*DISCLAIMER: I am a licensed cosmetologist and a beauty lover, but this is just for fun! If you are having major skin issues, please see your dermatologist.*
Know your skin type.
Know and understand your skin type, whether it is really dry, dry, normal, combination, or oily. The best way to find the best products is to know about your skin.
Avoid fragrance.
You'll thank me later for this one. The fragrance added into skincare can be a very irritating ingredient! If you find your skin is very sensitive after using a skincare product, check the ingredient list for perfumes and essential oils.
DIY skin care isn't always your friend.
Just because some things may be great for your skin, if you try and make a product yourself, you could add too much and harm your skin.
Don't pop your pimples.
Popping pimples leads to acne scarring, which is no fun; instead, try a spot treatment. I personally use the Clinique Acne Solution Gel, and it works wonders!
If you wear makeup, double cleanse.
You don't need necessarily two cleansers -- I use my normal face wash and then take a cotton round with micellar water on it and make sure all of my excess makeup and dirt are off my skin.
Always wear an SPF.
This is important for people of all skin tones. Anyone can get skin cancer, so it is important to protect your skin all the time!
Remember to moisturize!
Moisturizer is ESSENTIAL! It adds moisture back into your skin after you cleanse it. This also an easy way to make sure you have SPF by investing in a moisturizer that does both!
Stay away from most scrubs.
Things like coffee scrubs are really not good for the face: the way coffee is ground makes the little pieces more like shards, they don't exfoliate the face evenly, and you run into the possibility of over-exfoliating. Your face is also more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your body, so treat it with care! Try a liquid exfoliate instead and keep the scrubs for the rest of your body.