Everyone wants to look the best they can. Between dazzling-looking stars, online makeup tutorials and touched up photos in magazines...we all want to achieve certain beauty standards. However, we should remember that beauty starts with having healthy skin. Here are the five steps essential to any facial care routine.
1. Cleansing
I advise to cleanse the skin in the morning and in the evening with a moisturizing, soothing and as natural as possible product (avoid fragrances and dyes; they are irritating ingredients for the skin). In this way, the skin will be more receptive to the products that you will apply to it after. My recommendation: AnneMarie Börlind's ZZ Sensitive Mild Cleansing Emulsion. Its milky/creamy texture relaxes and cleanses the skin without drying it.
2. Exfoliating
After cleansing the skin, I suggest exfoliating it. This step, to be done every two to three days for oily skin and once a week for dry skin, allows deep cleansing, and removal of dead cells, promotes cell renewal and refines the grain of the skin. In this regard, I recommend a scrub with a very fine-grain texture, such as the Facial Scrub for Sensitive Skin by Quebec-based brand Idoine.
3. Moisturizing
Now is the time to moisturize the skin! To do this, it is important to choose a moisturizer adapted to your skin’s type, needs and condition (some products work on redness, others on fine lines, etc.). In this regard, don’t hesitate to ask beauticians and cosmetologists for advice. Also, you may have to change your moisturizer based on the season. Your skin may have different needs during the cold/dry season. Once the moisturizer is well integrated into your beauty routine, I advise to add other skin care, such as eye cream, serum, etc. to treat other areas of the face. For my part, I like to give my skin some extra love at night by applying oil after moisturizing. Honorable mention to the Citrouille Éclat product by Quebec-based brand Corpa Flora, which gives radiance to the skin and has anti-aging properties thanks to its ingredients such as vitamins A, C and E.
4. Protecting
It is essential to protect your skin so as not to spoil your efforts and waste your money! Several factors can have a negative impact on your skin on a daily basis: temperature, exposure to the sun, pollution, etc. To that effect I suggest using products with SPF protection and antioxidant ingredients. If the chosen moisturizer does not contain any of those, I suggest incorporating an additional product to the routine, such as Biarritz Laboratories FPS30 Organic Sunscreen, made with antioxidant-rich red algae extract.
5. Being diligent
Finally, the only way to maintain healthy skin is to take the time to look after it, to listen to it and to respect its needs. Once the skincare routine is under control, it will not be long before the skin gains radiance and health! Speaking of diligence, it is imperative to cleanse your face every single night. In this regard, I recently discovered Quebec-based brand Ecotao’s reusable cleansing wipes. Made of organic and biodegradable bamboo and cotton fibers, they are gentle on the skin and on the environment. A must-have!
Jean-François CD is a renowned makeup artist. His attention to detail and execution is the essence of his success and the reason why a growing number of personalities (Karine Vanasse, Marilou, Maxim Roy, etc.) and magazines (ELLE Quebec, Magazine Vero, Chatelaine, etc.) want to work with him. To discover his work and the dates of his makeup workshops, visit his website and his Instagram account.