Although sometimes the secret to clean and glowing skin is genetics, the truth is that it is usually your habits that have the most impact on the condition of your skin. What you eat, how you spend your time, what beauty products you use or even in what order – all these things can affect your skin’s state.
In this article, we will focus on skincare. Proper care of your skin is essential if you want it to always look its best, and having a good skincare routine is the basis of it.
Perfect Skincare Routine – An Overview
Before we begin, here are a few things you should know:
- Every skincare routine can be divided into three main parts – cleansing, toning and moisturizing. That’s because beauty products should be used in order of consistency, which means from thinnest to thickest.
- Implementing a new skincare routine won’t make a difference right away – often, it takes several days or weeks for you to notice a difference, so don’t get discouraged if your skin won’t change within a few days. However, if after a couple of weeks you won’t see any changes or your skin gets worse, then you should definitely try using new products.
- Remember – everyone’s skin is different, which means that while we will give you a general idea of what steps you should include in your skincare routine, you’ll have to find the beauty products that work for you on your own. That’s because every person’s skin is unique and what works for one person, might not work for another.
Part #1 – Cleansing
While not many people think about it, the first and probably the most important part of any skincare routine is simply washing your face. Every day, your face is exposed to dirt and environmental pollutants, among other things. If you don’t wash them off, using other products will be useless because they won’t be able to be properly absorbed into your skin. Additionally, washing your face twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, can help you avoid skin conditions like acne.
The next step is finding the right cleanser. Now, depending on your skin type, a different type of cleanser will be the right one for you. Here’s a short breakdown of what to look for when you have:
- Oily or skin prone to acne – foaming liquid
- Dry, red and/or prone to eczema skin – cream or lotion
- Sensitive skin – oil
- Mature skin – melting balm
Micellar water can be used on any type of skin. It is preferred by many people, as you don’t have to rinse it off or rub it in – a quick swipe with a cotton pad is enough.
Part #2 – Toning
Toners are products that get rid of all the debris that might have been left after you wash and cleanse your face, as well as clean and minimize your pores. They also help your skin absorb other products better, which is why they should be used before you put on anything else, e.g. a moisturizer.
While we won’t get into details about different types of toners, here are some ingredients that, depending on what the goal for your skin is, you should be looking out for when shopping around for a toner:
- Alpha and beta hydroxy acids (helpful in removing dead cells and minimizing skin’s dullness)
- Hyaluronic acid (helps hydrate the skin)
- Rosewater / green tea (help reduce the skin’s redness)
- Vitamins C and E (can help with exposure to free radicals that have an aging effect on the skin)
Although most people apply toner with a cotton pad, you should consider using your hands instead, as it helps save a lot of product that would be absorbed by the pad.
Part #3 – Moisturizing
Finally, we have the last part of a skincare routine – moisturizing. The main task of a moisturizer is to hydrate the skin – they prevent the loss of water. Using this product becomes especially important as you age, as your skin gradually loses the ability to retain moisture.
Here’s a short list of what type of moisturizer would be the best for you depending on your skin type:
- Oily skin type – gel moisturizer
- Normal or combination skin type – lotion
- Dry skin type – cream and soft cream
- Inflamed and sensitive skin – balm
What Is the Difference Between Day and Night Moisturizer?
The main difference between the two is consistency. Since day moisturizer focuses more on protecting your skin, it is usually more lightweight. Moisturizer dedicated to night use, on the other hand, is more focused on repairing your skin, which is why it tends to be thicker.
Don’t Forget Your Sunscreen
Sunscreen should be used every day, all year round, no matter if the sun is out or not or whether it’s summer or winter. That’s because the UVA rays can reach your skin even when it’s cloudy, as they can penetrate through the clouds. Additionally, snow reflects them, which means that your skin is even more exposed to UV rays when it’s snowy than when it’s sunny. Hiding at home won’t help either, as UVA rays can also get through the glass.
While using sunscreen daily helps with wrinkles and fine lines, the main reason why you should be using it is that it can help prevent certain types of skin cancers.
Sunscreen should be the last product you use in your skincare routine – however, if you don’t feel like buying it separately, many moisturizers come with SPF. Choose one that has at least SPF 30.
The Bottom Line
Skincare routine is a very individual matter. As you can see, depending on what skin type you have, as well as what is your end goal when it comes to your skin, different products will work best. However, the general structure of a skincare routine is mostly the same for everyone – cleanse, tone, moisturize.
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