Level Up Your Skincare Knowledge
Looking to improve your skincare regimen but don't know where to start? It's easy to feel lost when there are so many different options and ingredients to look up, so let us simplify things for you. Here are the 10 most important steps in a good skincare routine and 10 key ingredients to help your skin glow.
1. Makeup Remover
Whether you wear heavy or light makeup, before you start your skincare routine, you should always be using a good makeup remover that'll help wash away those products that have really locked onto your skin. Most cosmetics, like foundation, concealer, or setting powder, can really get into your pores and lead to irritation and clogging, so it's important you properly cleanse your skin with this step.
2. Oil Cleanser
Have you ever heard of double cleansing? After using a makeup remover, to really make sure you remove all impurities, you should go in with a good oil cleanser that ensures all cosmetics and sunscreen are cleared from your pores. These products tend to be gentle for your skin, meaning you don't have to worry about harming your skin.
3. Exfoliate
If you're concerned about having rough texture on your skin, it's likely because you're not exfoliating. By helping you remove dead skin cells, adding this step into your routine will leave you with much glowier, smooth, and bouncy skin. It's also great for making your skin look more even and less bumpy when applying makeup!
4. Toner
It's easy to get overwhelmed by toners when there are so many different types, but the baseline is, this product is designed to help even out your pH levels to promote healthy skin. And if you had any worries about leftover impurities missed from double cleansing, using toner can help remove whatever dirt has been left over (if any!).
5. Essence
Essence tends to be the most overlooked step in skincare, but if you're someone who wants to go all out, definitely look to include it. If you're someone who especially struggles with dry skin, essence is fantastic for hydration and preps the skin for better absorption when you put on moisturizer.
6. Serum
For more targeted results, serum is a great skincare step to add if you want to focus on something more specific. These tend to be highly concentrated products that can help with wrinkles, dullness, or even acne. Definitely do your research to learn what serums work best for what skin concerns.
7. Moisturizer
Now moisturizers are pretty straightforward, wouldn't you say? These products help to hydrate your skin and replenish your skin's surface. So if you want soft, bouncy, and bright skin, this is a step you absolutely can't skip! It's even more important if you're someone with dry skin concerns.
8. Eye Cream
Worried about your eye bags, dark circles, or even future problems like wrinkles? If you answered yes to any of those, using an eye cream can help with that. Just think of eye cream as a specialized, targeted moisturizer that can help you with any of your under eye concerns.
9. Face Mask
To really lock in that moisture and keep your skin feeling plump and juicy, using a face mask at the end of your routine can be both good for your skin and therapeutic for the mind. It's a very soothing sensation to have on your face, and when you remove it, it'll make you feel refreshed and rejuvenated like never before.
10. Gua Sha
If you're looking to really up your skincare game, using a gua sha can help promote better circulation, improve lymphatic drainage, and help with absorbing your skincare even further. It's not a necessary step, but it can be a relaxing one if you have the time to do it.
1. Hyaluronic Acid
If you're looking for hydration and plump skin, definitely find skincare products that contain hyaluronic acid. It's what helps build that bright and youthful complexion everyone wants while also improving skin health and building elasticity.
2. Vitamin C
Thanks to its antioxidant properties, vitamin C is an ingredient that best benefits those wanting to brighten up the skin, remove dark spots and scars, and protect your skin from UV rays. Including it in your skincare routine regularly will help you even things out over time. Just be patient!
3. Retinol
Want to improve the surface of your skin? Retinol is a very powerful ingredient found in select skincare products that can help improve texture and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and aging concerns. It's a common ingredient found in many anti-aging creams and serums, but do your research first to learn how often you should be using it in your routine.
4. Niacinamide
If you tend to have sensitive skin that gets easily irritated or struggle with redness and large pores, niacinamide is a fantastic skincare ingredient that replenishes and strengthens your skin barrier. It has a variety of benefits, making it a must-add to your regular routine.
5. BHAs
Short for beta-hydroxy acid, BHAs are great exfoliants that help remove dead skin cells, leaving you with a much smoother and shiny complexion. By going deep into your pores and unclogging them, this ingredient is also great at helping minimize pimples and breakouts.
6. Squalene
While squalene in skincare products has a plethora of benefits, it's best known for being a very hydrating ingredient that softens skin and soothes it. It has wonderful anti-inflammatory properties that helps with redness, which can really help brighten up your skin for a more youthful appearance.
7. SPF
If there's one ingredient you should be including on the daily, it's SPF. Even when it's not summer or there's barely any sun, wearing products that contain SPF (with at least SPF 50) can help protect your skin, reducing your risk of skin cancer. It also helps with sun damage, fine lines, dark spots, and so much more!
Photo By: Kaboompics.com on Pexels
8. Ceramides
Looking to further enhance your skin barrier and make it stronger and healthier? Ceramides will be your best friend. External factors like weather and pollutants can all damage and affect your skin, which means levelling up the first line of defence is a must. This skincare ingredient can do it all by helping you lock in moisture, calming your skin, and maintaining your skin's overall health.
9. Peptides
As the building blocks for protein, introducing more peptides to your skin only gives you more health benefits. Doing this encourages your skin to up their production of collagen and elastin, leaving you with much firmer, plumper, and beautifully radiant skin.
10. AHAs
We've gone over BHAs but now it's time to introduce AHAs, alpha hydroxy acids. While this ingredient is also known for its exfoliating properties which leave your skin bright and more even, the difference is AHAs aren't able to penetrate as deeply into your pores as BHAs. Both are important, they just reach different levels of your skin! So if you're more concerned about surface-level issues like dry skin, AHAs are the way to go!
