A skin care routine is a must for anyone who wants to keep their skin looking fresh and healthy. Not only does it prevent things like acne from popping up, but it also helps reduce wrinkles, age spots, and unevenness in your complexion.
To get the best results from your skin care routine, you need to know what products work best for you. Luckily, I have compiled a list of my favorite products that can be incorporated into any skin care routine.
If you are not sure where to start with your skin care routine, or if you just don’t know what the purpose of some products is, this article will help!
What is a skin care routine?
A skin care routine is a set of steps that you do every day to keep your skin looking fresh and healthy. A skin care routine includes things like cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and exfoliating.
The goal is to remove any dirt or makeup from your face as well as keeping your skin hydrated with moisturizer. It’s important for people who wear makeup on a daily basis to clean their face thoroughly before going to bed because it can clog pores and lead to breakouts.
In addition, people with oily skin should use an oil-free moisturizer because it will help control their greasiness throughout the day.
The different parts of a routine
Your skin care routine is made up of three parts: cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. Cleansing is the first step to your routine because it removes any makeup or leftover dirt from your face from the day. If you wear a foundation or apply concealer, this step will be very important.
Toners are next in your skin care routine because they work to balance the pH on your skin, which makes it more able to absorb nutrients. When you are moving onto moisturizer, you want something that has SPF in it to protect you against sun damage.
Cleansing and Exfoliating
Cleansing and exfoliating are two steps in any skin care routine. Cleansing is the first step, which removes all of the dirt and residue left on the skin by everyday life. Exfoliating is the second step, which sloughs off dead skin cells and promotes healthy cell turnover.
Washing your face with a cleanser at least once a day is necessary to remove dirt, sweat, oil, makeup and other impurities from your face. You should also try to wash your face with a gentle cleanser if you have sensitive skin, as harsh soaps can irritate it.
The best time to clean your face is in the morning after you’ve washed your face while you’re shaving or showered and before putting on makeup.
Exfoliation helps improve acne because it gets rid of oil clogging up pores. It also acts as a natural deep clean for your skin, leaving it looking radiant and feeling soft and smooth. If you want to exfoliate more often than just once a week, there are plenty of dermatologist-recommended products that can be used daily without irritating the skin too much.
Moisturizing
An important step in your skin care routine is moisturizing. Moisturizing keeps your skin hydrated, which helps to prevent dryness and flakiness. It also makes your makeup go on smoother and look better.
Moisturizers come in many different forms including lotions, creams, serums, gels and more! These types of moisturizers can be used before or after applying makeup depending on the desired effect.
For example, if you want a matte finish to your skin, you would use a mattifying moisturizer before applying makeup. If you want a radiant glowy complexion with your makeup on then apply a hydrating moisturizer before putting on any makeup at all.
This will help keep your dry patches at bay so that they don’t show up through the makeup. Be sure to apply the moisturizer after cleansing to make sure it actually sinks into the skin and not just sits on top of it!
Treatments
Treatments are a step in your skin care routine that is often overlooked but shouldn’t be. Treatments are designed to help heal, repair, and restore the skin. It can be helpful to use treatment after a long day of wearing makeup or sometimes even before you put on makeup.
The reason is that it helps your skin look healthier and more vibrant so that you don’t have to wear as much makeup. A popular treatment that I love is the L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Cream which has three benefits: it moisturizes, energizes, and protects the skin from aging!
Product Recommendations
There is a wide variety of products out there to help with any skin care needs you may have. I recommend using all of the products below in your skin care routine, as they are some of my personal favorites.
- Cleanser: The first step in any skin care routine is to clean your face with a gentle cleanser. My favorite cleansers are Yes To Carrots and Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Acne Wash Clear Kit.
- Exfoliator: Your skin cannot thrive if it is not exfoliated on a regular basis. Exfoliating removes dead cells from your face, which can make your pores look smaller and smoother. My favorite exfoliator is Peter Thomas Roth’s Pumpkin Enzyme Mask.
- Toner: Toners can do many things for your skin like balancing pH levels, removing excess surface oils and makeup, and preparing the skin for other serums or moisturizers. My favorite toners are Fresh’s Soy Face Toner and Pixi’s Rose Toner Spray.
