Your skin care routine is an essential part of self-care. A smooth complexion can take years off your face and make applying makeup easier and more fun. Unfortunately, many of us women don’t know the right skin care routine that can improve our skin and keep it smooth and clear. While everyone may have a slightly different routine, and some may need fewer products than others, building the right routine can improve your skin.
While you may use skin care as part of your morning routine to help boost your energy for the day, it’s important to use your products correctly. Layering them incorrectly or using the wrong formulas for your particular skin type can make your routine ineffective. Here’s our easy skincare routine that anyone can do, no matter what type of skin you have or how much you know about skin care products.
Step 1: Cleanse Your Skin
While it may be difficult after a long day, it’s important to take off your makeup every night, especially before putting on your skin care products. Your face needs to be free of debris, oil, and dirt to absorb the ingredients in your creams.
Cleansing your skin doesn’t have to be difficult, although we recommend staying away from cheap makeup wipes that can irritate your skin. Instead, opt for a cleansing oil that’s gentle on the skin and helps remove your makeup without stripping your skin of healthy oils. You can then follow up with a gentle cleanser if you have oily skin. If you have dry skin and aren’t prone to acne, you can skip the second cleanser.
Step 2: Apply Toner
When we talk about toner, we’re not talking about your grandmother’s toner. A long time ago, toner was alcohol-based and could do serious damage to your skin. Today, toners are filled with gentle and hydrating ingredients to help fight back against dry and irritated skin. If you have acne-prone skin, opt for a toner with chemical exfoliants.
To apply toner, tap it over your clean, dry skin every other morning (or night). Wait until your toner dries before moving onto the next step.
If you find that your toner is irritating your skin after use, and you can’t seem to find one that works for you, you can skip this step and move to step 3.
Step 3: Use a Serum
Serums are concentrated nutrients and antioxidants that can improve your skin’s moisture. Many people skip the serum in their skin care routine, but this is a huge mistake because there’s no such thing as too much moisture when it comes to your skin. Serums, while completely optional, can help you improve your skin care routine and offer hydrating results immediately.
Try a vitamin C serum if you want to brighten up your skin tone in the morning and keep your skin looking fresh, so that even when you experience burnout at work, everyone thinks you’re still fully awake. Vitamin C serum protects your skin from inflammation and free radicals, but it can be a little strong for sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin, try using vitamin C serum every other day when you’re first starting out.
You can also choose a serum with hyaluronic acid, which can help keep your face moisturized all day long. Hyaluronic acid takes water from the air and pulls it into your skin. You can choose to use the serum in the morning or at night.
Step 4: Hydrate Your Eyes
Don’t put any creams into your eyes, but hydrate the delicate skin around your eyes to make yourself look more awake. Eye creams are typically lighter and thinner than other face moisturizers, so they should be put on before you apply any creams and oils. Thinner products can’t penetrate the thicker products, so always make sure to apply the lighter products first for the best results.
Keep in mind that eye creams aren’t necessary for everyone. As long as you continue to keep your skin moisturized, your eye area should be getting the care it needs.
Step 5: Spot Treatments
You can treat your problem areas like acne, scars, and dark spots either at night or in the morning. Always make sure to apply your spot treatment before your moisturizer so that it can penetrate your skin without having a barrier to get through. You can also get rid of acne scars with the help of a plasma pen from Dermavel which are pain-free and also easy to use.
Step 6: Slather on Moisturizer
While some other steps in this skin care routine may have been optional for you depending on your skin type, moisturizer is a necessity for everyone. It’s recommended to apply moisturizer twice a day, in the morning and at night before bed, to get the best results. Even if you have oily skin, moisturizers can help keep your skin healthy.
At the start of your day, opt for a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 30. This will help protect your skin from UV rays that can cause premature aging of your skin.
At night is when your skin goes into repair mode. This is typically the best time to apply anti-aging cream with retinol. Retinol can sink into your skin and increase the rate of cell turnover, so that your body creates fresh, smooth skin faster over time. Retinol can take up to four to six months of consistent use to give you results, but it’s worth it to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles.
Retinoids like retinol also trigger collagen production, which means that you’ll likely see fewer dark spots, smoother scars, clearer pores, and brighter skin as well.
A good skin care routine doesn’t have to take up most of your morning. This routine can be completed quickly in the morning and at night. Always make sure to find the products that work best for your skin. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to talk to a dermatologist to find products that don’t irritate your skin. When it comes to your skin care routine, don’t overcomplicate things with tons of products; instead, keep it simple by only including the products that truly work for your skin.
Samantha Rupp
Samantha Rupp holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She is the managing editor for 365 Business Tips as well as runs a personal blog, Mixed Bits Media. She lives in San Diego, California and enjoys spending time on the beach, reading up on current industry trends, and traveling.
