10 Helpful Skin Care Tips I’ve Learned on My Journey to Better Skin

I have been horrible with skincare basically my entire life. Too much time in the sun? Check! Hardly any moisturizing? Yep! Not always washing my makeup off before bed? Of course.

But recently my skin care has changed dramatically. I don’t quite remember what started it all, but I remember one day looking at my husband and saying something like, “You know, it would be nice to someday just have multiple beauty products that I could use throughout the day that would really take care of my skin.”

Then, he just looked at me and told me to find the nearest beauty shop and JUST DO IT (in a loving way of course).

And after going to the skincare store, The Body Shop (not a promotion), and watching videos on skin care tips, I began to build onto my skincare routine over the course of a couple of months.

Now in the past, I would always get excited about skincare for a week or so, and then it would drop off. And at first, I didn’t know what it was that really kept me going with my skincare routine, but now I know.

Which brings me to point one.

1. How to Stay Consistent With Skin Care

Like usual, there was the initial excitement of taking care of my skin, but this time, I was looking at content creators who gave great advice on how to have healthy skin and practice basic skin care.

And not only did I get to learn more, but I also got inspired by them which helped to keep me in that groove of practicing skin health.

You see, when you surround yourself with people who are doing the same thing or things that inspire you (in whatever you’re pursuing), you’re gonna stay motived to keep going.

So make sure to find people online and off that help keep you on your own skincare journey and give great advice on how to improve your skin!

2. Don’t Rub, Pat

One of the first things I learned on my skincare journey was that patting a product on helped your skin absorb it better (also it’s gentler). So once you’ve finished spreading it over your face, just give it a quick pat.

This might just be one of the simplest skincare tips on this list!

3. Make Sure to Use Toner

I can’t stress this enough! It really is important to have toner in your skincare routine.

Here’s why:

• It helps you to better absorb the nutrients from other skincare products.
• It helps balance your PH levels.
• Cleanses your skin of anything your face wash missed.
• Hydrates your skin.
• Soothes skin.
• And gives your skin good nutrients.

I especially love the first two benefits. I think it’s so cool that it helps your skin to better absorb all the goodness of your other products. Also, balancing out your facial skin’s PH levels is just plain awesome.

So if you’re trying to improve your skin health, then make sure to add this to the list!

Side Note: I use Bioderma’s Sébium Lotion (not sponsored).

4. Wait for 3 Months to Gauge Effectiveness

You and I have probably both been there.

We buy a product that we’re super excited about, and then after a week, two weeks, or a month, we stop because we don’t feel like we’re seeing any results.

I mean, they’re always testing things out for 30 days in articles and videos, so it must be legit right?

Well, it turns out that it takes 3 months to see real results from a product. So make sure to write down the day when you started and see how you look in three months’ time.

Also make sure to do a bit of research. Depending on the product, results might show up after 6 months or more.

5. Layer Your Skin Care Thoughtfully

Can you use too many products? I’m a bit back and forth on this one.

I’ve heard a skincare professional talk about one of the biggest mistakes people make is using too many products because then you never know what’s really working.

But I think if you do it intelligently, it’ll be fine.

So for instance, if you’re testing out one product at a time and practicing gentle skin care, then you can see what is and isn’t working, and either add or subtract from your skin care routine.

Also, if the products aren’t hurting your skin, then it can’t hurt! If you’ve looked at the ingredients and you see that it has good nutrients for your skin, then why not put it on? All it can do is potentially make your skin just a bit healthier.

6. Use a Pore Cleansing Stick Instead of Pore Strips

Back in February, I started using pore strips, and it’s kind of addictive because you see instant results! You peel that strip back after 15 minutes and then you see all that gross gunk taken out of your pores.

But in reality, it’s not always the best for your pores and skin.

So one of the best ways to do it is to use a pore cleansing stick! Over the course of a few weeks, with daily use, you’ll see that your pores are a lot clearer.

And if you’re trying to figure out how to get clear skin, then this is a great method to try!

7. Test Products on Your Skin Before Applying Fully

I found this one out the hard way.

When I was living in Taipei (which is basically skincare heaven), I bought one of the many colorful sheet masks you can get at the store.

But after a few minutes of wearing one of them, I started to notice a slight burning sensation on my skin. I am so glad I pulled it off when I did because it had started to make my skin blister in certain areas.

Thankfully, no lasting damage was done, but it could have been worse!

So one of the best things you can do is to take a bit of the essence (the liquid used in the face mask) or whatever product you’re using, and rub it on the skin of your neck and jawline. Then, just watch and see if you feel anything.

And after a few minutes, if you notice that it’s fine, go ahead and fully apply.

8. Use Pimple Patches So You Don’t Pick at Your Skin

I’ve always been bad when it comes to picking at my face, but I’ve also found that acne patches can help me stop. Also, they do a great job at reducing its size, and minimizing your problem.

I’ve personally used the Rael pimple patches and all you have to do is put it on your pimple like it’s a sticker for 4-8 hours (or overnight) and the ingredients will get to work in getting rid of that pimple.

And if you really wanna know how to have clear skin and see changes, then this is a tip you can’t skip!

9. Don’t Waste the Sheet Mask Essence

Once you’re done using your sheet mask, make sure to squeeze out that essence (the liquid full of good stuff for your skin) from the empty package. It’s just a nice and quick way to easily take better care of your skin and not waste.

Oh, and I used the My Beauty Diary facial masks in Taipei and loved them! They’re so refreshing and great for moisturizing if you have dry skin. ❤️

10. Always Better to Over-Apply Sunscreen Than Under-Apply

One of the best ways to take care of your skin is to use sunscreen. The sun ages your skin like crazy, so when in doubt about how much to use, always over-apply; your skin will thank you later.

Also, if you really want to protect your skin from sun exposure, then make sure to get sunscreen with at least 50 SPF. It’s so much better when it comes to sun protection and taking care of your skin.

11. Start Cutting Things Out of Your Diet

This is probably one of my favorite tips for clear skin.

I found over the last couple of years that when I cut certain things out from my diet, my skin would start to clear up.

So for instance, when I cut out dairy or took on certain healthy lifestyle choices, the breakouts stopped.

So start to adopt a healthy diet and test things out. Just cut one thing out at a time and see if things change with your skin over the course of a month or two.

If there are no changes, then you can put it back into your diet. But if you notice that your breakouts or other skin issues are gone, then you’ll know what you shouldn’t be taking in.

12. Stay Hydrated

And lastly, make sure you’re staying hydrated. It’s so important for your skin’s health and a great way to make it look supple and glowing.

A study shows that women should be drinking 11.5 cups (or 2.7 liters) of water a day, so if you want to stay on track, then download an app like Waterful.

It’s a simple and fun way to keep track and make sure you’re taking care of your skin.

---

No matter what your skin type is, there are so many great tips that’ll help you learn how to take care of your skin.

So give these ideas a try and let me know how they work for you; I’d love to hear all about it!