Let’s discuss how to create a skincare routine tailored to YOUR skin. It’s common to ask others about their skincare routines and try to replicate them, but you’ve probably noticed that this doesn’t always work. Similarly, you might come across a new miracle product or ingredient that works wonders for others, only to find out that it irritates your skin.
The reason why someone else’s skincare routine or a new miracle ingredient might not work for you is that we all have different skin types. Even if we share the same skin type, we can have different skincare conditions. Furthermore, even if we have the same skincare conditions, they might be caused by different factors.
There is truly no one-size-fits-all when it comes to skincare routines. You have to customize your routine to YOUR skin type and skin condition. Even if you’ve perfected it, you have to adjust it as our skin goes through changes all the time.
The Basics
There are 3 basic steps within a skincare routine that everybody should follow:
- Cleanse
- Moisturize
- Sunscreen
These steps form the foundation of your skincare routine, everybody should do them daily.
Face wash: Washing your face is important to remove makeup, excess oil, and pollution from your face. Choose a soap-free face wash that suits your skin type.
Moisturize: This will hydrate your skin as your skin cannot produce its own water, it only makes oil. Oily skin types tend to avoid moisturizing, but not moisturizing can lead to more oil production as it causes dehydration.
Sunscreen: Sunscreen prevents damage from the sun, which can lead to premature aging and pigmentation. Apply sunscreen even when indoors, as UV light can enter through windows. If it's light outside, the sun's rays are still present.
Exfoliation
If you have no skincare concerns you don't have to exfoliate.
Start exfoliating from the age of 25 to prevent premature ageing. Our skin has a 28-day cell turnover cycle & this slows down with age. This leads to ageing, so exfoliation helps speed up the cell turnover cycle & prevent premature ageing.
If you are concerned with pigmentation & acne, include exfoliation as part of your skincare routine. It will help lift the pigmentation up & out of the skin and help clear the pores so that pimples may not develop.
Exfoliation also improves product penetration so always follow it with a mask or serum
Lelive - Save Our Skin AHA/BHA Exfoliator
Treatments
Skin treatments come in the form of masks and serums. Masks are applied after exfoliation to help with product penetration, you can use them 2-3 times a week. Serums, on the other hand, are used daily, and they contain a higher concentration of active ingredients compared to masks.
It's important to include treatments in your skincare routine if there's a specific issue you want to address, such as acne, pigmentation, or ageing. There are masks and serums specifically designed to target different skin conditions.
One common mistake people make when creating a skincare routine is getting the basics right but not addressing specific skin concerns. Understanding the factors causing certain skin conditions is crucial.
For instance, acne may be caused by oily skin, hormonal changes, or inflammation due to a high-sugar diet and stress. Identifying your triggers will help you treat the root cause and prevent acne from occurring.