Hello readers,

When it comes to skincare and hair care, I believe in “Less is more!”

Skin being the most absorbent layer of your body is most likely to drink up whatever so is applied on it. I strongly believe in the fact that, You should be able to eat anything you would put on your skin. Sounds pretty weird, right? When you apply a product externally to nourish, enhance and beautify your skin, it is literally the ‘Skin food’. And because you wouldn’t knowingly consume food that is unnatural, toxic, harmful or artificial; neither should your skin consume it!! Your ‘Skin food’ should be organic, natural, sustainable and free from toxins, because unlike the digestive system; our skin retains toxins, chemicals for a longer period of time.

Small changes that will help you establish a better skincare routine.

  • First and foremost, find your skin type. This is so basic but it is very important. Using products that work for an influencer, your friend or even your sibling won’t necessarily work for you. Everyone is blessed with a different skin type, find your skin type and use formulated skincare products accordingly.
  • Give the ingredients a read before buying any skincare product. Look out for allergens like SLS, animal fat, lead, mica, mercury that are proven toxins for skin. Also look out for the manufacturing date of the product, especially when buying online.
  • Slowly and swiftly switch to CLEAN skincare practices. By clean I mean the skincare products that are organic, vegan, vegetarian, chemical free, silicone free, SLS free and toxin free. Immediately changing the products or ingredients you’ve been using for a long period of time can cause skin reactions, irritation or rashes because your skin isn’t accustomed to organic products. But one is less likely to develop reactions to organic skincare products. I suggest on starting slow with one product at a time, giving your skin enough time to adapt, adjust and tune to the new products.
  • Do a patch test before buying any new skincare product, that way you will know what works for your skin and what doesn’t.
  • Concentrate on building a minimal yet sustainable skincare routine. Finding products that are made for your skin type, the products that target skin concerns and have multiple uses and investing in them is ideal. Investing in products doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive, or cheap. Buy something that really works well for your skin. And like I said; Less is more.
  • Being a follower of the classic Cleanse, Tone, Moisturize; Let me tell you one thing. Skincare trends will come and go but the CTM routine is going to stay forever. All you need to do is invest in a good Cleanser, Toner and Moisturizer, consistency is the key.
  • Double cleanse everyday if you wear makeup daily or Double cleanse twice a week if you don’t wear makeup every day. With the increasing amount of pollutants in the air, changing lifestyle, and use of comedogenic products, the skin requires a regular deep cleanse. You can use a cleansing milk, cleansing oils or a micellar water followed by a cleanser to double cleanse. Coconut oil is not recommended; as it is comedogenic.
  • DO NOT apply soap on your face! The skin on your face is thinner, sensitive than the rest of your body and it requires mild cleansing. Soaps contain harsh surfactants and oils that are  necessary to clean the skin on your body. Using soap on your face can strip your face of natural oils, making it dry and parched, prolonged use can cause rough skin on face.
  • Exfoliate once a week. Sloughing away the dead skin will reveal fresh skin, giving you glow and improving overall skin texture. You can exfoliate using a scrub, a wash cloth or chemical peels. Make sure you use non-abrasive scrubs, they do more harm than good.
  • Dry brushing twice a week is both relaxing and therapeutic. It is a skin exfoliation method where you brush dry skin with a bristle brush in circular motions and towards lymphatic drainage. This gently removes dead skin cells, improves lymphatic circulation and blood circulation and skin rejuvenation. I personally love this method!
  • If at all you wax, shave, use an epilator, or use hair removal cream; Exfoliating your skin a day prior to hair removal will prevent ingrown hair, wax bumps, strawberry legs. Doing so will make hair removal easier and the skin will be noticeably smoother post-hair removal.
  • Using essential oil blends with your creams or oils can make a huge difference in the texture, health and overall appearance of your skin.
  • Running an ice cube over your face after you wake up will give you the rosy glow, reduce puffiness and give you a cool start to your day..quite literally!
  • Wipe down your mobile phone, laptop keyboard, TV remote, game controller and any other electronic device that you use often with a disinfectant once daily. Trust me on this, they have more bacteria than you ever imagined! Avoid touching your face frequently as it will transfer bacteria to your face faster, therefore triggering more sebum production and causing breakouts.
  • Lip balms can be so addictive! It is because you feel the need to reapply every few hours. Sure they smell tempting, but they contain harmful ingredients that are drying, they cause discoloration of lips over time and cause skin irritation; which in turn makes us feel that there is a need to reapply a lip balm again and again. Instead, try coconut oil, olive oil, kokum butter, they are organic, nourishing, extremely hydrating and they generally don’t require frequent reapplication.
  • UV rays are extremely damaging to the skin that can cause premature ageing of skin, wrinkles, pigmentation, sun-burn, and skin cancer. I suggest on a wearing a good SPF++PA daily can help in protecting the skin from sun damage. Do not skip sunscreen; even if its cloudy or you are going to stay indoors all day. Covering your face with a scarf or a hat when stepping out in the sun can help prevent primary UV damage.
  • Lastly, Drinking 3-4 liters of water, you can alternate between water and other fluids like fruit juices, green tea, smoothies, buttermilk because drinking enough fluids will help maintain equilibrium in the body by flushing out toxins and maintaining the electrolyte balance at the same time. Dehydration is the worst enemy of the skin. If you do struggle with the regularity to drink water, here’s a hack; Get yourself a cute sipper to keep you motivated to drink water. Also there are apps that remind you to drink water every hour.
  • Get that beauty sleep. There’s a reason why people call it that! Resting enough will help in relaxation, restoration and rejuvenation of your body, mind and soul. Trust me it shows on the skin! Try to avoid any screen time half an hour prior to falling asleep, helps you doze off better.
  • Lastly, A sweating out sesh of 30 minutes works wonders for your health. And yes 15 minutes of fresh air that clears your mind, calms the breath and purifies your soul . And the best part is, it’s natural, abundant and free!

And now for the most important small change; Everyone is blessed with a different skin type, texture, tone and color. A happy acceptance and being comfortable in your own skin is what gives you the confidence and makes you glow and look heavenly! You have the skin that is one of a kind. You know your skin better than anyone else in this world, It’s you who needs to figure out and incorporate a routine that you are most comfortable in with the products that work for you and make you feel amazing. Acne is beautiful, pigmentation is beautiful, fair skin is beautiful, chocolate skin is beautiful, freckles are beautiful, scars are beautiful and so is dry skin. It means you are only human and functioning as humans should and You own that beautiful skin that have!

Dr. Gayatri Shinde.