Beauty and skincare can be super confusing, making it hard to know if you’re using anything correctly. Some people just slather on a cream and hope for the best – but there is a right way to use most products. Beauty Expert Bahar Niramwalla is breaking it all down, so that “how do I use that?” is a question of the past.

Cleansing Balms

Balms are best used on dry skin, as opposed to traditional water-based cleansers, which you would apply on wet skin. They work to help breakdown makeup, dirt, oil, and SPF on your skin. They are very gentle and are a good alternative for anyone dealing with sensitive skin. You use balms a bit differently than your usual cleanser. Since it’s applied to dry skin, you need a tiny dime-sized amount of product to gently massage into your skin. Rinse well with water and pat dry. It really does just melt away dirt and makeup! If you’re the type that likes a double cleanse, then you would move onto your water-based cleanser as the next step.

 If you’re looking for a good balm to use, we recommend Quo Beauty’s Banana Cleansing Balm, which is packed with skin conditioning and hydrating agents including banana extract. It leaves behind a deep clean feeling and imparts a fresh, dewy glow.

Bahar’s Tip: You can use a wet face cloth to help remove the balm once you’re done cleansing with it.

Sunscreen

Regardless of whether you’re looking for a tan or hoping to keep your normal skin tone, everyone should be wearing sunscreen. In order to do it’s job effectively, sunscreen needs an even layer applied across the entirety of the skin. The best order to apply this is as follows: skin care, SPF, then makeup at the end. Be sure you’re also applying enough to properly cover your entire face and exposed areas. This includes the neck, shoulders and ears. If you choose to wear makeup on top, opt for an oil-free foundation so it interferes less with your sunscreen underneath.

 For sensitive skin, mineral sunscreen is a good alternative, like this one from Olay.  This sunscreen has a 100% mineral SPF formula that contains Zinc Oxide, Vitamin B3 and Glycerin. It provides broad-spectrum protection and doubles as a moisturizer! It’s free from fragrance, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil and synthetic dyes, and doesn’t give you that overly white cast that so many sunscreens have.

Bahar’s Tip: Wait for your SPF layer to “dry down” before you move onto a makeup application – 8-10 minutes is a thumbs up range. Also, using a makeup sponge instead of fingers or buffing brushes helps keep the layer of SPF underneath from being disturbed.

Vitamin C

We’ve heard the laundry list of what this can do: minimize fine lines, stimulate collagen, brighten complexion, even out skin tone, diminish dark spots, and so on. To have this product be effective, you’re going to need to do two things: look for a 10% amount of the ingredient in your product and be consistent. You can’t use this sporadically and expect results. Apply this after cleansing and before moisturizers and occlusive products, since it needs to sink into the skin to do its magic.

 Looking for scientifically approved products will also help you see results. CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum was developed with dermatologists to be a gentle, lightweight serum that features 10% pure vitamin C. Like every CeraVe product, this serum contains 3 essential ceramides to help restore the skin barrier and it contains hyaluronic acid, making this a great combo serum.

 Bahar’s Tip: Vitamin C can be very unstable, so packaging is important! Look for tubes and airless pump containers.

Facial Mist

Mists are best used as part of your skin care routine. Damp skin is like a sponge and can better absorb products, so adding light layers of moisture in-between steps can help boost your skin care routine. Spray your skin after cleansing is done but before your serums, moisturizers and lotions.

 Mists can be kind of confusing, but if you’re looking for good lightweight hydration, try out Weleda’s Sheer Hydration Moisture Mist. Made with witch hazel and aloe vera gel, it’s vegan formula is free from phthalates, synthetic fragrances and preservatives. 

Bahar’s Tip: Look for a spray with witch hazel, since it helps control excess oil, making it a good makeup setting spray.

Tooth Tablets

Dental hygiene is a key part of beauty too! Because everyone now has their own version of a “beauty-checklist”, these more-environmentally-friendly versions of toothpaste tabs are becoming very popular. These tablets are a form of toothpaste made without water, which is pressed into a tablet. To use them, you pop a tablet into your mouth and chew, brush using a wet toothbrush and rinse. Because toothpaste tablets are formulated without water, they can be made with few or even no preservatives.

 If you’ve never used a toothpaste tablet before, the Hello Whitening tablets are effective, easy-to-use, fluoride-free and travel-friendly. They’re thoughtfully formulated with natural peppermint and tea tree oil flavour to tame bad breath. They’re also socially minded, and are leaping bunny certified and vegan, free from artificial flavours, sweeteners, parabens and sulfates.

Bahar’s Tip: These have a learning curve! Try sipping a small bit of water and then chewing the tablets to help create the paste.