By Ayah Hassan, Staff Writer
Skincare. So complicated yet so simple.
What are the most viable parts of a good skincare routine? Well, the bare minimum you should be doing in your daily routine are these three things.
The first thing is cleansing. Cleansing is extremely important, as it gets rid of the toxins and dirt on your face. Cleansing also prevents acne and pimples from forming on your skin. “I wash my face with cleanser every morning,” says Samha Khan.
The second important thing a good skin routine entails is moisturization. Especially in the winter, the skin on your face can become dry quickly. You should try to moisturize your face at least once a day, although a lot of experts recommend moisturizing twice a day; once in the morning and once at night.
Last but not least, sunscreen is extremely important. Most people only use sunscreen in the summer, especially when they go to the beach or when it’s sunny, but sunscreen should be used daily. Whether it’s sunny or cloudy, you should be wearing sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV rays that could cause adverse health effects, including sunspots or even skin cancer.
Most cleanse and moisturize, but neglect to wear sunscreen. Studies show that those who apply sunscreen daily are 40% less likely to get skin cancer.Sophomore Skye Sloan expresses this common theme among teens: “I use moisturizer and a cleanser, but not sunscreen on a daily basis.”
Although so many people have very different skincare routines, the basics are still the same. Sherina Sen, a freshman, shares, “My favorite skincare product is the La Roche moisturizer.” Sophomore Samha Khan’s favorite skincare product is “The Cocokind turmeric serum because it makes my face glowy and soft.”, she says.
When most people think about skincare, they think of just taking care of the skin on their faces, when really, skincare is taking care of your entire body. “I never thought about it like that,” says Sherina, “when I usually talk about skincare, I’m referring to my face, but taking care of the rest of your body is also really important.” You may not use the same products for the rest of your body as you do your face, but skincare still impacts the rest of the body
Research shows that having a skincare routine can increase and provide a boost for your mental health. “Sometimes I find skincare therapeutic,” Skye says. “It helps me clear my mind at the end of the day.” Some people feel that having a skincare routine can be a source of stress if they feel obligated to do it daily. “I feel like it depends.” Freshman Leilah Fokar Comments. “I feel really good after doing my skincare routine, but sometimes it takes a lot of energy to do it.” Josie Just, a freshman at River Hill agrees. “If I have a lot of time to do it, then I can take my time and it’s therapeutic.”
While people have mixed emotions about how skincare makes them feel in the moment, most agree that it brings a sense of satisfaction. Whether you have a long time consuming skincare routine or a short and simple one, don’t forget the three most important things that you should have in your skincare routine. Cleansing, moisturizing, and most of all, next time you go out, don’t forget to use sunscreen.