Skincare: A Step-by-Step Routine
A daily facial care routine to promote skin health and prevent skin irritation. Always remove makeup & cleanse your skin before bedtime. For product recommendations to use in this skincare routine, visit Recommended Facial Skincare.
A Note for Very Dry & Sensitive Skin:
To prevent loss of protective skin oils & dehydration, you can try washing without cleanser in the morning, then with cleanser in the evening. Do not allow your skin to fully dry between steps as the evaporation of water will also pull water from your skin. Apply your products to slightly damp skin.
Daily Facial Skincare Routine
1. Remove Makeup (if wearing)
If you are not wearing makeup, or light makeup only, you can skip this step.
Waterproof or extended wear makeup can be difficult to remove with a regular facial cleanser. Apply a makeup removing oil or lotion, or jojoba oil, to a soft cotton pad then wipe gently to remove makeup.
Alternatively, apply the makeup oil or lotion to your whole face and massage in. Use enough oil that it doesn’t create a lot friction when you massage it in. Remove with a warm wet washcloth. A microfiber cloth is often much less abrasive than regular washcloths. You can find microfiber cloths in the cleaning or kitchen aisles of some stores.
2. Wash & Pat Dry
For dry skin, choose a creamy, non-foaming lotion cleanser. Oilier skin types can use a gentle foaming cleanser for a slightly deeper clean. Use lukewarm, not hot water, with gentle circular motions. Gently pat dry.
3. Mist with Thermal Water
This step is optional but very beneficial. The naturally occurring minerals in a thermal water mist can soothe dry, irritated skin. Mist, then pat it into your skin. Follow with moisturizer to seal in the hydration.
4. Moisturize
Lock in moisture while your skin is slightly damp. Choose a richer moisturizer for very dry skin, or a light lotion for oilier skin. To prevent clogging pores, look for a non-comedogenic moisturizer.
5. Apply Face Oil
This step is optional but very beneficial for dryness and to reduce inflammation. Use argan oil, grape seed oil, hemp seed oil or jojoba oil to promote barrier repair for dry, irritated skin. Antioxidant rich rosehip oil, sea buckthorn oil and tamanu oils are also very beneficial. These oils are non-comedogenic. You can apply these oils as a serum before or after moisturizer. Try it out and see what you like.
Refined shea butter can also be used as a protectant after applying moisturizer. Shea butter is non-comedogenic when it is refined.
6. Protect with Mineral SPF 30+
Your skin can be much more susceptible to UV damage from the sun during cancer treatment. For anti-cancer drugs that cause photosensitivity, even bright sunlight from a window can cause a skin reaction. Apply a mineral SPF 30 or more to the face and neck daily. Reapply again when going outside and every two hours.
Wearing protective clothing like long sleeve shirts, pants and a wide brim hat are also recommended. Seek shade and check the UV index on a weather app to learn when it may be best to stay indoors.
Although mineral/physical sunscreens can sometimes feel thick and give a white cast, many chemical sunscreen ingredients can be irritating to sensitive skin and toxic to health. See my product recommendations for some great mineral sunscreens.
Personalized Recommendations
The skin changes that occur during cancer treatment means that we need to make adjustments to how we care for skin each day. These changes to our skincare routines can do alot to keep skin irritations and dryness at bay.
For more personalized recommendations on caring for your skin and addressing your unique skin needs, book a consultation and facial treatment with me today.