How to Build a Proper Skincare Routine
With the winter weather coming up quickly, there’s no better time to create a skincare routine for yourself. Whether you are male or female, taking proper care of your skin is very important after the age of 20 as that’s when skin will begin to age. It can be very daunting trying to figure out exactly what products you need with so many products on the market today, so here is a list of the basics that you should incorporate into your skincare routine.
Step 1: Cleanser
For all of you who still wash your face with a bar of soap, get ready for a change! One of the most important parts of a skincare routine is a good facial cleanser. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a cleanser, but you should use a reputable one. One of the most affordable cleansers and yet one of the mostly highly recommended is Cerave Hydrating Cleanser ($15.00 at Amazon). This facial cleanser focuses on restoring your moisture barrier on your face while also mildly exfoliating with hydraulic acid. A facial washing tip – wash your face for 20 full seconds :).
Step 2: Toner
Toner is something that not everyone would consider an important step in skincare, but based on my experience, toner makes a huge difference. The main job of toner is to balance your skin after washing it as well as add nutrients to it.
You could splurge and get this Fresh Rose & Hyaluronic Acid Deep Hydration Toner ($59.00) that is a best seller at Sephora, or for something more budget-friendly, try Lancome Tonique Confort Re-Hydrating Comforting Toner with Acacia Honey ($16.00).
3. Serum
I should start off this section by saying that serum is totally optional – if you don’t want to use it, you don’t have to. For me personally, serum has been huge in in my skincare routine. I suggest a vitamin C serum as it’s great for hydrating, brightening, reduced redness, fades hyperpigmentation and it prompts collagen production. For a budget-friendly vitamin C serum, I suggest Sephora Collection Vitamin C Serum ($27.00) and for an upgrade you can try Olehenriksen Truth Serum ($98.00).
4. Moisturizer
Finally, the most important step! Moisturize! One thing I found out the hard way as someone who has combination skin, I used to try and dry out my skin thinking that the oil was causing pimples, however, that backfired. Moisturizer helps you fight off pimples and acne just as much as any other acne product. The moisturizer I use and is a cult-classic is Cerave Facial Moisturizing Lotion ($11.89). If you wanted to splurge, I would recommend Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer ($89.00).
Extras
For those of you wanting to add even more to your skincare routine, here are a few of my favorites that have helped a lot in my skincare routine.
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch- $8.80 for 3 Packs
These patches are AMAZING! If you discover that you have a big pimple coming, put this patch on before you go to bed and let the magic happen. The ingredient on them is hydrocolloid which basically sucks the gunk out of your zit and also helps to heal the pimple.
Mini Rose Quartz Facial Roller - $12.00
These facial rollers have really become popular over the last few years. I use my facial roller for de-puffing my face as well as to reduce fine lines. They are known for promoting drainage from the face, reduced facial tension, reduces puffiness, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and also increases firmness. I love to put on my facial moisturizer and then use my roller for about 10 minutes while sitting and watching TV.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% - $5.90
The Ordinary is one of my favorite skincare brands because their products work amazingly and yet their prices are all very affordable. This particular product helps reduce blemishes, reduce redness (known for helping reduce redness of rosacea), reduce pore size, and reduces acne.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 - $6.80
Hyaluronic acid is something that our bodies don’t produce enough of as we age, so adding this to our skincare routine helps to supplement our bodies supply. It brings moisture to the surface of your skin. So if you find yourself always nursing dry skin, try adding in this product.
Daily Peel Pads
Incorporating a daily peel into your skincare routine is a great way to reduce dullness, uneven texture, shrink pores, and lighten dark spots. I would recommend that every other month you use some kind of a peel. For those on a budget, try out Sephora Glow Peel Pads ($21.00 for 60 pads) and for those who want to splurge, try out Dr. Dennis Gross Daily Peel ($115 for 30 pads).
