Skincare 101

“You are beautiful for you are fearfully and wonderfully made”. - Psalm 139:14

This verse is the foundation upon which I want us to start this journey of self-care. Even though I strongly believe in the principle of taking care of oneself and the body God has given us, I’d like to confess that the moments I’ve felt most truly beautiful have always been when I saw myself through God’s eyes. No matter how perfect or imperfect our mirror shows us to be, let us look within and embrace the beautiful person He has already declared us to be.

In the midst of raising two very active kids, job changes and having to move to a new country while at it, you can say I’ve had my fair share of I-feel-like-a-mess kind of days. And though I’m thankful for every part of this life, I do miss the days when I had enough spare time to try and experiment different facemasks and skincare routines. Now let's just say I'm making time because this is something I genuinely believe in.

In our search to find the perfect skin-care routine, online resources can fill our minds with content that is overwhelming if not confusing to many of us. In this age where everything from information, products and make-up are so easily available, we need to heed cautiously and make wise decisions. I’m sure many of us have contemplated on getting that expensive product that we saw online or going to the skin clinic that someone recommended. But trust me, this quest can be endless if we do not fix some of the most basic things that form the framework to good skin health. Here are seven simple reminders to imbibe so you can embrace the changes in your skin as it ages.

Laying the foundation for healthy skin

1. Hydration

Hydrating our bodies both internally and externally is the first step to achieving a healthy complexion.

Internal hydration begins with drinking fluids. They say 8 glasses, but I am not going to give you a number, try to drink as much fluids as you comfortably can in a day. It does not need to be just water (though it is the best), we can also substitute with juices, smoothies, green tea, soups etc. This simple step helps in flushing out the toxins that are formed daily within our bodies.

External hydration should be given equal importance, as it helps in nourishing the skin from the outside. So, take that large bottle of lotion and keep it on your bathroom counter. Hydrating your skin immediately after a shower keeps it supple and allows for maximum absorption of moisturizer. This should be done twice a day, once after a shower and next ideally before bedtime.

(TIP: I make it a point to have 4 glasses of water before lunch and 4 glasses after. At work I carry my 1 litre bottle so that I'm reminded to hydrate)

2. CTM/CCM

The cleansing, toning/correcting, and moisturizing of our skin is an essential routine that we need to do consistently. Doing it twice a day, once in the morning and next before bedtime would be ideal. We need to do a double cleansing (1st with a pH balanced face wash followed by the cleanser) while cleaning the face after using heavy make up. Identifying your skin type as either dry or oily will help you determine which type of cleanser and moisturizer to use. Look for a moisturizer with Hyaluronic acid in it as it is an excellent moisturizing ingredient and helps in smoothing out fine lines and makes the skin look firmer. Cream-based cleansers and thick emollient moisturizers work best for dry skin whereas gel-based cleansers and moisturizers work best with oily skin types. Pay special attention to the eye area while moisturizing, as the skin there is very thin and delicate, it tends to get dry and age faster than other areas of the face. It is ideal to use an eye cream that contains Vitamin C, Niacinamide and collagen for the area around your eye. Simple store-bought creams that contain these ingredients are more than enough. Correctors are medically prescribed creams (advised by your dermatologist) to correct pimples, tanning, pigmentation and fine lines. They are currently being recommended by Dermatologists instead of toners. Those who don't have any specific skin problems can easily use a gentle toner instead. The toner should preferably be a mild one with no astringent property, it is best to use micellar water or rose water to tone the skin .

(TIP: With any skin care product, apply in order of consistency, from thin to thickest. For example: cleanser, toner, serum (if you use it), and moisturizer)

3. Eating mindfully

We see numerous different diets and trends out there and most of us have tried so many of them only to rebound to our usual eating habits again. I find that there is really no need to deviate from our ethnic roots, I believe we flourish well in the places God has planted us. Eat the meals that you have grown up eating. Understand that we cannot imbibe traditions that don’t belong to us and expect it to last forever. Embrace the local produce of the place that you are in, and mindfully add in colorful fruits and vegetables into your meals. A single portion of fruits or vegetable in each meal is a good start. In addition, a handful of nuts and seeds can be added to your diet for its beneficial effects on overall well-being. Eating small servings and incorporating a few healthy food options one at a time will allow us to make progress in the right direction instead of choosing something entirely different from what our palates crave.

