How to Build a Skin Care Routine
Great skin is not simply a matter of DNA — your daily habits, in fact, have a big impact on what you see in the mirror. But depending on which product reviews you read or doctors you consult, there is a dizzying number of opinions on everything from how to moisturize to how to protect yourself from UV rays. Ultimately, caring for your skin is simply personal. Here’s what you should keep in mind to sort through all the noise.
Skin care tips before you start
Think of your skin-care routine as consisting of three main steps:
- Cleansing — Washing your face.
Washing your face is the most basic and essential step of any routine. “Our skin comes in contact with environmental pollutants, dirt, and other factors each day that should be gently removed.” Wash twice a day, morning and night, to avoid clogged pores, dullness, and acne.
- Toning — Balancing the skin.
Think of them as supplements — these thin liquids deliver extra nutrients, helping the other products in your regimen absorb better, while still balancing your complexion.
If you have the time and inclination, here are some hero ingredients to look for:
- Alpha and beta hydroxy acids gently remove dead skin cells that can clog pores, improve sun-damaged skin and minimize dullness.
- Hyaluronic acid boosts hydration, seals in dewiness, and plump skin to subtly treat fine lines.
- Rose water and green tea to calm irritation and reduce redness with an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Vitamin E and C fights daily exposure to free radicals that can age your skin.
Tip: Applying toner with clean hands is the most efficient. Just pour a few drops in your palm, then swipe it on.
- Moisturizing— Hydrating and softening the skin.
The goal of any skin-care routine is to tune up your complexion so it’s functioning at its best, and also troubleshoot or target any areas you want to work on. Beauty routines are an opportunity to notice changes within yourself. As your skin needs shift with age, so will your products. Still, It’s not about creating perfection. Allow these three steps to become your daily ritual that fortifies your skin and grounds your day.
Give it Time – The science behind skin-care products has come a long way but there’s still no such thing as an instant fix — you need time to reap the benefits. Results are only seen through consistent use. Generally, aim to use a product over at least six weeks, once or twice daily, to notice a difference.
The most basic function of a moisturizer is to hydrate and soften the skin. Essentially, moisturizers assist in preventing water loss through the outer layers of the skin. They can also complement the naturally found protective oils and other building blocks within the skin, such as ceramides.” This is one product that doctors recommend using year-round, for all skin types. Skin naturally loses the ability to retain moisture as we age and daily activities, such as washing, can strip natural hydration from the surface.
The Difference Between a Day and Night Cream
Creams you apply in the morning are equipped to protect your skin from the environmental aggressors you’ll face when you leave the house—many contain antioxidants to minimize pollution-based free radicals and sunscreen to shield you from ultraviolet radiation. They typically have a lightweight consistency. Night creams, on the other hand, focus on repairing any damage you might have picked up with ingredients like retinol to speed cellular turnover and counteract dark spots. These creams also replenish moisture levels, which naturally dip in the evening, with emollients that often create a rich, thick texture.
Tip: With any skin-care product, apply in order of consistency — from thinnest to thickest. For example, cleanser, toner (if you use it), serum, and then moisturizer.
Treating with Serums
Simply put, serums are powerful skin allies. Filled with concentrated doses of active ingredients, these elixirs can mitigate a number of issues, from dark spots to wrinkles. Even if you don’t have any specific issues, everyone still needs a general antioxidant serum in the morning to protect from daily aggressors. To handle specific issues, look for these products:
- Hyaluronic acid seals hydration and strengthen the barrier function (the top layer of your skin) to prevent moisture loss.
- Vitamin C helps brighten dull skin and decrease dark spots with continued use.
- Retinol, vitamin B3, peptides to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, proteins in the body that help prevent lines and skin sagging.
- Colloidal sulfur, and niacinamide to calm redness and irritation by decreasing inflammation, and improving acne with its antimicrobial effects.
Protect with Sunscreen
All of the experts we consulted unanimously agreed on one thing: sunscreen is, hands down, the most crucial skin-care product. It’s of utmost importance as part of your year-round regimen. Daily and consistent sunscreen use helps to prevent the development of fine lines and wrinkles, textural imperfections, and changes in the appearance of pores over time. More importantly, daily sunscreen use can help to prevent the formation of certain skin cancers.” To make it easy to remember, experts recommend using a daily moisturizer with a built-in broad-spectrum SPF of at least 30.
Consider this your rule of thumb: “Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure, and reapply at least every two hours. Chemical sunscreens should be applied directly to clean skin, while physical blockers can be applied last in your skin-care regimen, but before makeup is applied.
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