- Serum: Serums can be used alone or under moisturizer to create an intense hydration effect while also delivering powerful ingredients that fight signs of aging such as wrinkles, sun spots, and even acne breakouts. My favorite serums are Dr Brandt’s Pores No More Anti-Aging Serum and Strivectin’s Triple X Eye Repair Cream (which doubles as both a serum and an eye cream
Choosing your products
The first thing to know about a skin care routine is that it should be tailored to your needs. This means choosing products that are suited for your skin type (dry, oily, combination, etc.), age, and gender.
Products for the face come in many types and there is one for everyone’s individual needs. You may want a cleanser that not only removes dirt but also removes makeup so you don’t have to worry about taking off makeup before bedtime.
You might need a moisturizer that includes SPF so you can keep your skin protected from the sun when you’re going outdoors. Or maybe you need something with anti-aging properties because you want to prevent wrinkles before they start showing up.
With all of these choices in mind, it is important to find out what your specific needs are and choose products wisely.
The Best Skin Care Products for Your Face
First of all, you will want to start with a gentle cleanser. This should be used to wash your face before you apply any other products. My go-to is Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. It is lightweight, non-greasy, and good for acne. Next, you will want a moisturizer.
I always use a tinted one because it doubles as my makeup primer and foundation. For good measure, I also use an eye cream. It can be tempting to skip this step at first, but it is important to keep your eyes looking fresh and young!
The next step in your skin care routine is applying a serum or facial oil. This helps hydrate the skin and make it healthier overall. There are many options for face serums or oils that are designed for specific purposes like anti-aging or acne treatment.
Finally, you may want to tone your skin with a toner that has witch hazel in it (alcohol free!) This closes up the pores after cleansing so that they do not get clogged easily by dirt and makeup residue when you apply your moisturizer or serum.
What’s in a Skin Care Routine?
A skin care routine is a basic set of treatments you use on your skin to keep it healthy, smooth, and clear. You can customize your skin care routine to meet your needs. For example, if you suffer from acne, you might want to incorporate a product into your skin care routine that is designed to treat acne breakouts.
For someone with dry skin, they might want to use more moisturizer than someone with oily skin. Skin care routines vary depending on the person’s age and lifestyle.
As we grow older, our skin changes and requires different considerations in order to maintain optimal health. As we get older our skin becomes thinner, less elastic, less able to retain moisture, and may become drier as well due to hormonal changes.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that people over 50 start using daily sunscreen as one way to protect against premature aging caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Additionally, some aging adults might need more exfoliation or products for wrinkles because their natural oil production decreases with age.
How to Pick the Right Skincare Product
There are a ton of different products out there that can be used in a skin care routine. When shopping for new products, you want one that will target your personal needs. For example, if you are looking to reduce acne, choose a benzoyl peroxide face wash. If you are looking for something to reduce wrinkles and dark spots, try using an exfoliating scrub with glycolic acid or retinol.
The key is finding the product that fits your specific needs. Remember: it’s not one-size-fits-all when it comes to skin care!
Your Skin Care Routine, Step by Step
There are many steps to having a successful skin care routine. However, if you do the right things at the right time, your skin will be gorgeous. The first step is cleansing your skin. This removes any makeup, oil, and dirt that has built up during the day. I recommend using a gentle cleanser around an acidic pH of 4-5.
Next, you need to exfoliate your skin by using a product with AHA or BHA. This eliminates clogged pores that can lead to acne and unevenness in your complexion. Finally, you should moisturize your skin.
Moisturizer locks moisture into your skin for long-term hydration by restoring lipids and natural oils lost throughout the day.
Cleanse your face
The first step in your skin care routine should be cleansing. Cleansing removes dirt, makeup, and other impurities that can clog pores and lead to blemishes. There are a variety of cleansers on the market that you can use, but it is important to find one that works for you.
My personal favorite at the moment is the Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser. It is gentle on my skin and doesn’t strip my skin of its natural oils like some other cleansers tend to do.
Exfoliate your skin with a scrub or mask
Exfoliating your skin is an important part of a healthy skin care routine. The process removes the dead skin cells that can lead to clogged pores and breakouts, while also revealing smoother, younger looking skin.
You can use a scrub or mask to exfoliate your skin. If you want to do it at home, be sure to use a product made for the purpose.
A good scrub will contain ingredients like salt or oatmeal which work to gently remove the dead skin cells and dirt from the surface of your face. A mask works in much the same way, but instead of a scrubbing motion, you just leave it on your face for 10-15 minutes before washing it off with lukewarm water.
