The Best Skincare Tips from a Magazine Beauty Editor

Desperate to know the celebrities’ skincare secret to perfect glowing skin, you browse the internet for answers. But, it’s frustrating when you already tried every cream they recommend, every tip they give but still, nothing seems to work.

Rachel Jacoby Zoldan, a freelance writer and beauty editor, shares her best skincare tips. Being a beauty editor for over ten years, testing beauty products and interviewing hundreds of dermatologists and skin experts, Rachel was able to distinguish what really works.

1. Popping a pimple will not get rid of it faster.

Your hands are good carriers of bacteria. If you’re touching your inflamed zit, it will only get infected and get worse when you try to squeeze it.

2. More products don’t mean better skin.

Of course, you’ll want to try everything — masks, lotions, creams, peels, oils, and serums. Too many products can clog your pores. There are also certain products you should never mix like retinol and other exfoliating ingredients (salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and benzoyl peroxide), as they will make skin really dry.

3. Skincare products need not be expensive to be effective.

You don’t have to break the bank to find a product that will best suit your skin’s needs.  Rachel says most top dermatologists she’s worked with prefer skin-care products sourced from the drugstore.

4. SPF is your best friend.

Every dermatologist and skin care expert will tell you that “sunscreen is the most-important skin-care step.” It will not only prevent you from getting sunburned but it’ll also protect your skin from harmful UV rays that can cause skin cancer and early signs of aging.

5. Your neck and décolletage also deserve some TLC.

Your neck and décolletage—that’s the area around your clavicle and above the breasts—also show the same signs of skin damage like your face.  Some of the products in the market were designed specifically for lifting and firming those areas.

6. Do the complete skincare routine at night.

Skip the complete cleanse-tone-moisturize (plus peel-mask-serum-essence) in the morning. That routine is best done before bedtime. Why? Because the skin repairs itself overnight. Besides, retinol makes skin susceptible to sun damage that’s why it’s best to be applied at night.

7. Layer skincare products from thinnest to thickest in terms of texture.

Apply the thinnest, water-like products, such as a toner, first and then follow with heavier moisturizers and oils, which help seal everything in. “Oils, in particular, have occlusive properties, which literally create a barrier between skin and the air—anything applied on top of them is basically done in vain,” Rachel said.

8. Give your skin a rosy glow.

To get a naturally pinkish flush, massage your face. Rachel personally likes to use a jade roller to boost circulation as she is a huge fan of crystals. Or you can just use your fingers.

9. When it’s warmer, keep all your skincare in the fridge.

It’ll be more relaxing to apply a cooler face mask. The gel creams don’t feel sticky because they’re not melting. It’s completely refreshing to apply a cool body lotion during summer, especially after a great workout.

Source: SELF