8 Skincare Routine Tips

DON’T FORGET TO EXFOLIATE

In addition to the above daily routine, Joanna Vargas suggests exfoliating your face twice a week. This will help remove any dead skin cells and keep your face smooth and shiny.

AVOID TOO MUCH SUN ON YOUR FACE, EVEN IF YOU APPLIED THAT SPF

Dr. Tanzi says the number one rule when it comes to skincare is “Avoid too much sun on your face.” A tan may look good now, but the sun “will rob you of youthful skin in the future.” Tanzi suggests skipping the beach or the tanning salon and using a sunless tanner instead. “In your twenties, the most important thing is to protect the skin by not subjecting it to excessive sun exposure and tanning salons. 

Over one million people visit a tanning salon in the US on a daily basis; the vast majority being Caucasian women under 35. Many of them are trying to “get a base tan” but they are increasing their risk of skin cancer dramatically, accelerating the aging process and causing wrinkles. So just don’t do it.”

WHAT YOU EAT AND DRINK AFFECTS YOUR SKIN

Skincare doesn’t just end at SPF and moisturizer. What you drink and eat has a lot to do with it, too. “Skin and diet are linked, so the better you eat, the better your skin will look,” says Vargas. “Drink green juices daily instead of an afternoon coffee. Your skin will look great and you will have more energy.”

DO NOT SLEEP WITH YOUR MAKEUP ON

Here’s yet another reason to drop that bad habit. Not only will it be harder to break later in life, Vargas said, “Sleeping with makeup on decreases the body’s ability to repair itself.”

GOOD GENES CAN HELP, BUT ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ARE MORE IMPORTANT

While your family may have good genes, it may not save your skin in the long run if you don’t take care of it. “The way the skin ages depends a lot on genetics, but especially environmental factors such as excessive sun exposure and smoking,” said Dr. Tanzi. Vargas agreed, saying, “If a 20-year-old is tanning and smoking, she will age sooner and faster than a 30-year-old who takes better care of her skin.” We have more control over our bodies than we think.

IT’S HIGHLY IMPORTANT TO WEAR SPF EVERY SINGLE DAY. SERIOUSLY. DO IT.

“It is most important to wear the SPF daily because sun damage is cumulative,” said Dr. Tanzi. If you forget to wear sunscreen one day, it doesn’t mean you can repair it by wearing it the next. The damage has already been done. “The sun you get from daily activities in our 20s will affect the skin for years to come.”

A THREE-STEP MORNING AND BEDTIME ROUTINE IS KEY

Dr. Tanzi recommends maintaing a simple, but effective morning and bedtime routine to ensure you’re doing everything you can to take care of your skin. Step 1: Cleanse. Step 2: Treat — with an antioxidant in the morning and either retinol or glycolic acid at night. Step 3: Protect — Moisturize with SPF in the morning and a basic moisturizer at night.