Post-Holiday Skincare Routine

December was packed with holiday parties, indulging and late nights. Our diets, makeup, travel and lack of sleep can start to show on our skin. Maybe you notice a few breakouts or your complexion is looking dull. Now is the time to bring back balance to your skin and get back into your healthy skin habits.

Here are 6 basic skincare steps to purify your face from the outside: open your pores, cleanse, purify your pores, balance the skin and moisturize.

Step 1: Open Up Your Pores

For this step you’ll need steam, so you can save this routine for after a shower. The steam will allow your pores to open up making any dirt, impurities or bacteria trapped come out more easily. Do not take a scalding hot shower to make your bathroom the steamiest, this will harm your skin barrier. Instead, use warm for your shower and once you are out, let hot water run to create more steam.

Step 2: Double Cleanse Your Skin

Double-cleanse your skin with a purifying cleansing gel. Apply to using your hands, or for an even deeper cleanse, use a boar bristle brush that will also promote circulation. Work the product into the skin for 1-2 minutes so the cleanser can better penetrate your skin. After massaging the product in well, rinse your face with warm water and repeat. After the second cleanse, gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel. 

Step 3: Exfoliate

Exfoliating is the fundamental step in this routine. This step will eliminate the dead skin cells sitting on the surface of the skin and promotes the renewal of the outermost layer of your skin. Once that layer of dead skin is removed, your skin is in the best state to receive your other skincare products. Another great thing exfoliation does is it helps to improve circulation which gives you more radiant and healthy skin.

Step 4: Face Mask Time

Now that your skin is in the best position to receive additional treatments, go in with a purifying clay mask. Clay masks are known to draw out any accumulation of impurities, dirt and pollution that your cleanser was not able to get. They also help to minimize the appearance of pores, boost your skin’s glow and their extractive properties can reduce breakouts. Be sure to balance your skin from receiving these types of treatments by opting for products that are formulated with gentle and hydrating ingredients.

Step 5: Balance Your Skin

Using a cleanser, exfoliant and face mask while also needing to use water to wash off all these products can affect our skin’s pH. The skin’s natural pH level is on the slightly acidic side, at about 4.7. After all these steps, it can leave our skin pH’s levels on the more alkaline side. Balance it out by going in with a calming toner. Spray or gently pat into your skin using a cotton pad, and let it dry.

Step 6: Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

To complete this detoxifying skincare routine, the last step is of course hydration. Apply a nourishing face cream to your face and neck area. If you’re feeling on the extra dry side, create a seal over that layer of moisturizer by applying facial oil on top. Some great non-comedogenic face oils you can use are jojoba oil, rosehip oil or sea buckthorn oil.

Infinite Beauty's 5-step collection makes the perfect everyday routine to keep your skin healthy and glowing all year round!