The golden chalice of beauty care is a daily skincare routine for the face. The routine needs to be manageable but effective. Such a regular regimen comes with multiple questions and confusions. What products should you use? Which ones are suitable for your skin type? What order should you apply the products?
While we are all used to cleansing and moisturising our skin, experts suggest there should be another step in the middle. Yes, first you should cleanse, but then you should treat your skin before applying the moisturiser. Serums and creams that are packed with Vitamin C, alpha hydroxy acid, retinol, and more, can make all the difference to the health of your skin and the impacts of ageing.
Here we take you through a recommended skincare routine, which you should apply daily for the sake of your face.
Step One: Cleanse
Obviously, the first step to good skincare has to be cleansing. The best way to go is a gentle face wash, especial
y if you will use other treatments later in your routine. You need something uncomplicated and with just a few ingredients. Using too harsh a cleanser can actually break down the skin barrier.
Before you move on to step two of this skincare routine, you may want to use toner. Toner is optional and one you can continue if you have found a toner that works. It is an excellent way to balance your skin’s ph. One reason to use toner will be if you struggle with acne. You should then use a toner with ingredients with salicylic acid, which will calm breakouts.
Step Two: Treatments
The first treatment you should consider is a vitamin C based product. No matter your age, you should use vitamin C serums to help reverse the sun’s damage and pollution. Be careful in your choice of a product though, as the vitamin C needs to come in a stable form so that the molecule can soak into your skin.
You should also choose an eye cream as part of your treatment regime. Your skin around your eyes impacts most of your perception of ageing in the face. To add cream to your eye area takes care. You should gently dab on the cream using your ring finger, which has the weakest downward motion, and so ensure you don’t unintentionally cause that damage.
At night-time, you should also include alpha-hydroxy serums to your regime. This serum will brighten your skin by sloughing off dead skin cells. It also helps build the natural collagen in your face and gives you a more radiant appearance.
Also, you should consider retinol-based treatments. Retinol is a form of Vitamin A, and so is useful in the battle to decrease wrinkles. While if you are in your 20s, you might think this is not for you if you want to avoid the struggle with a roadmap for a face – start early!
Step Three: Moisturiser
Clearly, moisturising is one of the most essential steps in the process. Moisturising hydrates the skin and strengthens the skin barrier. Essentially, moisturising helps your face fight its own battle with the elements while you go about your day.
If you are moisturising in the morning, then you will want to go for something light. A light moisturiser will dry quickly and will create a layer between your face and your make-up. A heavier moisturiser is better used at night when your face is going to remain bare overnight.
A night-time moisturiser is essential to a skincare routine. It will create a barrier that seals in the active ingredients and the hydration. You will find yourself wake the next morning with your skin glowing and plump with moisture.
If you want to lock in that moisture as you sleep, you might want to use face oils. Don’t be fooled into believing that oil will cause a breakout of spots. Most oils have active ingredients like retinol and alpha hydroxy acids that boost the uptake of moisture.
A final note
In the morning, especially in the hot summer months, you should add a sunblock to your skincare routine. The damage the sun does to our skin can easily be avoided with this preventative measure.