin. A basic mask foundation is clay (bentonite or kaolin are best) and unscented, alcohol-free toner (diluted ACV may work here, but your best bet is to just buy one). Honey is a great ingredient to add into a mask because it's a good emolient (read: moisturizer) and has antibacterial properties. Use raw honey if you can find it, or otherwise as pure as you can get it. Oats are great in a mask as well in order to thicken up the paste. Mix it all up in a NON-PLASTIC bowl (more clay for more oily skin, less for dry skin), apply to face, wash it off when it begins to dry (any longer will just dry out your skin). Then toner -> moisturizer.

I know this is a long post, but your skin sounds a lot like mine so... good luck! I'm free to PM or ask here if you'd like to talk more about skin care. 

(P.S.: nice skin is not feminine, but even if it was, trust me when I say anyone you want to attract will looooooooove your nice skin).

 
Thanks a lot for all the replies.

Everything I just wrote has just disappeared, so I don't bother with a long post - but thanks so much for all your tips, especially you bunbunny, must have taken time. It is appreciated.

I have used your tips and tried to make my own routine. It looks like this:

1. Wash -> Toner (Was about to order this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Braggs-Organic-Apple-Cider-Vinegar/dp/B001ID6MIC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1398021434&sr=8-2&keywords=bragg+organic+apple+cider+vinegar that is the right one, right?) -> Moisturize with my almond oil (Also in the morning? Then I'd have to go to school with oil in my face :p /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />) -> Sunscreen

2. Use toner (When should I do this? Surely not right after washing and applying toner and moisturizer?)

3. Exfoliate with a mix of ground coffee, brown sugar and olive oil. (I saw a video on youtube: 

what do you think of that? I know you said no sugar, but the coffee looks quite fine.
4. Moisturize with almond oil. (It's regular I think, not sweet)

5. Haven't found out anything about masks, but something with honey sounds good. :D /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

What do you think about the routine, is it enough to give me some nice skin?

If I'm not too mistaken, I have no "cleansing" step. Is this bad?

Thanks so much for your help, and I hope you reply! =D 

 
That ACV is the one I've used, yeah! Though do check your local whole foods store or even grocery store, you may find something cheaper (as long as it's raw and unfiltered, it's good -- you should see the particles at the bottom. Shake before using.)

Toner is any time after you've put something with a more basic pH than your skin. So after using water or masks on your face, really.

Check the ingredients list of your almond oil. If it's "Oleum Amygdalae" or "Prunus Amygdalus" I'm pretty sure they're for cooking only. Sweet almond oil would be "Prunus Dulcis" and is what's typically used as a carrier oil (that is, it carries into the skin, which is what you want). If you find the almond oil isn't soaking into your skin quickly, even if you only use 3-4 drops for the whole face, I wouldn't use it in the morning. I know argan oil soaks in very quickly from experience, but it's quite expensive if you get the real deal. TBH, I still recommend you just find a plain lotion with no fragrance, SDS/SLS, or alcohol. It would just be easier and faster for in the morning. 

Oh, and take care not to apply sunscreen immediately after applying oil or moisturizer or what have you, just to make sure it's as effective as possible.

That scrub just looks harsh for the face, in my opinion. And the difference between brown sugar vs regular sugar is miniscule as far as skin care goes (there's no way the molasses would have any effect in such a short amount of time it's on your face). Coffee grounds are a great grain size, very small and not crystalline but abrasive enough to slough off dead skin cells. Caffeine typically has some great effects on the skin, but be mindful not to use it super often, since caffeine is a strange drug that can have different side effects on different people. Just coffee grounds + a carrier oil should make a nice, gentle scrub -- feel free to add raw honey INSTEAD of sugar if you want a bit more exfoliation, since at least then you'd get positive effects of honey. If you decide to use olive oil, go cold pressed extra virgin, and a good brand (olive oil counterfeiting is everywhere). Patch test with it first: just put a bit on a smallish spot somewhere you tend to get pimples and see how your skin reacts. Olive oil tends to be more comedogenic than other oils. You can probably sub your almond oil with the olive oil instead, if you find it's been working for you lately. Remember, you don't need to exfoliate every day!

