Beauty Tips With Ada: 3 Steps You Must Include In Your Skin Care Routine.

I'm back with the skincare routine topic! I hope you found last week's post on the importance of a skincare routine very helpful. If you haven't read that piece, you can check it out here . If you are trying to establish your own skincare routine, there are three steps you must consider regardless of your skin type or gender.

Cleanse: You should start by cleansing your face or body. This removes makeup, dirt and sweat from the skin. It is bad practice to use bar soaps on your face. It may work well for the body but will only strip your face of its natural oils, making it feel dry and tight. Your skin should feel comfortable after cleansing. If you have extremely dry skin then cut out bar soaps entirely and use shower gel on your body instead. A facial cream cleanser is also preferable for dry skin because it cleans without stripping the face of natural oils. People with acne-prone skin would benefit from using a salicylic acid cleanser.

Exfoliate: Exfoliating is the process of removing dead skin from the surface of the skin. The skin naturally sheds off this skin especially after being damaged by the elements such as sun and dry air. Dead skin cannot be nourished and usually has a dull appearance. Dead skin is also capable of blocking your pores and causing you to breakout! You should exfoliate your skin to give it a brighter and younger appearance. The two types of exfoliation are chemical and mechanical. Mechanical exfoliation involves scrubbing off dead skin. For your body, you may use body polish, a sponge or exfoliating gloves in the shower. I love the exfoliating gloves because it's fuss-free and you definitely find an improvement in your skin's tone and texture in two to three months. There are also a variety of facial scrubs with abrasives like microbeads and oatmeal.  Chemical exfoliation can be achieved with toners or lotions that contain acids such as lactic acid derived from milk.

Moisturize: People with dark skin especially develop ashy looking skin when they do not use a moisturizer. If you wear makeup, you would find that moisturizer helps your foundation apply smoothly. You may use a humectant like glycerin which draws water into the outer layer of the skin or an emollient like petrolatum or mineral oil which traps water in the skin by forming a layer on its surface. Some areas need special attention like the knees, elbows and lips. These areas become rough when you do not moisturize them. Dry skin would benefit from creams while oily skin is better suited to gel or lotion as a moisturizer.

A good regimen should include these three steps and the result is healthier looking skin. If you want to find out how to choose the right cleanser, exfoliant or moisturzer for your skin type, make sure you're following me on social media to get an update for the next post.

Ada Beauty is a creative writer and a beauty enthusiast. She has worked as a blogger for onobello.com and as a copywriter for an ad agency. She is currently the editor of www.daisyada.com.ng