(TIP: Try adding red, orange and yellow bell peppers to your stir-fry, pasta, pizza, sabzi etc. They contain high levels of beta-carotene and vitamin C)

4. Exercise

Not many of us have the time, energy or means to join gyms. But exercise does not need to be complicated, utilize what you have and get that body moving. The brain releases endorphins, serotonins, dopamine etc. when we engage in physical activities. These chemicals play an important role in relieving pain, stress and regulating our mood. Choose the method that suits you best - pilates, stretches, skipping, high intensity workouts, dancing, whatever it may be. It is totally understandable when students, working parents, parents with little children etc. find it difficult to take time off for self-care and often even look at it as a selfish choice over spending time with family. But to be honest, taking that little bit of time out for ourselves will help us be content and keep us from being resentful towards our responsibilities. The word of God tells us that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and taking care of it in any way is a form of honoring the Creator who made us in His likeness. So, take 10 or 15 minutes, that is all I’m asking, add it to your daily routine and see how your skin thanks you for it!

(TIP: Start with just 15 minutes, with a minimum of 3 times a week and work it up gradually to see how quick your body picks up).

5. Sunscreen

One of the key components that causes photoaging of the skin is the UV light that we are exposed to and the one thing that will protect us from the harmful effects of UV rays is the consistent and daily use of sunscreen. Please don’t forget to include sunscreen as a part of your daily skin care routine to ensure long-term results. Some key points that we need to look out for while using sunscreen are:

· A broad spectrum of activity (against both UVA &UVB rays) indicated by the PA++.

· The SPF should be between 30 to 50 to be effective.

· Should be applied throughout the year irrespective of climate.

· Should be applied even while indoors.

· Should apply sufficient quantity (at least ½ to 1 teaspoon over face and neck)

· Oily skin types should choose a gel based or water-resistant sunscreen and normal to dry skin can opt for a lotion or cream based sunscreen.

(TIP: If you are travelling, outdoors, or working for long hours away from home, do carry the sunscreen along with you and reapply every few hours if possible. It may sound unnecessary, but this additional step adds a lot of value to your skincare regime)

6. Time with God

Psalms 34:5 says “Those who look to Him are radiant…”. No matter how much time and effort we take in looking glorious from the outside, it is meaningless at the end of the day if what we hold inside is not. There is a constant strife within us to perform, express and be understood. And I believe understanding ourselves is the first step to our well-being. Personally, I find this to be the most important step, the reason being, to begin a journey of discipline and self-care/self-love, we need to tune into our Creator. Take a few minutes everyday to spend time with God, to meditate on the Word of God and strengthen your inner selves in Him. A grateful and cheerful heart gives us a pleasant countenance.

(TIP: Start with just 5 minutes, and ensure that it is 5 minutes of intentional time with God, and not a hurried morning ritual or an exhausted bedtime task. You can choose and prioritize, 'cause you know best. Give a little, and God will help you give much more.)

7. Additional skin care

The topic of skin-care is vast as there are so many things that we can do in addition to all the things that have been mentioned. I am going to list in a few key points that should be considered as part of a normal skincare regime:

· Weekly face mask.

· Weekly gentle physical exfoliation.

· Daily Omega-3 supplements.

· Vitamin-D and Vitamin-C oral supplements.

· Retinoic acid, retinal or retinol cream/serum.

· Vitamin-C cream/serum.

(TIP: Serums are powerful skin allies that can be gradually added to the skin care routine, and aim to use a product over at least six weeks, once or twice daily to see the results.)

I will be elaborating more on each of these topics over the next few posts on skincare. But for now, let us focus on building a strong foundation so we can build step by step over it!

“He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.”

Luke 6:48

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