This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here.
Starting your skincare journey can be overwhelming, having good skin just isn’t enough anymore.
From serums to oils, cleansers, and toners, it can be very confusing as to where to begin and what products and ingredients you need for a good skincare routine.
Not to mention a decent skincare routine can cost you an arm and a leg.
So we did all the research for you, considering dermatologists’ tips and secrets, and have made it all that much easier for you.
Now you’ll know the order in which you need to use these products and what’s best suited for your skin type, so you won’t be spending money on products that don’t work.
What Skin Type Am I?
Having the perfect routine doesn’t matter if you aren’t curating it to your specific skin type. Finding out what skin type isn’t all that hard, all you need to do is pay attention to your skin and look out for the following cues.
-Dry Skin: Your skin often feels tight around your mouth and eyes, as well as flaking and dry patches on your cheeks. Dry skin is also typically dull and rough.
-Oily Skin: your skin is generally soft and greasy to the touch, with an especially greasy T-zone. This is due to an excess amount of sebum that causes your skin to appear shiny. You’re also more likely to have enlarged pores and are prone to acne breakouts.
-Combination Skin: You have both oily and dry skin. With a focus on oil in your T-zone area.
Steps For a Perfect Skincare Routine
Step 1: Cleanser
This should always be the first step of your routine; it clears out impurities and excess oil that can clog pores and dull skin. A good cleanser will gently cleanse your skin without stripping it.
-Dry Skin: A cream or balm cleanser with hydrating ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and botanical oils to retain moisture.
-Oily Skin: A foaming or gel cleanser will remove excess oil and dirt, look for a cleanser containing niacinamide and salicylic acid. To combat acne also look out for ingredients such as glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or sulfur.
-Combination Skin: When it comes to the best cleansers for combination skin, look for ones with a gel or light foam base that have gentle exfoliants to counteract oiliness and ingredients like ceramides or hyaluronic acid for hydration.
If you wear makeup often, consider removing your makeup with micellar water first then follow up with your cleanser.
Step 2: Toner
After a thorough cleanse, use your toner, applying it to dry skin with a cotton ball or cloth. This helps ensure that your skin is totally clean and gunk-free.
-Dry Skin: The best toner for your skin would need to contain hydrating ingredients such as glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. Alcohol will dry out your skin even more, stray away from products containing it.
-Oily Skin: Astringents like alcohol with witch hazel that tighten pores will have the best effect on your skin.
-Combination Skin: Look for gentle exfoliants that act as hydration boosters that contain antioxidants like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and green tea.
Step 3: Serum
Using serums will help prevent the formation of free radicals and lessen signs of aging and over time it can also help mitigate dark spots and reverse skin damage from sun and pollution.
Look for serums containing the following ingredients;
–Hyaluronic acid draws moisture into the skin, fights dryness and dullness, plus plumps the skin.
–Niacinamide brightens and evens the skin tone, boosts collagen production, and calms inflammation.
–Retinoids stimulate cell turnover, increase collagen production, and reduce wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.
–Peptides made of amino acids are building blocks of collagen and can boost production to smooth out fine lines and increase skin firmness.
Step 4: Eye cream
The undereye area is very delicate and ages faster than the rest of your face.
Therefore, specific formulas have been made to serve the needs of this area. When you use a good eye cream, it reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, a lack of firmness, dark circles, and bags.
Specific ingredients target specific problems;
–Niacinamide, Vitamin C, and K target dark circles under the eye and visibly reduce their appearance.
–Look for a formula containing caffeine to combat puffiness of the skin.
–For wrinkles and sagging skin, look for peptides and retinol to tighten up the skin.
–Hyaluronic acid adds moisture back into your under eyes.
When applying the cream, make sure to use gentle tapping motions. Using your ring finger as it is the weakest. This will avoid you from tugging at the already delicate skin and prevent you from damaging it.
Step 5: Moisturize
Using a daily moisturizer keeps your face soft, smooth, and hydrated. While strengthening the barrier as well. Look for moisturizers with ceramides or hyaluronic acid.
-Dry Skin: Thicker formulas like creams with emollients, humectants, and ceramides are best for your skin. These ingredients help add moisture back into your skin and retain them.
-Oily Skin: Opt for lighter formulas like lotions or gels that are non-comedogenic which is just a fancy word for oil-free. Don’t skip moisturizing just because your skin is oily, it needs that moisture too.
-Sensitive Skin: Look for moisturizers marked hypoallergenic and free of irritants like fragrance and alcohol.
Massage Moisturizers into your skin to help with absorption and increase circulation.
Step 6: Retinoids
These are Vitamin A derivatives that can reduce the appearance of dark spots and fine lines. They also help reduce breakouts. They accomplish this by increasing skin-cell turnover.
These break down in the sun and can cause damage to your skin if used during the day. They make your skin extra sensitive to the sun so make sure to increase your SPF when you incorporate these into your skincare routine.
Begin by applying this 3 times weekly then gradually increase the frequency of use. This allows your skin to become familiar with the product.
And only use these at night.
Step 7: Sunscreen
This is the most important step of your skincare routine. No matter what, always use sunscreen. This protects your skin barrier from the sun and prevents skin damage.
Use an SPF above 30 and look for one that protects from both UVA and UVB.
People Also Ask:
What Is Vitamin C And Does It Add To My Skincare Routine
Vitamin C is an antioxidant, with anti-aging effects on your skin. It protects skin from free radical damage (premature aging) and reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
It also enhances collagen production which creates tighter and younger-looking skin.
Should I Exfoliate?
Exfoliating is a technique that helps remove the skin’s outer layer of dead skin cells to make it smoother, brighter, and clearer. there are 3 main types of exfoliating;
-Physical: These are washcloths, cleansing brushes, and face scrubs, all products that work at your skin to remove dead skin with a physical motion. You run the risk of tearing your skin barrier when you use these products, so go about it with a light hand. This is best for dry skin.
-Chemical: Face peels and cleansers with acids like AHAs and BHAs that loosen the bonds between dead skin cells to dislodge them are all chemical exfoliants. These are best for oily and acne-prone skin.
-Combination: These contain both physical and chemical ingredients in one product. These are best suited for oily skin.
Should I Invest In Skincare Tools and Gadgets
A washcloth is really the only gadget you need, however, there are a few products out there that can do wonders for your skin such as;
-Facial Cleansing Brushes: These are great for people with dry skin, they help you get a deeper cleanse as well as exfoliate your skin.
–Gua Sha Tools: Like jade rollers, these smooth stones can deliver a mini facelift effect due to lymphatic facial drainage.
–Facial Steamers: For oily skin, acne-prone skin, or deep-rooted blackheads. Using this for 15 minutes can help unclog your pores and help your skincare absorption.
Incorporate these steps and ingredients into your skincare routine, as well as cool your products in your skincare fridge and you will begin to see a huge difference.
Any more questions, leave a comment, and let’s discuss.
Leave a Reply