3 Step Sunday Skincare Routine

Sunday is the universal self-care day where you give your mind and body some extra TLC. But, don’t forget your skin! Here’s a simple 3 step Sunday skincare routine that will get your skin glowing with almost minimal effort! The beauty (get it?) of this skincare routine is that you can tailor each step — Cleanse, Exfoliate, Massage — to your specific skin type and skin concerns.

Step 1: Cleanse

Pop quiz: What’s the most important part of a skincare routine? It’s cleansing!

Cleansing does more than remove makeup and sunscreen. It also removes impurities like dirt, pollution, pollen, and excess oil that builds up on the surface of the skin over the course of the day.

To take your cleansing to the next level, try double cleansing. This process, the basis of Japanese skincare routines, involves the use of two different cleansers.

The first cleanser, typically oil-based or micellar water, removes makeup, sunscreen, and invisible grime. The second cleaner removes impurities deep with the pores, while hydrating the skin or treating skin concerns like acne.

Another way to boost the efficiency of your cleansing products is by using a tenugui towel. Tenugui are long, thin towels with textured fibers used for centuries in Japanese bathing culture.

To use a tenugui when washing your face, simply apply cleanser to a wet tenugui. Rub together and cleanse using gentle circular motions. This action sloughs away the dead skin cells
resulting in fresh, clear skin.

Step 2: Exfoliate

Once your skin is cleansed, it’s time to exfoliate!

Your skin has a natural renewal cycle (“turnover”) that is influenced by your age and lifestyle habits. A slower cycle means that more dead skin cells build up on the surface of the skin and prevent new cells from forming. The result is dull, tired-looking skin that has lost its plumpness

Regular exfoliation encourages the growth of new skin cells and reduces the appearance of acne scars, blemishes, and hyperpigmentation. In addition, regular exfoliation removes excess sebum (oil) in your pores which causes pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. Simply put, exfoliation is one step in your skincare routine that you don’t want to skip!

A tenugui is a form of physical exfoliation, as are beauty gadgets like sponges, cleansing pads, and ultrasonic peelers. These products work by lifting and loosening dead skin cells on the surface of the skin.

A clay mask, like our Green Radiance Clay Mask, is a milder form of physical exfoliation. The minerals inside draw out impurities from the pores and remove dead skin without being too abrasive. Matcha reduces redness and soothes irritation while the beta carotene, and Vitamin C and E in komatsuna work together to brighten, tone and firm the skin. Learn about the benefits of powder clay masks here.

You also have the option of chemical exfoliants, like peeling serums and gels. Two ingredients commonly found in chemical exfoliants are alpha-hydroxy acids and beta-hydroxy acids, enzymes that break down the bonds holding dead skin cells together.

It’s important to note that peeling gels don’t actually peel the skin. Rather, the gooey clumps that you see are the result of a reaction caused when the ingredients in a product interact with oil and dead skin cells.

No matter what method of exfoliation you choose, always remember to follow up with a rich hydrating product to plump the skin and lock in moisture.

Step 3: Massage

After you’ve cleansed, exfoliated and moisturized your skin, it’s time for the final step in our 3 step Sunday skincare routine — the facial massage!

Apply an oil-based serum, and give your skin about 30 seconds to absorb the product before you start your massage.

There are 2 benefits to using oil serums during facial massages. First, massage tools will glide smoothly over your skin with less friction. Secondly, massage tools work the product into your skin, giving you a flawless, radiant glow.

Two massage tools you’ll want to try are a gua sha and a facial roller. For best results, choose from jade or rose quartz. Jade is a softer stone compared to rose quartz, and it retains heat. On the other hand, rose quartz is a durable stone that stays cool to the touch.

Gua sha are flat, curved instruments with a heart-like appearance. Short, light strokes along the jawline, cheekbones, neck, and collarbones improves blood flow to tissue, all while lifting sagging skin and minimizing puffiness. Slide the broad, curved side along your forehead, neck and cheeks. Use the v-shape grove along the eye socket, collarbone, cheekbones, and jawline.

Facial rollers can be single or double-sided in order to accommodate the ridges and contours of the face, neck, and decolletage. Gently roll over the skin to plumpen, stimulate facial circulation, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

TIP: Use a facial roller while using a sheet mask to boost the efficiency of its ingredients. Be prepared to be wowed by the post-treatment glow!