What content and methods does the skin care process include?

In fact, from the perspective of the underlying logic of skin care, the core process is always the three core steps of cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection. The other functional steps such as whitening, anti-aging, and repair are all optional and can be superimposed as needed. There is no dead rule posted online that "skin care must be completed in 7 steps to be considered effective."

"Simplified skin care vs. full-step skin care" is a hot topic on the Internet. In fact, both opinions are reasonable. It all depends on your own skin type and current needs. A while ago, I helped my best friend with oily skin to adjust her skin care routine. She used to follow the popular internet celebrity and apply seven or eight layers of toner, essence, lotion, face cream, and eye cream in the morning and evening, which made her chin and forehead shut up. Later, she switched to using an amino acid cleanser to wash her T-zone at eight in the morning when she was in a hurry, apply a layer of refreshing toner, and apply non-sticky sunscreen before going out. At night, she added an anti-acne essence and a light lotion, and most of it was gone in just half a month.

When it comes to cleansing, there is a lot of controversy. Some people say that you must cleanse your face in the morning and evening to get it clean, while others say that washing your face with water in the morning will not damage the cuticle. In fact, there is really no need to stick to the rules. If you have oily skin, your face will be shiny when you wake up in the morning. It is no problem to use a mild amino acid cleanser on the T zone. If you have dry and sensitive skin, if there is no excess oil on your face in the morning, just rinse your face with warm and cold water. I used to have a colleague with dry skin who followed the trend and bought an oil-control soap-based cleanser to use in the morning and evening. After half a month of washing, my cheeks became red and itchy. I went to a dermatologist. The doctor said that excessive cleansing damaged the skin barrier. It took more than two months to recover.

If you cleanse properly, the subsequent moisturizing will not be in vain. It does not mean that the thicker the moisturizing product, the better. Many people think that moisturizing requires applying thick creams. In fact, in summer, if you have oily skin, you can use a refreshing gel or essence to lock in moisture. In winter, if you have dry skin, it is not too late to add a strong occlusive cream. There are also many people who say that toner is an IQ tax, and applying it is equivalent to applying it in vain. I think it depends on your needs. If your face is easy to dry out after washing, a layer of toner with hyaluronic acid or panthenol can quickly soothe it, and the subsequent application of essence will also be easier to absorb. If you have oily skin, and your face is not taut after washing, it is no problem to apply essence directly.

Compared with cleansing and moisturizing, which is easy to get into trouble, most people know the importance of sun protection, but there are still many differences on how to use it. Some people say that you don’t need to apply sunscreen when staying indoors on cloudy days, while others say that you need to apply sunscreen whenever you open your eyes. In fact, it depends on the situation. If you draw thick curtains and stay 1 meter away from the window, you don’t need to apply it at all, so as not to cause additional burden on the skin. However, if you work by the window or go out on a cloudy day, the intensity of ultraviolet rays can actually reach 70% of that on a sunny day, so you must apply enough. I went to the beach on May 1st, and I was lazy and only applied it once on the way out. I didn’t set the alarm for reapplying. After a long time, the back of my neck and arms became red and peeling. When I came back, I applied a repairing mask for a week to stop the pain. It was a hard lesson.

As for the steps that everyone is struggling with, such as eye cream, whitening essence, anti-aging essence, and acid brushing, they are all added as needed after the basic three steps are stabilized. It is equivalent to the basics of your cooking being rice and water. The amount of seasonings you need to add depends on the taste you want. There is no need to pile unnecessary functional products on your face, which will burden the skin. I have been doing skin care for five or six years, and I have gone through countless pitfalls. The biggest feeling is that there is really no unified standard process. Your face feels comfortable after applying it, and your skin condition is stable after long-term use, and it can achieve the improvement you want. That is the skin care process that is most suitable for you.