We all have rituals and habits we have developed over the years—starting with the time we go to bed and we wake up to the way we drink our coffee. A habit will quickly turn into a routine and a routine into a more productive and happy life. Building a skincare routine can be another ritual that will prove extremely helpful in the long run to achieve your skincare goals. A skincare routine does not need to be complicated nor expensive to be effective.
Why Should I Care About Skincare?
The real question is why shouldn’t you care about skincare? Having a consistent skincare routine that is effective with the right ingredients really pays off in the long term. The right skincare routine helps treat and prevent premature signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation as well as also addressing various skin concerns such as dryness, acne, or redness. A board-certified dermatologist can help you create the skincare regimen that is right just for you.
Determine your skin type
Determining your skin type is essential in setting up a skincare regimen that will be effective for you. In a future post, I will address exactly how to determine which skin type you are. It is important to know that there are five types of skin: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive. Using skincare products that are not compatible with your skin type can lead to breakouts, irritated skin, and premature aging.
Having said that, one should aim to find out their skin type and choose a skincare regimen created based on that.
Skincare Basic Essentials
Choosing the right products can feel overwhelming considering the myriad of skincare products that are in the market. Here are a basic morning and evening regimen that you need to get started.
Morning Routine
Cleanser
Find a gentle cleanser that is appropriate for your skin type. It is important to find one that does not strip your skin of your natural oils or disrupts the skin barrier.
Vitamin C/Antioxidants
One of the most important factors of skin aging is free radicals. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, therefore, mitigating skin damage as well as the effects of aging. Vitamin C is one of the most well-known antioxidants however there are others such as resveratrol, niacinamide, Coq10.
Moisturizer
Moisturizers are an important part of a basic skincare regimen. They are designed to minimize the barrier damage induced by cleansing. Moisturizers decrease water loss from the skin barrier. Ingredients to look for include petrolatum, squalene, humectants such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and other agents such as ceramides.
Evening Routine
Cleanser
Find a gentle cleanser that removes all dirt, makeup, sunscreen from the day. As gentle cleansers are often not enough to clean makeup well double cleansing is best. You can choose to double cleanse with the same cleanser or choose micellar water or an oil-based cleanser as the first step followed by a water-based cleanser.
Retinoid/Retinol
These are well known for their activity in improving the appearance of skin aging due to photodamages such as fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation. Prescription-strength retinoids are wonderful at preventing and treating acne. These should not be used during pregnancy. Retinol is available over the counter without a prescription.
Exfoliate
You can choose to exfoliate 2-3x weekly on nights that you are not using a Retinoid if your skin can tolerate it. Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells. Ingredients include salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and one of my favorite gentle exfoliants, lactic acid.
When building a skincare routine, consistency is key. So now that you made it to the end of this post go ahead wash off that makeup and apply the rest of your skincare before you call it a night.
