This topic contains 6 replies, has 3 voices, and was last updated by 
Aracelli Peralta 3 months, 2 weeks ago.
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Hi everyone, I’m new here, and I’m really excited about being part of this community
I’m not a native english speaker so if I make any mistakes [or if this doesnt make any sense at all] please be kind with me, I’m trying to do my best
In the last couple of years I’ve learned a lot about make-up and brands that are possibly never gonna be sold here [I live in Chile, the fanciest thing we've got is MAC and soo expensive!]. And even when make-up is one of my greatest hobbies, my knowledge about skincare is still… none at all. I don’t have a face routine or anything even close to that. All I do is remove my make-up every night. I’m not really concerned about that, as I don’t really use foundation or blush or concealer or anything on my face, just my eyes and sometimes my lips [oh, and I'm always applying lipbalm ]. Is not that my skin is perfect, I just thought that at this age [I'm 19] I don’t really need it.
The thing is that lately I’ve noticed that my dark circles under my eyes are getting reeaaaaally dark and notorious [I blame that on university
hahaha] and I’ve started to.. feel the need to cover them. So I bought a Clinique concealer and I started concealing my eyes everyday. I also started using bronzer.
So… my question basically is: what can I do to protect my skin on those delicate zones of my face from the products I’m using? What are the basic products of skincare that I should use to prevent premature wrinkles and stuff? Or there’s no risk at all and I shouldnt worry? I’m really lost
I’m sorry for the long post and thanks for reading Every answer will be helpful! It’s never too earLy to think about anti aging skincare. I’m only 23 and a couple years ago I was thinking “oh I don’t need to worry about that!” and this year I started getting fine lines and grey hair! Ah!
At the very least you need to have a cleanser and a moisturizing routine (lotion that’s only meant for your face) I don’t know much about what would be available in your area but there are some SUPER helpful ladies and moderators on these message boards If you need recommendations
Thank you
I’ll see what I can find Aracelli-
If you go to a makeup counter or spa, they’re likely to spin you a story about a “system” that all works together to create tip-top results. In actuality, there are just a few basics that you *must* have:
- A good, gentle cleanser. It should not dry or strip your skin, your skin should feel soft and comfortable after cleansing- not tight, rough, or greasy. I like Philosophy Purity (the original milky cleanser). Toner is not necessary, and can some times actually do harm to your skin.
- A moisturizer made for your skin type. No matter what salespeople tell you (I used to be one myself, so I speak from experience as a sales person, manager, trainer and now makeup artist and beauty blogger) you do NOT need seperate moisturizers for nighttime NOR do you need a different eye cream. Extend your facial moisturizer up to the bone that encircles your eye- the thin skin around your eye area will pull the moisture up to where it needs it. If you’re not 100% sure what your skin type is, this post will help you figure it out:
http://outinapout.blogspot.com/2010/08/hey-baby-whats-your-skin-type.html
- Sun Screen Living in Chile, I could easily see that this may not be talked about much as part of your culture, but daily sunscreen is VITAL to protect your skin from cancer-causing UVB rays. Sunscreen also protects you from UVA rays, which are what cause about 90% of the lines and dark spots you see on your skin before the age of 50. Keep in mind, though you’re young, these things will creep up on you- it takes about 10 years for the effects of most sun damage to show, but it will catch up
As far as your eye circles, if they’ve just now appeared and you never had them before, there’s a good chance there are things you can do about them. Darkness can indeed be a sign that you’re just not getting enough rest- so make sure you’re not partying too hard! On a related note, alcohol and a lot of salt in your diet can dehydrate, making both darkness and puffiness under the eyes worse. Allergies can do the same thing, so if the increase in darkness came along with some unaccounted for sniffles or sneezes, you may want to grab an over-the-counter allergy medication to help. Finally, consider the color- if the darkness is black, blue or purple in tone it’s likely one of the things I mentioned above (the color is cause from blood under the skin). If, on the other hand, the darkness is brownish or grey in tone- that’s pigment in your skin, which is most likely sun damage but can also be hormonal.
Hope these tips help out, and good luck!
That was actually really helpful! Thank you! But I still have a few questions… A cleanser is for removing your make-up, right? And what does the moisturizer do? And when should I use this products?
[Yes, I'm really, REALLY lost... and here those things are sold in spanish so I really need to know what I'm looking for
]A cleanser (also called face wash) is ideally for removing makeup, dirt and oil from your skin. You’ll always want to cleanse at the end of the night to remove makeup, and most people wash in the morning too. If you have very dry skin you can skip washing your face in the morning, but if you’re normal, oily or acne prone, you’ll want to do it both in the morning and at night.
Moisturizer itself is used to add hydration, essential in keeping your skin’s protective barrier intact. Depending on the type you choose it may also address other concerns. I suggest trying to find one that has antioxidants (look for Vitamins A, C, E, and K as well as Green Tea) and sun protection built in (SPF 15 at least). These ingredients will protect you from sun and environmental damage (which means it will help to prevent lines, wrinkles and dark spots in the future). If you have oily skin, you’ll probably like something in a gel or serum formula. Normal skin does well with lotions, and dry skin will do best with cream formulas.
I’m not sure what brands are readily available to you where you are- if you’d like to post what brands you’re considering and what skin type you have, I’d be happy to help you out in more detail
According to the link you gave me, I have normal skin
. I found a Lancôme cleanser in my house [Galatéis Clarté, Gentle Clarifying and Cleansing Fluid, Face and Eyes] and I just loved the way my skin felt after using it! It felt so smooth and fresh, I’m definitely gonna be using this product everyday.
I also found a Clinique moisturizer [Clinique repairwear day SPF 15 intensive lotion] but after using it, my face felt oily and not comfortable at all :S Guess this isnt the right one for me.
I found a Lancôme toner [and according to its description, its also and hydrating lotion] and it kept the freshness and softness I felt in my face after the cleanser. But you said this can actually harm my skin… should I give it up and search a good moisturizer? Or this can replace it? [I've never been a fan of creamy textures so this cleanser/toner combo was actually pretty cool ]
Thank you sooo much for your help
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