How to do right by your skin:  Some tips on how you can be kinder and gentler to your skin.

1. After shower care: Showers not only relax your body, they also clean your skin by removing dead cells thereby clearing pores and allowing the skin cells to function better. It washes away bacteria and other irritants that could cause rashes and other skin problems. After a shower, care for your skin is important. Try to be gentle while drying yourself with a towel. Many people don't realize how abrasive towels can be on the skin. Use a soft cotton towel and gently dab your skin instead of forcefully rubbing. Dabbing helps lock in moisture, leaving the skin feeling less dry. Once you’ve toweled off, a combo like our Amrutini® Essentials serum + vital cream can help with nourishment, and rebuilding your skin’s inherent strength and firmness, leaving it feeling truly rejuvenated while reducing the appearance of fine lines.

2. Exfoliation:Exfoliation can do wonders for your skin. It removes excess oil and dead skin cells that can clog pores and lead to acne breakouts. However, over-peeling and over-cleansing may disturb the acid mantle of the skin, leaving it depleted and vulnerable. This causes irritation and leaves the skin open to infection. Exfoliation can be more abrasive than other daily skin care practices such as cleansing, washing, and toning, therefore, you don’t need to exfoliate every day. For most people, once or twice per week is sufficient. Our Amrutini® Luminosity Dewdrops which is crafted to intensely hydrate and plump your skin, comes with four copper crusted silk cocoons that provide exceptional, gentle exfoliation. In addition, the Velvet :08 Broadway Bright Detox Mask is a great exfoliator that also provides a deep cleanse that smoothes your skin revealing its inherent shine.

3. Layer up: Layering products can be beneficial to your skin. Curating an effective skincare routine is all about choosing the right products at the right time and applying them in the right order. Some tips to come up with your personal skincare layering routine: 

• If you're using multiple active ingredients in your routine, you should consult a dermatologist to be sure they can be safely paired. Some of the ingredients you should avoid - pairing include Benzoyl Peroxide with Vitamin C and Benzoyl Peroxide with Retinol.
• Some As dryness is a common side effect with retinol, try mixing it with moisturizing, humectant ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides. 
• When it comes to SPF, it’s an absolute necessity all-year-round and if your routine includes retinol, you’re best served applying SPF after retinol.
• As a general rule of thumb go from thinnest to thickest product.

4. Identifying harmful ingredients and products: With beauty aisles brimming with thousands of products and labels, It can be hard to segregate skin-safe ingredients from ones that may cause harm. Research has shown that the average adult uses 9 products every day which contain up to 126 unique chemical ingredients. More worryingly, every day one in 13 women is exposing herself to ingredients that have been identified as known or probable human carcinogens. Thankfully, there are sites and apps that can help make the process easier. EWG's Skin Deep database allows you to search for cosmetic ingredients and products to see if they meet the non-profit's strict criteria. There are also apps, like Yuka, that allow you to scan a product to find out if it contains any endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, allergens, or irritants. For more information, read our article on How To Read A Skincare Ingredient Label Like A Pro”.

Another way you can help your skin breathe and heal is by taking a break from makeup, dermaplaning and shaving. Once in a while, it is important to let your skin breathe. While makeup might not cause any harm, it is crucial to have makeup free days for skin revival, so that your pores can breathe and open up. Shaving/dermaplaning can make your skin feel soft and clean but excessive use can be bad for your skin.

Remember to prioritize your skin health and be gentle in all ways. Listen to your skin and any signals it’s giving you - and know that sometimes, less is more.