Not only does this process cleanse your skin, it also helps minimize wrinkles and age spots over time by forcing them to shrink back up into the epidermis.
Moisturize and protect your skin
It is important to moisturize your skin and protect it from sun damage. But what about when you are in a rush? You might grab the sunscreen you had on hand, but what about that moisturizer?
I like using a product with SPF in it. This is because when I am going out, I want to be sure my skin is protected. What I do is put the sunscreen on first, then use my moisturizer with SPF in it and finish off with powder foundation.
The other products I like to use are oil-free eye makeup remover, acne cleanser and gel 3-in-1 face wash for dry skin, and for sun protection, mineral powder foundation.
What should a skin care routine include?
A skin care routine should focus on the following:
- Cleansers
- Exfoliators
- Moisturizers
- Treatments
Cleansers are used to clean your skin of any dirt or impurities, while exfoliators remove any dead cells.
Moisturizers help hydrate your skin, which prevents dryness and scaliness. Treatments help with a variety of things such as acne, wrinkles, and dark spots.
The Best Products for Your Skin Care Routine
The first product that I recommend is an exfoliator. Exfoliators are essential to any skin care routine as they remove dead cells, dirt, and oil from your skin. This helps to reduce the appearance of pores and wrinkles on the skin’s surface. My favorite exfoliator is a chemical called Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA).
Another great product for any skin care routine is a moisturizer. Moisturizers keep your skin supple, which will help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and age spots, softens your skin’s texture, and makes it appear more vibrant. Too much exposure to the sun can also damage collagen in your skin, which is why moisturizing with SPF 30 or higher is important – even in winter!
The best time to use each product
Cleansers: Cleansers serve a few purposes. Cleaning the skin of any leftover cleanser, makeup, and other debris is one of the main functions of a cleanser. It also helps your moisturizer go on smoother and makes it easier for your makeup to apply later.
Treatment: A treatment product specifically targets certain issues you’re having with your skin. For example, if you have acne-prone skin, a treatment could help with that. If you want to reduce wrinkles or age spots, a treatment will target those issues as well.
Moisturizer: Moisturizers are used to lock in moisture and hydrate the skin. They also have some skincare benefits on their own, like providing sun protection or boosting collagen production. Nowadays there are many different types of moisturizers available for all skin types and needs!
Sunscreen: Sunscreen protects your skin from UV rays from the sun by absorbing them or reflecting them away from your body. Be sure to use at least an SPF 30, but higher is better depending on how often you plan on being in the sun!
Face masks: Face masks can be used after cleansing or exfoliating for added benefits – like peeling off dead cells on your face for softer skin or targeting breakouts with salicylic acid.
The Importance of a Skin Care Routine
Aside from the health benefits, there are many reasons why a skin care routine is important.
- It prevents acne by removing excess oils and bacteria on your skin surface.
- It reduces the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, and unevenness in your complexion.
- It helps clear up any breakouts you might have.
- It helps shrink pores to reduce the appearance of large pores.
- You will not have to worry about spending money on makeup because you’ll be getting clearer skin that doesn’t need as much coverage or concealer.
- Your makeup will apply more smoothly and evenly when your skin is properly moisturized.
What You Need to Know
If you want to know what products you need for your skin care routine, then I recommend reading this article.
- Cleanser: A cleanser is the first step in any skin care routine. It removes dirt and oil from your pores so that nutrients can be absorbed.
- Toner: This step is next because it helps restore the pH balance of your skin, which will help maintain a healthy complexion.
- Serum: This is a product that can be applied after cleansing and toning to give your skin extra hydration. It also helps prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging as well as keep your skin looking younger by boosting collagen production in the skin cells.
- Moisturizer: Lastly, moisturizer should be applied to lock in moisture and heal any dry patches on your face. If you don’t apply moisturizer all day long, it could lead to dryness or redness and cause breakouts due to clogged up pores.
Treat Acne and Pimples
If you are struggling with acne, then this step is crucial. Acne is typically caused by a buildup of bacteria on your skin, which can be remedied by benzoyl peroxide products. Benzoyl peroxide works to kill the bacteria that causes pimples and removes the oils from your pores, helping to prevent future breakouts.
The best way to use this product is after you have washed your face but before you apply moisturizer or any other layer of skin care.
Contrary to popular belief, benzoyl peroxide does not bleach your fabrics – it only oxidizes them so they cannot be re-coloured.