Cleansing would be done when you're washing with water -- a combined step. Cleansing is basically using a product in order to clean away dirt, oil, etc. Soap for the face, basically. I have heard of something called the "oil cleansing method", check it out. Explanations should be in that link. I haven't tried it myself but many people say it's worked wonders. Unfortunately I do not know of any true scientific, large scale studies of this method, so proceed hesitantly! Otherwise, you can pick up a plain, alcohol and fragrance free facial cleanser at pretty much any drug store. So cleansing would be done 2x a day at the same time that you are washing your face with water. Then toner -> moisturizer -> sunscreen. I do recommend cleansing regularly! It's just like washing your body with soap or body wash.

Everyone's skin is different, so what works for me might not work for you and vice versa. However, I can say with confidence that nearly everybody can benefit from regular washing/cleansing, toner, and moisturizing twice a day + sunscreen in the daytime. It's just a matter of finding products that work with your skin. With a regular routine, it becomes second nature and you'll zip through the mornings and nights no problem.

I can't guarantee that you'll get rid of all of your pimples and blemishes forever, but at the very least you will have smooth, healthy looking skin. At our age, pimples are often due to hormonal factors and so washing won't technically prevent them from occurring (in these cases, you'd have to use a medicated option like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, both of which I've used to some success). But having a routine should help prevent any pimples from dirt/sebum build up.

Good luck!

 
Hi Kuplo2, 
 
First I think you cannot take every tips because someone told you it's the best.  WHY ? Because my skin, your skin and every skin are not the same. 
 
Do you know what is your skin type ? 
 
For me the most important is to understand your skin face before choose some routine. 
 
For that, you can see a doctor. But you are young so I recommend you to find a good web site with an interview.
 
Like Avene India web site they have a diagnostic part really easy ! 
http://bit.ly/1aBsiJT

 
Let me know if you need some advices adapted with your skin :) /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> 
 
If you try something, it takes time for it to work. You can't do it once and expect it to work the next day. Start off slow, you don't want to try 10 different things at once. Your skin may get worse, before it gets better. I've been doing the honey and cinnamon mask which I really like. I don't know much about natural remedies, sorry I'm not more help!

 
Thanks a lot for all the replies.

Everything I just wrote has just disappeared, so I don't bother with a long post - but thanks so much for all your tips, especially you bunbunny, must have taken time. It is appreciated.

I have used your tips and tried to make my own routine. It looks like this:

1. Wash -> Toner (Was about to order this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Braggs-Organic-Apple-Cider-Vinegar/dp/B001ID6MIC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1398021434&sr=8-2&keywords=bragg+organic+apple+cider+vinegar that is the right one, right?) -> Moisturize with my almond oil (Also in the morning? Then I'd have to go to school with oil in my face :p /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />) -> Sunscreen

2. Use toner (When should I do this? Surely not right after washing and applying toner and moisturizer?)

3. Exfoliate with a mix of ground coffee, brown sugar and olive oil. (I saw a video on youtube: 

I must have skipped this post, tone after you wash your face, and before you moisturize. Also be careful with that scub you linked, that might be too rough to use on your face.

 
If you try something, it takes time for it to work. You can't do it once and expect it to work the next day. Start off slow, you don't want to try 10 different things at once. Your skin may get worse, before it gets better. I've been doing the honey and cinnamon mask which I really like. I don't know much about natural remedies, sorry I'm not more help!
Cinnamon is an irritant.

 
Yes, that's why it's called the "burning mask".
It's probably best not to do something at home that will make your skin feel like it's burning.

All of the properties of cinnamon are easily substituted for by other ingredients which do not burn the skin. The raw honey in the mask already has antimicrobial properties. Cinnamon's astringent properties can be substituted by any number of ingredients, such as diluted witch hazel. It's anti-inflammatory properties -- which have only been proven when ingested, not topically applied, anyway -- can be taken over by yogurt or aloe vera.

If you can provide scientific sources, and not anecdata, to back up the claim that cinnamon on the skin is beneficial, then please do -- I would be happy to read over them. Otherwise, there is absolutely no reason to put cinnamon on the skin, and I've given three sources to back that up.

 
It's probably best not to do something at home that will make your skin feel like it's burning.

