Contrary to popular beliefs, black people do need sunscreen so never go a day without applying some on your face (after moisturizer) and your entire body.

I’m the biggest makeup junkie ever and I’m constantly upgrading my makeup collection. However, the true essence of a woman’s beauty is what lies beneath all those layers.

For centuries on end women the world over have tried and tested various skin care remedies in their quest for glowing skin. Ancient Egyptian goddesses often bathed in milk and honey because they believed it was the key to flawless skin.

There are a dozen remedies and it can get quite confusing, however, your journey to beautiful skin need not be a traumatic process. It is really as simple as following these three steps: Cleanse-Tone-Moisturize. When people come to me for skincare advice, the first thing I ask them is “what is your skincare regimen?” This is because a regimen is the most effective weapon for combating any skin problems.

 

Cleanse

Cleansing is the process of ridding your pores of the dirt that clogs them over the course of the day or night.  There are many other factors that contribute to acne like genes and diet but dirt is the most common cause of skin imperfections.

I recommend buying a cleanser that’s gentle enough for everyday use like Nuetrogena’s Oil Free Acne Wash or Clean and Clear 3 in 1foaming acne wash.  These products unlike soap are formulated to penetrate the layers of the skin for a deep cleanse without stripping your skin of the essential moisture it needs. Cleanse your face twice a day, in the morning and before bed time. Rule of thumb, never sleep without cleansing your skin, even if you haven’t worn any makeup that day.

As part of the cleansing process, it is essential to exfoliate your skin. Exfoliation is the process of removing dead, old cells from the skin surface. I recommend a product that has gentle micro-beads in it like Neutrogena Visibly Clear Gentle Exfoliating Wash. Using this in place of your regular cleanser twice a week will help to get rid of dead flaky skin, revealing supple skin underneath.

 

Tone

When you clean out your pores, you have opened them up through the rubbing or scrubbing process. Thus your pores are bigger than they usually are and prone to acne causing bacteria.  A good toner helps to restore your pores back to their original size whilst tightening your skin. It will also help to remove any left over cleanser or makeup on the surface of the skin. Think of it as the final step in your cleansing process.  My personal favorite toner is Boots Botanics Skin Brightening toner which I use in the morning and at night after cleansing. There are tons of other great toners out there just ensure you get one with natural extracts as they are the best for your skin.

 

Moisturize

When you apply a moisturizer, you are feeding your skin food, which is as essential as the food we feed our own bodies. All the cleansing and toning will leave you skin a little dry so you will need to restore moisture to it. Many ladies with oily skin are of the notion that moisturizing will only make things worse for them but that’s not the case. If you don’t moisturize, your skin sends a message to your brain that it is lacking moisture and your skin will go into overdrive and send it’s oils to the surface of your skin. If you have oily skin, don’t skip moisturizer, just find one that is oil free. For normal/combination skin ladies such as my self, Olay Complete Care Daily UV Cream with SPF15 is my trusted moisturizer.

For night time, a light moisturizer is preferable such as Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Light Moisturizer or any cream that’s specifically formulated for night time.

These are the three basic steps that you need to introduce into your beauty regimen to be well on your way to getting flawless skin. Your skin won’t improve over night, it takes proper dedication to a regime that works for you. In addition to these three steps, it’s worth mentioning the importance of sunscreen since we live in a hot climate. Contrary to popular belief, black people do need sunscreen so never go a day without applying some on your face (after moisturizer) and your entire body. Direct UV rays from the sun are damaging and can cause sun burn, rashes and premature aging. Invest in a sunscreen with a high SPF (Sun Protecting Factor).

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Yewande Sobamowo is a recent graduate of Warwick Business School in the UK. She is passionate about all things beauty related and shares avant-garde tips and tricks amongst other things on www.shelovesthefinerthings.com. Sobamowo tweets from @Yewizzy.

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.