All About the Regimen: My 30 Day Skin Reset

Health

Mar 30

Let me start by saying if you would have asked me 5 years ago if my future self would be addressing skin care in a blog or even sharing about it with others, I would have thought you were crazy! I have NEVER been a product girl. Ever! I used to try to find products that worked for my skin type and budget. I really didn’t think much else of it.

But a little over 3 years ago, I learned things I couldn’t unlearn. Here are some of the numerical stats I learned and stuck with me:

80%: the percentage of ingredients in the personal care industry that have never been tested for human safety.
1938: the year the last major federal law was passed governing our products.
1.5: the number of pages of the federal law used to oversee the industry.
30: the number of ingredients that are banned in our personal care products in the US; in the EU, they ban 1,400.

These facts were startling. I had NO IDEA! At that point, moving forward, I made a pact to check the ingredients of a product, but also do some background research on the company bringing the product to market. I say all of this not as a scare tactic, but to inform and share there are resources you can utilize to protect your health. One amazing app I use is called Healthy Living by the Environmental Working Group. It rates different foods and cosmetics on their toxicity. Their online guides are extensive and you can find anything from bedsheets to laundry detergent to wall paints. It’s an amazing tool to have at your fingertips. I also refer to Beautycounter’s Never List. The transparency and initiative I have seen from Beautycounter are rare for the beauty industry. I know many other clean brands are popping up, but Beautycounter was the pioneer for change and is leading the way for clean beauty to be the norm.

Save this shortened Never List as a reference of what to avoid the next time you’re shopping! — Save this shortened *Never List* as a reference of what to avoid the next time you’re shopping!

Why a Skin Reset?

High-quality skin care is great and all, but if your gut’s microbiome is out of whack then there are other issues to address first. Inflammation in your gut can reveal itself two ways: in your stool and on your skin. We are going to address the skin part of the equation and this means there’s a direct correlation to the foods we eat and what we see happening on our skin. One huge thing you can do to help support your digestion and skin is hydration. Drinking lots of water ensures your gut is getting the fluids it needs to function properly and flush out any toxins that may be in the body. Dairy, gluten, and stress are also elements that can negatively affect not only our skin but our bodies at large. Of course, there can be deeper root issues and for that, I suggest contacting your healthcare provider. Digestion is the root of all health so once we have addressed any issues there, then we can move onto skin care, especially a skin care regimen.

For myself, after the holidays, I felt my body craving green veggies, water, and routine. We usually travel and that in itself can alter our body’s ability to detox. I knew I not only wanted to get back into a more balanced routine when it came to food but also get in the habit of a morning and evening skin care regimen. Okay, let’s get into it!

Why a Skin Care Regimen is so Important

A skin care regimen is like any other routine you have in life. It helps build a good foundation and consistency. There are four parts that contribute to a good skin care regimen. You might be a minimalist and asking, “Paulina, four steps? Are those really necessary?!” My answer is simple: yes, yes they are. Let me explain what they are and why they are important.

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Step 1: CLEANSE

This one is pretty much self-explanatory because the product you use is likely referred to as a cleanser. We encounter tons of dirt, pollutants, and toxins throughout the day, so it’s a great idea to start with first washing and removing those from our faces. Sometimes if I have had a face of makeup on, it feels nice to do a double cleanse, which is a fancy way of saying to wash your face twice. My first cleanse is focused on removing my foundation, eye makeup, mascara, and brow product. My second cleanse is to remove anything I might have missed during round one. I don’t do this every night, only when I am feeling like I missed some of my daytime makeup.

Step 2: PREP

Once your face is washed, it’s important to prep your skin for what’s next. Many people, myself included up until about 6 months ago, likely skip right over this step. Big mistake. BIG. HUGE! (Pretty Woman anyone?!) When you cleanse your face, the pH of your skin might have changed so we need to neutralize it and open your pores to PREPare for the nutrients it’s about to receive. See what I did there? Grab a good, clean toner or essence and get to preppin’. Witch Hazel is a great ingredient to look for in your toner. If you are using those disposable cotton rounds, check out the eco-friendly tip I provide in the start/ stop lists below.

Step 3: TREAT

This step in the regimen packs a lot of punch. These treatment products usually contain large amounts of nutrients and address certain skin concerns. For example, if you struggle with acne, a charcoal mask would be a great treatment step to help balance your skin and draw out toxins and impurities. Some examples of treatment products are serums, peels, and masks.

Step 4: PROTECT

Once you have done steps 1 through 3, your skin needs some protection to seal in all the goodness! Your skin needs hydration and finding the right moisturizer can be challenging. Some can be too heavy and clog your pore, which is the opposite of what you what to accomplish with this grand finale step. Find one that has quality ingredients, doesn't leave your skin greasy, and keeps your skin hydrated all night. Some people prefer facial oil if they have extremely dry skin.

TA-DA! You are done!

Again, this may seem like more than what you are used to, it was for me, but it takes no more than 5 minutes and it really relaxing at the end of a long day. Since finding products that my skin likes and is nourished from, I actually look forward to my regimen at the end of the day.

A few personal notes:

-If I use an exfoliator, I don’t use one of the more potent treatments, like the mask or peel. For me personally, this is too much for my skin, but everyone is different so this might be just what your skin needs to address certain concerns!

-After these 30 glorious days of staying on top of my regimen, shortly after, I fell off the bandwagon. I wasn’t washing my face morning and night and noticed some small white bumps near my mouth starting to appear. After a week of falling off, I decided to recommit to my regimen. Within a few days of taking on the 4 steps, morning and night, those little white bumps diminished and proved to me that being disciplined is worth it!

Okay, now that you know a bit about the beauty industry, why a skin reset can be beneficial, and what the steps of a regimen are, let’s chat about a few habits to start and stop to support the health of your skin.

Start:

using a humidifier.
using a fresh towel every time you wash your face. There can be a lot of bacteria on your used towels and once I started using a fresh one, I noticed my skin clear up.
incorporating supplements into your lifestyle. Think about adding collagen and lysine supplements into your daily routine.

Stop:

picking & touching your face whenever you see a blemish or imperfection. This only makes it worse. Take it from someone who’s trying to stop this habit herself!
shopping the dollar section for personal care products. They are likely full of potentially harmful ingredients that you want nowhere near your skin!
using one-time or disposable cotton rounds. Check out some eco-friendly ones instead!

I LOVE talking about all things skin care, clean products, and how the industry is looking to change, so if you want to continue the conversation further, please reach out! I hope this was beneficial for you and you’re inspired to do your own Skin Reset.

Was there something new you learned from this post? Share it in the comments!