How I Built a Skincare Routine

Her Campus at U Ottawa acknowledges that we are located on the stolen and unsurrendered land of the Algonquin people.

Everyone always talks about the importance of a skincare routine, but it can be so overwhelming to start one! Whenever I scroll through Instagram and watch skincare videos, I’m introduced to what feels like hundreds of different products and routines. It can make it feel like you have to do all these complicated steps or else there’s no hope for smooth skin. After hours of researching and trying different products, I have finally narrowed down all the complicated skincare routines into three essentials. From there, you can build upon this foundation to create a routine that better fits your skin’s needs!

Sunscreen

If you were to use only one product, this is it. Finding the perfect sunscreen for you is an essential step I believe everyone should take the time to do. The benefits of sunscreen are well-known by now—wearing it can prevent cancer, the development of wrinkles, and more. There are many types of sunscreens out there, but the most recommended would be a broad spectrum and SPF of at least 30. I found the sunscreen that I’m currently obsessed with by walking into Sephora and trying a few different options to see what felt best. Don’t hesitate to ask the sales associates either; they’re very knowledgeable about what can work for you! 

Cleanser

Being out and about in public can introduce your skin to dust, pollutants, and other things you don’t want to build up on your skin. When choosing your cleanser, you have to think about what type of skin you have. This will allow you to choose the cleanser that will compliment your skin and not aggravate it. For example, if you have oily skin you’ll need a cleanser that can help clear out your pores without stripping your skin and causing your oil glands to overproduce oils to compensate. Someone with dry skin, however, would need something that can hydrate and clean without removing the much-needed oils. I personally use a cleanser I accidentally stumbled upon years ago. It’s cheap and feels good on my skin!

Moisturizer 

You might think you don’t need a moisturizer, especially if you have oily skin, but that’s not true. Moisturizers are important to help keep the water in your skin, especially since your skin can be stripped from that water by everyday activities like washing your face. Moisturizers are another product that really depends on the type of skin you have. You might also be interested in looking into day and night combinations. When I first started my skincare journey, I used one of those combinations to make it easier on myself. After a while, I decided to switch things up since I better understood what my skin liked, and I found a better sunscreen that isn’t as heavy as the day moisturizer I was using. 

After nailing these three essentials, you can start playing around with different products and introducing new ingredients that can help make your skin even better like toners. But if you’re looking to build a foundation, with these three products you can start building your skincare routine! Make sure to consult a dermatologist if you’re able, and read the labels!