All of the properties of cinnamon are easily substituted for by other ingredients which do not burn the skin. The raw honey in the mask already has antimicrobial properties. Cinnamon's astringent properties can be substituted by any number of ingredients, such as diluted witch hazel. It's anti-inflammatory properties -- which have only been proven when ingested, not topically applied, anyway -- can be taken over by yogurt or aloe vera.

If you can provide scientific sources, and not anecdata, to back up the claim that cinnamon on the skin is beneficial, then please do -- I would be happy to read over them. Otherwise, there is absolutely no reason to put cinnamon on the skin, and I've given three sources to back that up.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/91597-benefits-ground-cinnamon-skin/

No need to get your undies in a bunch. I would NOT recommend this for sensitive skin. Am I telling them to scrub their face off or leave it on if it burns?No. MANY people try homemade masks and treatments at home (which I've read online and heard about and are a lot more dangerous than some cinnamon), I was simply stating that I've tried it and I've seen results.

 
I'm not getting my "undies in a bunch". I'm actually quite calm, but thank you for worrying about my mental health. I've only been giving factual claims, so I see no reason for you to be sarcastic towards me.

Livestrong is not a scientific source. They do not cite where their information is from, nor did they perform any rigorous tests on cinnamon's abilities -- and besides, I just named plenty of ingredients that take over for the pros that they state on that webpage. Here is a website from Cornell University about research and identifying reliable sources.

And no, you didn't tell anyone to scrub their face off -- not that I implied that you did, by the way -- or leave it on if it burns. But by the time it starts burning, it could be too late for some people. And yes, many people try homemade masks and treatments at home, myself included. But just because some are more dangerous than cinnamon doesn't mean that cinnamon can't be dangerous, too. See here for popular coinage of the point you made.

I'm glad that you've seen results and that no harm has come to you from the use of cinnamon, but I'm "simply stating" that it's not the case for a lot of people, and that the alleged effects on cinnamon can come from safer alternatives that are just as easy to obtain. Have you tried just using a honey mask? Are you certain that it's the cinnamon that has been giving you results, or has it just been the honey? Are you aware that the plumping effects of cinnamon is inflammation of the skin and are temporary? Are you okay with that? If so, great! It's your skin, I don't know what it's like. But other people might not have such a good time with it. Better safe than sorry.

 
It was a suggestion for that person. If they felt comfortable with it then great they can try it and know that it has worked for me. And yes I've done just honey, and didn't see much difference. And I also do know that the plumping is temporary that's why it's in a lot of lip plumpers..

 
You should definitely check out DermaE products. They are not expensive, they are natural with a lot of organic ingredients, not overly done or feminine and they work well. I recommend the yellow line, I think its called Evenly Radiant. I do know that DermaE uses fragrances, but the ER line has a refreshing citrus smell. I am not sure if they use synthetic fragrances, but I am pretty sure that they don't, just essential oils etc (and not much). I would still be using them now, but my skin got a little too sensitive to them and I am trying to stay away from fragrances in general (whether natural or synthetic), but its a really good skin care line that has really nice, not overly feminine packaging.

If you are meaning more "make your own" products with readily accessible skin care items, I used green tea as a toner for quite a while a year or so ago and I really liked it. For a moisturizer, I used coconut oil in the evening (not the best option if you are acne prone) and rosehip, sweet almond, sweet apricot and sunflower oil all also work really well I found (and didn't leave a film on the skin) 

 
Follow these tips to get beautiful and glowing skin:

Always wear sunscreen prior to 30 minutes when you go out in the sun.

Water helps to remove toxins from our body. So, drink 2 glasses of warm when after you wake up and than 10 glasses of water throughout the day.

Increase intake of green vegetables and fruits in your diet. It is very good for skin and for health too.

Don't overwash your face. Just twice a day.

Extract gel from aloe vera plant and massage the skin with aloe vera gel for 2-3 minutes and leave for 15 minutes, than rinse off. Do, this twice daily.. You will not only get glowing skin but also will never get wrinkles.

 
I agree with @@Emma Brown plenty of water and use of aloe vera is really good for our skin. I'll like to add one more line.

Exact quantity of water is 3 liters/day for men and 2.2 liters/day for women.

 

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