Basic skin care advice for people without a routine.

Well, since some people seemed on board, I figured I may as well test the waters with this. And I think the best place to start is with what you can do outside of a skincare regimen, you can actually do a lot for your face before even laying hands on it!

So, here are a few things you can do before worrying about building up a routine. Most of these tips will benefit people of any skin type, which makes them excellent little boosts to just about anyone's skin health and appearance.

1. Keep your bedding clean.

Not a lot of people really consider what their face is coming into contact with when they think of skincare, but it's actually very important! You spend about eight hours a day wrapped up in your bed, which means that it doesn't take too long for dead skin, sebum, and bacteria to build up on your pillows and blankets. This can cause breakouts of both facial and bodily acne as the detritic matter and bacteria work their way on your skin and into your pores. Therefor, I recommend you wash your bedding once a week at minimum to avoid this kind of buildup.

2. Don't touch your face.

In the same vein as the bedding, your hands can introduce harmful debris, oil, and bacteria to your face on contact. Make sure to not touch your face too much, and thoroughly wash your hands before using any facial product

3. Try taking cooler showers.

I'll be honest, this one sucks. I for one find cold showers to be incredibly uncomfortable, especially when I'm still groggy and waking up in the morning. But, water that's too hot can damage the outer layer of the skin, which can cause drying and irritation. So, taking a lukewarm shower as opposed to a hot one can really make a difference in your skin's vitality.

4. Maintain good oral hygiene.

The human mouth is surprisingly filthy, to be honest. It can be a breeding ground for bacteria if you don't take proper steps to prevent it, and that bacteria can make its way around your mouth and cause breakouts in the chin and upper lip areas.

5. Be mindful of your nutrition.

Skincare is just as much about what you put in your body as what you put on your body. A diet containing antioxidants, biotin, minerals like zinc and selenium, essential fatty acids, and proteins is vital for not only your skin's health, but your physical wellbeing as a whole. Furthermore, smoking can damage the elastin and collagen in your skin, and leave behind solid particulates that can clog your pores or cause severe irritation - and eating a lot of processed sugars (or drinking alcohol, for that matter) can cause a spike in your glycemic index which can cause breakouts and increased oil production. So there's just another reason not to smoke...

6. Be careful with sun exposure.

Some amount of sunlight is good for your skin health. It helps your body produce vitamin D, which is beneficial for your skin. But too much sunlight can dry out and burn your skin, worsen hyperpigmentation, and catalyze the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Don't be too worried though, just make sure to wear sun screen of SPF 30 or higher whenever you're outside for long periods of time, and you'll be fine!


So yeah, there are a few basic tips for tending to your skin without a routine. I hope you found these helpful. Feel free to ask questions - I'm happy to answer them. 

I don't know how to sign off things!