This is a good place to start or review what you should be practising as a daily routine. For optimal results, you should include a facial treatment, specific to the needs of your skin, at least once a month.
If your skin tends to get patchy, you probably have dry skin. If you’re shiny all over, you’re most likely an oily type. If you have a combination of the two, well, you have combination skin. And if your skin is fairly balanced, you have a normal skin type. Beyond these prescriptive types, your skin can also be sensitive, dehydrated (note: this is not the same as dry, which is patchier and caused by a lack of oil; dehydrated skin is dull, and caused by a lack of water), or acne-prone.
Once you’ve figured that out, it gets (somewhat) easier. If your skin is on the dryer side, hydrating formulations are your friend (think cream formulations and products containing hyaluronic acid). If it’s on the oilier side, gel formulas are best. This applies to both cleansers and moisturisers.
What products do I need in my routine?
If you’re rushed for time, make sure you have at least a cleanser, serum, moisturiser and sunscreen.
Cleansing
Cleansing means washing your face. So a face wash and cleanser are the same thing. This may be obvious to some, but so many people don’t actually cleanse their skin properly, and this is the source of so many skin issues.
Ditch that bar of soap or that super stripping face wash that is laden with foam, and get your routine in place. Cleansing cannot be done here and there. It’s every day, especially evenings. Clean skin is where it all begins.
Toner
Toners ensure there is no residue left on the skin and help to rebalance its pH level. Newer formulations also have hydrating and brightening properties.
Serum
This is where you can really tailor your skincare to your needs, if you’re going to splurge on a particular step in your routine, this is it!
There’s a serum for almost every concern out there: hydrating, protecting your skin from the environment, pigmentation to sensitivity. They offer the highest concentration of active ingredients in a skincare product so, and the one that will help you see change and results.
A serum is a liquid-like concentrate that goes on after cleansing.
Spot treatment
If you have problematic skin and need to use a spot treatment, now’s the time. Be sure to only apply it to the affected area as pimple products often contain salicylic acid which can be quite drying.
Moisturise
Your next vital step is to moisturise. This is a non-negotiable to ensure your skin is hydrated and your skin barrier is protected. It will lock in all the goodness of your pre-applied serum. Don’t be discouraged from using one if you have an oily to combination skin type, rather speak to your therapist to ensure you are using the correct product for your skin type.
Sun Protection
This is another non-negotiable. If you want to take your skincare seriously, you absolutely have to be using an SPF every morning of 30 or higher. This step will always follow you moisturiser, so wait for that to sink into your skin and proceed with your SPF. We, cannot emphasise enough how important this is.
Depending on your age, the skin regenerates itself every 28-55 days. Therefore, you need to be using your skincare regimen for at least three months before you will start to see big results for concerns like fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation.
If you want to learn more then please speak to one of our therapists to discuss your next steps from here. Here’s to healthy, happy skin in 2020!
