I hear it everyday; “I don’t know where to start with skincare”. So many of us have no idea what to use on our face or when to use it. There is an overkill of information online & it can be confusing & overwhelming, particularly if you have problematic skin.
The goal of any skincare routine is to get your skin & complexion functioning at its best, and also to target any problem areas, so those areas can step up on par with the rest of your skin.
The most important advice I would give to any who is beginning on a skincare routine is to keep it simple. You don’t want to over complicate your skin (or your brain!) when it comes to the various steps of a skin routine.
Step 1 Cleanse – Twice per Day.
So many of my clients have told me they cleanse their face only in the evenings. The general rule of thumb here is that you really need to cleanse twice per day, in the morning & evening. It is important to cleanse in the morning as it will remove any sweat, oil & dead cells that have come to the surface of the skin overnight, all of which will block pores & contribute to a dull complexion if not cleansed away. Cleansing in the evening will of course remove makeup, pollutants and other debris collected on the skin during the day. Choose a cleanser specific to your skin type, e.g don’t buy a cleanser for dry skin if you have oily break-out prone skin.
Step 2 Serum – Twice per Day
You may have heard about serums but what exactly are they & how do they work?
Simply put, a serum is a product you apply to your skin after cleansing but before moisturising with the intent of delivering powerful ingredients directly into the skin.
Serums are made up of smaller molecules than a moisturiser so they can penetrate deeper into the skin and deliver a very high concentration of active ingredients. They are a great tool for targeting specific skincare concerns because the ingredients focus on a particular concern, be it dehydration, dullness or ageing.
Rule of thumb here is to start with a low concentration serum, hyaluronic acid is usually a safe bet to start with & it can be applied both morning & evening.
Remember – apply after cleansing and before moisturiser. Twice per day.
Step 3 Moisturise – Twice per Day
We all know what a moisturiser is, the key point here is to choose a moisturiser that is suitable to your skin type. Again, don’t use a moisturiser for oily skin if your skin is dry. It’s also important to note that even very oily, acne skin needs a moisturiser. No matter how oily your skin is it will become dehydrated without a proper moisturiser & this can lead to irritation and sensitivity. Choose a specific night cream for your evening routine as it will have different ingredients to benefit your skin over your morning cream.
Step 4 Protect – Once per Day
All skin experts can get hot & heavy about the importance of wearing an SPF. I’m on the same page but I’m not going to go on a rant here about it! An SPF is your first line of defence against skin cancer. This, as well as protecting the skin from ageing & environmental factors, should be more than convincing when it comes to the importance of wearing an SPF.
Factor 50 365 days per year, even in Ireland. Nuff said.
Final Piece of Advice
We are all busy, be it with work, children, life’s stresses and commitments. Take 5 – 10 minutes at both sides of the day, lock yourself in the bathroom & take some YOU time, some time for self-care.
Results won’t happen overnight but they will happen if you stick with it.
Give it time. Be patient. Be consistent.
Your future self will thank you.
Trish x