There’s no doubt that skincare can often feel overly complicated and too overwhelming. Considering how rapidly and exponentially the industry has grown within the last few years, it’s hard not to feel a little lost with all the different product types and brands.
As someone who has a busy lifestyle and feels lucky to get in even 8 hours of sleep one night a week, skincare is, unfortunately, one of the last things on my mind. One of my goals for this year is to create and stick to a skincare routine. Though everyone has different skin, I thought I’d share some parts of my skincare journey with you and hope you’ll feel less intimidated to find a simple skincare routine for yourself.
Hopefully, most of us already know that just washing your face with water doesn’t count as a skincare routine. All types of skincare products serve a different purpose and are all important but there are three main ones that everyone should consider using.
1. Cleanser
Dermatologists recommend cleansing your face at least twice daily – once in the morning and once at night. According to them, it’s a mistake to use the same cleanser for morning and night because your skin reacts differently. Cleansing in the morning helps remove any sweat or oil from your pillow and prepare your face for any sunscreen or makeup. Cleansing during the evening removes all makeup, other skin products, bacteria, sweat and dirt collected on the skin throughout the day. Even though cleansers are simple products, there are many to choose from. If you’re comfortable, consult with a dermatologist for a skin assessment and get a recommendation that suits your skin type. However, most basic hydrating cleansers with minimal ingredients will work for most skin.
2. Moisturizer
Personally, the winter weather is my skin’s worst enemy and I finally found a good face moisturizer after trying a handful of different ones. If you’re unsure what your skin type is and don’t know which moisturizer to start with, try an oil-free one that works for all skin types. If you do know your skin type, most of the time, moisturizers focus on specific needs, including dry skin, acne-prone, sensitivity and hydration – so go ahead and try one of those.
3. Sunscreen
Protect your skin! Even if you’re only in your teens and blessed with decent-looking skin, use sunscreen! It’s your best protection against skin cancer and in the long run, your skin will appreciate it. Even on cloudy days, sunscreen will help protect your skin against UV rays. Also, sunscreen helps to slow and prevent wrinkles, dark spots and sagging skin. Try a sunscreen that’s at least SPF 30 or higher and apply it every morning. If putting on sunscreen every morning seems like an unnecessary step in your morning routine, try to find and use a moisturizer with SPF instead.
Once you have a basic skincare routine using these three essential products, you might want to try a few more add-ons, depending on your skin type. Exfoliators are either products or devices that help remove dead skin cells. Serums help hydrate dry skin and are most effective when used underneath a moisturizer. Face masks are also often used. They come in many types ranging from hydrating to brightening skin.
Remember, even if you have a basic skincare routine, your skin might not care, and it may seem like the products aren’t doing much to help. Have patience and allow your skin to have time to adjust before deciding to switch to a different one. Trust the process! Wishing everyone clear skin in 2021.