Don’t forget to care for your skin this holiday!

Are you looking to get into something new? The holidays, and the new year especially, are a great time to pick up new habits. The skincare craze has gained traction in the past few years and if you’re not already a skincare girlie, now is a perfect time, and this article is an excellent place to start.

For those who work or party (or both) through the holidays, being out for long hours in addition to the harmattan weather can put a strain on our skin.

We asked, what’s your golden skincare rule or tip? And the responses were loaded with advice that may revolutionise your routine.

These tips include;

• Exfoliate regularly and wear sunscreen.
• Cleanse properly after wearing sunscreen, and don’t take skincare advice from TikTok.
• Not more than five steps.
• Always apply sunscreen!
• Always moisturize
• Hydration is for all skin types. Yes, even oily skin.
• Rotate your actives.
• Don’t pick at your face.
• Be patient and consistent.
• Hydration over everything else. Also, don’t forget your sunscreen!

Moisturising and wearing sunscreen are two set-in-stone tips for nourished and protected skin.

According to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, it is essential to moisturise our skin daily, and it is not a mere aesthetically-inclined habit. Moisturising daily reduces skin problems and can reduce the chance of developing extreme dryness or oiliness. Both extremes harm the skin and cause common skin conditions like acne. Also, using a daily moisturiser conceals other skin blemishes.

Sunscreen is not only a skincare essential but an essential for general wellness in the face of the depleting ozone layer. Per John Hopkins Medicine, wearing sunscreen is one of the best and easiest ways to protect your skin’s appearance and health at any age. “Used regularly, sunscreen helps prevent sunburn, skin cancer and premature ageing.”

The sun protection factor, SPF, represents a sunscreen’s ability to protect against UVA and UVB rays responsible for skin ageing, sunburns and skin cancer. The higher the SPF, the higher the protection. A broad-spectrum sunscreen will protect against UVB and UVA rays, so getting one of those is advisable. Some examples are the Bondi sands SPF 50+ sunscreen and La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF50+ sunscreen.

We asked, how does skincare make you feel? How do you feel about the process? Have you seen any changes?

Skincare is self-care, and the process can be as enjoyable as the results. Temi says, “It’s giving pampered.” Omotayo finds skincare relaxing and that it helps take her mind off things that are serious at the moment.

Imabong says it makes her feel “soft and beautiful.” J.T. says, “I worry less about skin cancer.” Erere says doing skincare makes her feel like she’s in charge of life.

For Femi, “It’s a mood raiser, it makes me feel like a person”; Mofiyin, “It makes me feel beautiful”; Ruth, “soothed and intentional”.

After four years of doing skincare, one responder says it makes them feel comfortable. “I’m just not overdoing things and breaking out. I don’t want perfect skin. I just want to not hate my face so much.”

Another four-year-long faithful says it has “improved the overall texture and appearance for me and has helped minimise many issues I had in the past.”

Sarah says her acne is better managed, and Mofiyin says the skincare process feels luxurious.

Grace says, “At this point, I’m obsessed with the skincare process. I have seen massive changes considering I used to have widespread chronic acne and fungal acne too. These changes have really boosted my self-esteem.”

Ruth likes that it can be very soothing and that “it also feels really indulgent at times. Some of the things I buy are on the pricey side, so they come with “extra” things like scoops, massagers, and spatulas that help work the products in. I feel really beautiful at the end of it all.”

Tilewa says her skin is brighter and more glowy, and Imabong’s skin feels healthy. For Tomisin, skincare makes her accept herself more. “I am still a work in progress, and that’s okay.”

Kachy says optimistic is the word. “My skin has improved greatly since I first started, and with consistency and patience, it can only get better.”

We asked, what product or process, tip, or trick do you recommend for people looking to start their skincare journey? These helpful tips might be just what you need.

• Start with the basics. Cleanser + moisturiser + sunscreen.
• Hydration. Start slow and simple. A basic routine. Face wash, a good moisturiser and a good sunscreen. Work your way up from there.
• Wash your face twice a day.
• Start with the most affordable products you can find. Affordable stuff can yield good results if you’re consistent. You don’t have to break your account to get results, The Ordinary products and Inkey List are affordable and good.
• Know your skin type (oily, dry, sensitive, acne-prone or a combination) so you don’t waste money on products that aren’t made for you.
• Don’t give in to all the product hype.
• It’s always important to do your research, ask for advice or do a skincare consultation; this would help determine many factors when buying skincare products.
• See a verified skin specialist if you have a skin condition (acne, hyperpigmentation, melasma, etc.) and can afford to. It might seem expensive, but if you’re going to buy treatment products, it’s best to see a specialist; it saves you money and time in the long run.
• It doesn’t matter what sunscreen you get; use it.
• Watch how your skin reacts to each product, and don’t layer (like retinol and vit. c) or mix your products unless the instructions say so.
• Figure out what you want out of it, do tons of research and patch test!
• STOP PUTTING FOOD ON YOUR FACE! Please leave it in the kitchen, and don’t put toothpaste on your face, either.
• Get into k-skincare but do your research before putting anything on your face. Check the ingredients and the formulas.
• Research and perch on aestheticians’ social media accounts.
• Pray, keep trying, upscale.
• Be patient and kind to your skin.

Oluwadamilohun Babarinsa, head esthetician at Maboss Magic Beauty, recommends sunscreen, moisturiser and cleanser/face wash.

Her tips for effective skincare generally and this season are:

• Remember that it is a journey; give your skin time.
• Use only a few actives simultaneously; one or two is okay.
• Sometimes the most straightforward product is the best.
• Oil your damp skin, and lotion your dry skin.
• Moisturise before bed; it’ll help your skin heal over time.