Some people tend to overlook skincare, be it because they find it unnecessary or just expensive and time-consuming. But the truth is that skincare can really help you long term, and it’s nice to do something for your skin since it’s the organ that takes the most damage during your average day. So, if you are one of the people who already have a skincare routine but they want to switch it up for whatever reason, or if you are just getting into it and you are not sure how to approach skincare since you got lost in a sea of information – this article is for you.
In this article, we are going to tell you everything you need to know if you are looking to start a new skincare routine.
Every skincare routine should cover three main steps: cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. In order for you to understand the purpose of each step as well as how to approach them, let’s unpack these terms.
Cleansing
Cleansing is really important because it helps with avoiding clogged pores, as well as acne. Speaking of acne, sometimes, you will notice after a period of time doing skincare that your skin seems to be breaking out. But, don’t get alarmed, since it can possibly be just skin purging, and if you are not familiar with the term, this helpful guide on skin purging will help you a great deal. Research on anything related to skincare is very important!
Now first of all, even though this seems obvious, you should know that just washing your face is an essential part of your skincare routine. Before being able to tend to your skin, you need to get to it first. The reason for it being that our daily routines tend to, although not so visibly, but definitely prominently, accumulate “dirt” on our skin. So – dead skin cells, pollutants, and different particles that you need to clean. So, washing your face with water is the first step.
Now, how do you find a perfect cleansing product for yourself? Basically, the right product is going to cleanse your skin without stripping it of essential, healthy oils. So, it shouldn’t leave your face dry and patchy. Now, what formula you should use heavily depends on your skin complexion.
Oily or acne-prone skin: For oily skin, you want to use a product that is a foaming liquid, which when pumped onto your skin is going to break down and help with cleansing your pores.
Sensitive skin: For sensitive skin, it’s best to use oil-based products, since oil from your skin naturally absorbs oil, so it’s going to be the least intrusive way for cleansing of your skin.
Any skin type: If you are not sure what your skin type is, the safest way to go is micellar water. It will help a great deal with avoiding dryness, and it doesn’t need to be rubbed in and washed off.
Toning
The purpose of toners is basically to act as a supplement for your skin. Toning provides your skin with extra nutrients and that way helps it to absorb the other products better, as well as to balance the complexion of your skin. Let’s cover the most important active ingredients that you would want in a toner:
Hyaluronic acid: Hyaluronic acid is great at retaining water, so that way it is going to help and boost your skin’s hydration. This, in the long term, helps a great deal with wrinkling.
Alpha and beta hydroxy acids: Hydroxy acids, in general, weaken the bonds that bind dead skin cells together that way encouraging exfoliation. In the long run, this means younger skin cells on your outer skin layer.
Vitamins C and E: The easiest way to put it is that these vitamins fight off free radicals in your skin that tend to damage it and make it faster.
Moisturizing
The basic role of a moisturizer in your routine is to hydrate and soften your skin. As always, the type of product that you will use depends on your skin type.
Oily skin: It’s best to use gel moisturizers since they are the most water-based and hence will not further make your skin oilier.
Dry skin: Contrary to oily skin, you want more oily products, so, oily based creams will do best.
Normal or combination: in this case, it’s best to go with products that are not too oily and not too watery – lotions.
Your skin complexion is unique, and that being said, there’s no perfect formula for what works in general. So, trial and error, do your research, and good luck!
