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Skincare: Taking Care of the Skin You’re In

There are countless skincare products on the market, many of them with names that are impossible pronounce. With so many options, choosing the right products for your routine can become intimidating. Sometimes the best thing to do is get back to the basics.

Cleanse

The first thing to look for is a cleanser. After you remove your makeup, this is the product you will wash your face with, to remove any lingering bacteria or dirt. For some, a good cleanser is enough without all the fancy serums and oils. The important part is making sure that your cleanser is compatible with your skin type, whether it be sensitive, dry, oily or combination. You may find that a cleanser that works for you one month may not work for you a year from now and that’s okay. Things like the environment, age, diet, other products and numerous other factors can contribute to skin’s varying tolerance and sensitivity.

For dry skin, gentle creamy cleansers are the way to go. In the ingredients list, watch for harsh chemicals, artificial dyes and perfumes or fragrances that could irritate your skin.

For oily skin, choose a gel-based or foaming cleanser that provides a deep clean and keeps pores from getting clogged. Be careful not to shy away from hydration and moisture, because while you may think that it will only make the oiliness worse, dehydration will make you more prone to inflammation.

For sensitive skin types, look for labels with the words “hypoallergenic” or “calming”. It may also be helpful to have a fragrance-free or unscented product, as those are often considered irritants.

Tone

Next, you’ll reach for your toner. While certain products claim to have specialty ingredients that help with a variety of specific issues, the main purpose of a toner is to help tighten pores and remove whatever dirt and bacteria that was left behind after your cleanser. (thedermreview.com)

After that, you’ll apply any serums follow by spot treatments. Serums are “highly concentrated formulations that are designed to sink into the skin quickly, delivering an intensive dose of ingredients that can address common skin complaints.” They’re commonly used all over the face and mostly for anti-aging, while spot treatments come in many forms, like gels and creams, and are meant to treat particular small areas like blemishes or dark spots.

Moisturizer

You’ll want to finish with a hydrating moisturizer and the most important skincare product of your entire regimen—sunscreen, with at least 30 SPF to protect your face from the harsh outdoor environment.

Skincare for a Congresswoman

Current it-girl Alexandria Ocasio Cortez has thoughts about everything from immigration to climate change. But her advice about skincare? Double cleanse and use sunscreen every day. “I’ve been using daily sunscreen since I was 19. I’ve been bad about it lately and can tell the difference,” she shared on her Instagram stories back in January.

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Has Posted Her Skincare Routine

Regardless of your politics, it’s hard to dispute that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is having a moment right now. The Freshman Representative of New York’s 14th district has been in the headlines for months for everything from her views on environmental policies and health care reform to her clothes, old videos of her dancing and—now—her skincare routine.

Ocasio-Cortez revealed her secrets on Instagram stories today, saying the secrets to her glowing skin are double cleansing, toner, sunscreen and cutting back on her dairy intake.

One follower clapped back, saying they weren’t interested in skincare—they just wanted to know how Ocasio-Cortez wrote her speeches.

“That’s okay,” wrote Ocasio-Cortez in her response on Instagram, “we all have different interests.” She followed up by recommending studying great orators of history, like Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, Dolores Huerta and Angela Davis, to improve public speaking.

This is typical of the Congresswoman’s use of Instagram. In the last month, she’s posted about loving a press-on nail and also given her followers a peek into how offices for members of Congress get picked.

She also uses Instagram Live to host discussions about public policy and answer questions. She does this while making dinner, usually something simple, like instant-pot mac’n’cheese, which further endears her to her fans.

“FDR may have had ‘fireside chats,’ but AOC has ‘cooking black bean soup on Instagram Live’ and guys, it is [flames],” wrote one viewer.

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