How to Build a Clean Skincare Routine
With the new year upon us, many of us are turning our thoughts to how to be healthier in our daily lives.
From drinking more water to practicing a bit more self-care, creating change doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, small tweaks are often the easiest to stick to and can still have noticeable payoffs in the long run. If you’re considering some swaps in your lifestyle for a healthier 2023, why not consider making the switch to clean skincare?
You don’t have to do it all at once, and–this is key!--you definitely don’t have to be overwhelmed by making the change. Here are our tips on how to build a clean skincare routine for 2023. We think your skin will approve.
Start with a clean cleanser that won’t strip skin
It may not seem like a big deal because it gets washed off down the drain, but what we use to cleanse our skin matters.
Sure, we’ve all done the I’m-too-tired-so-I’ll-use-this-hand-soap move every now and then, but consider how your skin feels after washing it with that hand soap. Chances are, within a minute or so, your skin begins to feel tight, dry, and a bit uncomfortable.
That’s a sure sign that your skin has been stripped of critical moisture, and that your skin’s barrier has been disrupted.
Skin barrier function is critical to the health of our skin. The top layer of our skin–the epidermis that houses the skin barrier–isn’t just what we see in the mirror. It’s a crucial and complex organ that helps protect our entire body from the outside in as well as from the inside out.
Skin barrier function prevents germs and other environmental irritants from entering the body from the outside, and also prevents the loss of critical moisture from escaping from the inside. When the lipids (oils, fats, and waxes that keep our skin soft and smooth) on our skin are stripped by harsh chemicals or cleansers, the result is a disrupted skin barrier that can’t function as it is meant to–and that means our skin becomes imbalanced and vulnerable to water loss and possible exposure to germs and other harmful elements.
This can also result in skin that looks and feels angry and irritated: red, dry, inflamed–and a stripped skin barrier can lead to breakouts due to the skin throwing our sebaceous glands into overdrive, trying to make up for that critical moisture loss.
Choosing a gentle yet effective cleanser from a plant based skincare line can help keep your skin clean and moisturized while protecting your critical skin barrier function.
The clean cleanser from MASK CBD Skincare was formulated with all skin types in mind to protect the skin barrier while washing away dirt, excess oil, and makeup–leaving skin soft and comfortable, never stripped.
The base of quillaja saponaria extract and jojoba oil–which mimics our skin’s own sebum–moisturizes and soothes while beneficial ingredients like fatty acid-rich sea buckthorn and tamanu oils in this vegan skincare formula encourage cell turnover and elasticity. And with the gentle natural scents of calming rose and palmarosa oils, this natural cleanser is as good for your state of mind as it is for your skin.
Add in a toner that hydrates and targets skin concerns
This step is often the one skipped by many, but adding a toner into your daily routine helps to prep skin to receive what comes next. Whether you sweep it over your skin with a cotton round or spritz it right from the bottle, a toner from a trusted clean skincare line can deliver serious nutrients to skin in a way that feels nothing short of luxurious.
We love toners and mists from Josh Rosebrook, True Botanicals, Soapwalla, and Indie Lee for their targeted, non toxic skincare formulas. Each of them is gentle enough to benefit skin–no stripping the skin barrier here! – and to ready it for the next step in building your clean skincare routine.
Apply a clean CBD skin serum for maximum results
While skin is still damp from your toner, it’s time to give your skin a major boost with CBD skincare serum. CBD works within our body’s endocannabinoid system to help bring the body–and skin–to a state of balance, or homeostasis.
CBD has also been shown to soothe skin, lessen redness and inflammation, help regulate oil production, and deliver moisturizing and antioxidant benefits to skin to enhance its radiance.
The plant based skincare formulas of MASK CBD Skincare serums are easily recognized and received by skin, and the water based formula penetrates below the surface to help nourish skin at the source.
This is what makes serums so powerful–they’re a supercharged dose of skincare that is applied before moisturizer so they can soak in and go to work immediately. Each formula targets specific concerns, from acne and dullness to dryness, and with a host of beneficial natural ingredients, skin looks and feels healthier and calmer overall.
Layer on moisturizer
Whether you prefer a balm, a cream, or an oil, layering on a moisturizer from your favorite clean skincare brand will not only lock in your CBD skincare serum, but will of course moisturize, soothe, and nourish your skin.
Moisturizes are an integral part of building a clean skincare routine, even if you have oily skin. That’s because while it may seem counterintuitive, oily skin needs moisturizer to become more balanced; otherwise, drying skin out will cause those oil glands to shift into overdrive to try and make up the difference, leading to too much oil, clogged pores, and potential breakouts.
Choose a moisturizer that works with your skin type. Not sure which is which? Pop into your favorite clean beauty boutique or chat with a customer service rep online. They’ll be able to walk you through the different options–and there are many!--to ensure your skin is getting what it needs from your clean skincare.
Finish with non-nano SPF
Lastly, don’t forget your SPF! Those made with non-nano zinc oxides are a favorite among clean skincare aficionados for their ability to physically block the sun’s UVA and UVB rays without questionable or dangerous ingredients penetrating the skin.
Today’s clean SPF formulas have made incredible strides, resulting in lightweight sunscreens that double as skincare or makeup. Those from Saie, True Botanicals, Josh Rosebrook, and Le Prunier deliver instant dewiness while leaving skin protected from damaging rays. What’s more?
These formulas are also packed with skin-loving plant based ingredients, ensuring you’ll get a skincare treatment each time you protect your face. One more reason to love these clean sunscreens? These formulas play well with makeup!
Bonus: Add a CBD sheet mask to your weekly routine
Now that you’ve built a clean skincare routine for the year to come, head to the bonus round: a CBD sheet mask once or twice a week that makes you feel pampered, relaxed, and leaves skin g-l-o-w-i-n-g!
MASK CBD Skincare has CBD sheet masks in formulas that complement their best-selling CBD skin serums. Run the bath or re-watch the Season 2 finale of The White Lotus and apply a sheet mask weekly to really bump up your clean beauty routine. Skin will drink up these hydrating formulas as CBD goes to work to help target your skin concerns.
And, because CBD may help to combat stress and improve sleep, you can go to bed feeling beautiful, then wake up rested and radiant. How’s that for a great start to 2023?
