Skincare for beginners
Iām looking to expand my skin care routine a step. I currently rinse it daily. I also shave (with shaving soap and aftershave) every-to-every other day, and I put moisturizer on after shaving. Is there an easy next step?
10 Replies
Probably get a dedicated facial cleanser
cleanser and sunscreen. any of the big mainstream brands (cetaphil, cerave, neutrogena, depending on where you're based). /r/skincareaddiction if you want other brand recs (but just stick to the beginner guides and search)
anything else depends on if you have any facial skin issues (dryness, greasiness, acne, etc) or other concerns
you should moisturize even when you're not shaving.
for me, i use a gentle cleanser when i wash my face, toner when i get out of the shower and follow up with moisturizer. serves me well. if i've got a beard i'll make sure to use beard shampoo on it and beard balm afterwards.
Depending on how rough your skin is, or how much general damage & buildup you might have, it can be worth throwing in a weekly (or biweekly, monthly... im not your boss) exfoliant into the mix. You can get scrubs or chemical peels; don't use them too often, & I'm sure r/skincareaddiction has good recommendations.
I personally love a daily-use toner, and found that before going on testosterone it completely prevented breakouts. Now, it does not do that anymore LOL but using it before bed to get rid of oil and gunk, and after cleansing before moisturizer still helps my skin return to normal more quickly after a breakout and keeps it more stable. I like witch hazel ones but YMMV
check out retinol/tretinoin or benzoyl peroxide
That stuff dries out your skin a lot. Personally I would only use it if acne was severe
retinol yes but its handlable
benzoyl peroxide i think it depends on the product but not necessarily
I've actually been down this rabbit hole like crazy recently. Generally speaking, here is what I've found: wash your face twice a day (water alone is actually fine, cleanser is optional - I personally do use one though), apply moisturizer twice a day after each wash, and apply SPF after moisturizer in the morning. Those are really the building blocks that apply to everyone. Then we get into the optional stuff: the two things that are most worth considering here are an exfoliant (can clear up the skin) and retinol or some variant of it (can make the skin more youthful). I use a chemical exfoliant right after washing twice a week, and use retinol right after washing every other day. If your skin is totally clear and youthful already, these things really aren't necessary. Note that before you go out and buy any/all of this stuff, you need to understand your skin type and also slowly build your collection of products once you find what works for you. I have quite sensitive skin and some products, even ones for sensitive skin, literally turn my face into a tomato for hours after use. You have to find what works for you.
I think a good cleanser and SPF are the natural next step. Anything like exfoliating and retinols should be added later, slowly
Tret is super good.