Less is More: The Skincare Diet

Photo posted by @christinanadin on Instagram.

When it comes to the crazy amount of dieting trends and lifestyles that are popular today, we’ve heard just about all of it but what about a diet that focuses specifically on keeping what’s on the outside healthy?

The skincare diet is a trend that completely redefines what it means to diet, and it doesn’t require cutting back on anything but our beloved and numerous skincare products.

Any beauty junkie with a knack for dropping too much on serums, creams or masks knows just how hard it is not to stock up on skincare. With so many products promising solutions to everything from acne to dry patches it’s easy to assume that more equals more. But piling on product after product with a complex skincare routine can sometimes leave even the healthiest of skin much more sensitive, actually creating problems starting with irritation and redness.

The skincare diet is all about minimalism. It’s shaped around making sure your skin is getting exactly what it needs nothing more and nothing less to ensure that it’s the healthiest it can be. To get started on cleaning up your current routine and shaping your own skincare diet, VALLEY has pulled together the easiest of tips and the best of products necessary for any skin type.

Cleanser

Photo from malinandgoetz.com

The basis of every skincare routine starts with a simple and effective cleanser. It’s important to keep in mind that the perfect cleanser first and foremost does exactly what it’s named to do: cleanse. A few reliable cleansers that work for most skin types are Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser, Malin & Goetz’s Grapefruit Face Cleanser and drugstore-favorite Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser. You can even try taking some mornings off from washing with a cleanser and instead opt for a rinse with warm water and a simple toner. While not washing your face may seem counter-productive, for some, taking a day or two off can lead to some amazing results.

Photo from glossier.com

Moisturizer(s)

One for day and one for night. The perfect moisturizer for daytime should be packed with hydration, while still being lightweight and easy to apply a daily face of makeup on top of.A couple favorites of ours areKiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer and Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre. A thicker cream, likeGlossier’s Priming Moisturizer Rich, is best for nighttime when skin is much more actively regenerating and repairing itself. Because of skin’s overnight tendency to heal, nighttime is also the perfect time to add in a cream packed with more potent ingredients, like Cerave’s Skin Renewing Night Cream which is full of hydrating hyaluronic acid and peptides that pump up tired-looking skin.

SPF

Photo from neutrogena.com

Rain, shine or even snow and especially now that summer is finally kicking off, a good SPF should be a no-brainer in your everyday routine. If your daily daytime moisturizer doesn’t provide built in SPF, make sure to look for a sunscreen that provides broad spectrum protection (protection from both UVA and UVB rays) and absorbs easily into skin. A few of our favorite sheer sun protectant products areNeutrogena Hydroboost Non-Greasy Sunscreen Lotion,Glossier’s Invisible Shield(a clear watergel SPF 35), and suncare expert Coola’s Classic Face SPF30 Cucumber lotion.

Inevitable Extras

Adding in an exfoliant once or twice a week can help clear out any dead, dull skin cells trapped on the surface. But not every exfoliant is right for everyone. If your skin is more sensitive, instead of a typical scrub, try a chemical exfoliant like Pixi’s Glow Tonic. Face-masking is never out of the question either, just remember to mask according to what your skins needs most whether that be a deeper clean, a bit more moisture or a healthier glow.

Just like with any good old fashioned diet, it’s important to remember that splurging on a few extra products every now and then is necessary. When it comes to all of the skincare extras we know and love from serums to face masks the best advice that we can offer is to get to know your skin and to make sure you don’t go overboard.

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