Starting a skincare routine can seem overwhelming. Many steps (shoutout to Korean skincare) or products (costly!) always seem to be involved.
Not to mention all the things you hear that supposedly have to do with skincare, such as retinol, serums, snail mucus (yes, that’s a thing), facials, LED lights, etc.
Luckily, skincare is for everyone and not difficult or very expensive to start. In reality, there’s much less that you need to keep track of; it’s similar to dental hygiene, just for the skin. And who wouldn’t want to cash in on the benefits, superficially looking (clearer, soft skin) and feeling better (skin protection and that good serotonin boost)?
Each product that will be listed is the base of what is required of a skincare routine and is often the most important. People can add more products according to their unique needs or wants as they either get used to their routines or from the beginning (there will be slight information about those presented).
Cleanser
It’s like washing your face with water, but more effective. As you go on with your day, you gather environmental impurities on your face daily—everything from leftover makeup and dead skin cells to plain old dirt.
This is where a cleanser comes in handy; it’ll help wash away the unnecessary grime you accumulated and set the way for other treatments to work more efficiently, as they’ll have a clean surface.
Cleanser should be the first step in your skincare routine before any other products are applied.
For oily or combination skin, the cleanser can be applied twice, one time when you wake up and another before you go to bed. For dry skin, once would work just fine. Either way, don’t skip out on cleanser; use it at least once during a routine.
Face Serums (Optional)
Applied after cleanser, face serums generally nourish your skin by providing it with vitamins.
While serums may not be absolutely necessary, they still prove beneficial as they can address various skin issues, from acne to anti-aging.
So, if you aim to solve any specific issues that have to do with your skin, look into the different face serums and choose the right one for you, depending on your desires.
You will likely be able to find one with a solution to the skin-related problem you wish to resolve, do keep in mind that they generally tend to run pricier than the other products listed here and aren’t recommended for people with certain skin conditions, such as eczema.
Moisturizer
Now after the previous applications, you can finally put on moisturizer.
It helps rejuvenate the skin by adding hydration and similar properties.
The freshness experienced can prevent it from being dry and flaky, especially in hotter weather. That’s why it’s also recommended to put on moisturizer on your body after every shower session to replenish it.
And if you have oily skin, you may wonder why you need the extra dewiness on your skin if dry skin benefits so much from it (as you two are essentially opposites); well, that’s because it regulates oil production. Your skin only feels the need to produce excess oil if it feels as though it’s being stripped of moisture from your environment, and applying moisturizer can alleviate that stress from your body.
SPF
The best protection against harmful UV radiation and, more importantly, should definitely be included in your skincare routine.
While you may not apply it for your nightly routine, it should be on your skin anytime the sun is out. Generally, the recommendation would be every 2 hours, but it’s okay if you go a little longer without reapplying, as a little vitamin D wouldn’t hurt at all. What will hurt is never applying sunscreen and going out in copious amounts without it on your skin.
SPF, broad-spectrum, can prevent aging (wrinkles and all that jazz, yes, really) and expected damage from the sun—even skin cancer down the line.
Regarding how much protection you want, SPF 15 is the base level recommended amount; however, at least SPF 30 when it comes to your face would work better and is what I typically use myself.
When it comes to your skincare..
How many times a day should skincare routines be utilized?
Having a nightly and daytime routine is common. Generally, more products are applied for nighttime, excluding sunscreen (for obvious reasons). Although if you’re busy, reserving at least a few minutes before you head to sleep can work wonders.
Why is there a specific order of applications?
Thinner products go on before thicker ones. This is because if you were to apply heavier products before those less so, they wouldn’t be able to penetrate and work as effectively.
How can I reapply sunscreen if I’m wearing makeup?
Let’s say you are diligent and do your entire skincare routine, finally apply your makeup afterward, and realize two hours have passed while you’re out and about. Now you can’t apply sunscreen again as that will smear all your makeup.
That is true, but only regarding the typical version of sunscreen. There are powdered sunscreen formulas available for reapplication after makeup.
And they work great; I use them every time I wear makeup and need more protection from the sun’s UV rays. The best part is that they can be applied just like a part of your makeup routine with a brush applicator and actually do help out smooth your foundation or coverage to an extent, not ruining it at all (at least for the many times I used this formula of sunscreen).
How much should the cost be?
Skincare should be affordable and not overly expensive. Anything over, say, $40 likely wouldn’t have much of a drastic effect on skin health. It will likely contain fluff ingredients and extra additions without much substance or be overly pricy because of the brand name it’s associated with.
Fragrance?
Try to aim for fragrance-free products if you have more sensitive skin.
Recommended Brands?
My personal recommendations would be Cerave and Cetaphil. Those are the ones I use and tend to be in a good price range and contain ingredients that make an impact (and aren’t full of fluff).
Sources and extra information
How to Wash Your Face like a Dermatologist — Parade: Entertainment … https://parade.com/health/how-to-wash-your-face-like-a-dermatologist.
“The Truth about Facial Serums.” WebMD, WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/beauty-smarts-serums-jan13.
Purnamawati, Schandra, et al. “The Role of Moisturizers in Addressing Various Kinds of Dermatitis: A Review.” Clinical Medicine & Research, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Dec. 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5849435/#:~:text=Moisturizers%20improve%20skin%20barrier%20repair,its%20own%20mechanism%20of%20action.
“The Importance of Moisturizing.” The Importance of Moisturizing | UT Medical Center, https://www.utmedicalcenter.org/blog-post/importance-moisturizing#:~:text=Moisturizing%20Reduces%20Skin%20Problems%20%2D%20Moisturizing,the%20skin’s%20blemishes%20are%20camouflaged.
“Sun Safety.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 Apr. 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety.htm.
“Sunscreen Faqs.” American Academy of Dermatology, https://www.aad.org/media/stats-sunscreen.
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