We all have to start somewhere, and sooner is better than later. It especially applies to starting a skincare routine. The earlier you take care of your skin, the less work you’ll have to worry about in the long run.
As your skin ages, you’d want to take specialized care in choosing your skincare routine. No one routine suits all. Age, skin type, diet, and even environment all factor in what skincare products you’ll need to achieve that radiant, healthy skin you’ve envisioned. Follow along as we review everything to get you started on what to look for in a skincare plan.
Start With A Cleanser
It’s important to know that having a skincare routine at an early age can consist of something as simple as using a cleanser and sunscreen; both can be a good start in preventing early signs of ageing. With that in mind, other factors like skin type play a role in what kind of cleanser you’ll need to use.
Ideally, you will want to cleanse your face every day. The face accumulates dirt, pollution and dust throughout the day, so it’s essential for every skin type to cleanse the face, specifically at night. If you have oily skin, use a gentle cleanser that won’t strip your skin of its natural oil during the morning and night. An oil-based or cleansing balm for dry skin will eliminate impurities that accumulate throughout the day while preventing over-dryness. For sensitive skin, try micellar water. A light cleanser in the morning and a cleansing balm at night will help those with mature skin.
Cleansers for combination skin depend on changes in climate and weather. A more foamy cleanser is preferable in hot and humid weather, whereas a more oil-based cleanser should do the trick in dry and cold weather.
Tone down the pH
After using a cleanser, specifically one with a high pH, you will want to use a toner to lower the pH. Toners are necessary for those of us who have oily or acne-prone skin. Choose a toner with phenol and salicylic acid to help exfoliate and tone the skin. However, if you find a cleanser that indicates that it is of low pH, you can skip using a toner.
Exfoliate, Renew, Repeat-
-Only 1 to 3 times a week, that is. Exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells, giving you a glow and reducing the appearance of fine lines. When exfoliating the skin, it’s easy to get caught up with the idea that you’re rubbing all the dead skin cells away, so much so that many people may overdo it. Whether it’s a chemical exfoliate or one made with sugar or coffee grounds, take caution when using exfoliators, you might end up irritating your skin and damaging it.
Start small and be gentle while exfoliating. Glycolic and Salicylic acid are common ingredients found in exfoliators. The ingredients you want to look out for are vitamin K and AHA. Vitamin K is known to be a healing ingredient.
Choose your Serum
Ageing slows cell regeneration, resulting in the body not producing adequate essential nutrients, leading to dry, dull, less elastic skin.
The best anti-ageing serums contain ingredients like Vitamin C and retinol. Everyone, regardless of age, should be using a Vitamin C serum. Vitamin C is an antioxidant serum that prevents free radicals from forming, mitigates dark spots, and gradually lessens the signs of ageing. You can apply it both in the morning and at night.
You can combine a Vitamin C serum with other serums that suit your particular skin needs. Anti-ageing serums like the ones containing retinoids, which are best used at night, are great in reducing hyperpigmentation and wrinkles and increasing collagen production to strengthen the elasticity in your skin. Hyaluronic acid serums plump the skin, drawing moisture from the surroundings and locking it, leaving your skin glowy, soft and hydrated. Niacinamide calms inflammation, evens skin tone and brightens the skin.
Keep Your Skin Moisturized
Regardless of your skin type, you should be moisturizing all year round. Moisturizing helps keep your skin soft and hydrated and helps strengthen the skin’s barrier.
For oily or acne-prone skin, you’d want to opt for a light moisturizer that quickly absorbs into your skin, like a lotion. Moisturizers free from irritants like alcohol or perfume are best suited for sensitive skin types. Formulas that contain humectants, emollients, occlusives and ceramides are perfect for giving dry skin that extra needed hydration.
Don’t Skip On The Sunscreen
Sunscreen is the most essential part of any skincare routine. Without it, the other steps mentioned above won’t make a difference. The UV rays emitted from the sun are the number one cause of premature skin ageing. At the end of your skincare routine, apply a good sunscreen of SPF 30 or above, 30 minutes before leaving the house. There are even moisturizers that contain SPF.
For oily skin, look for non-comedogenic, oil-free gel formulas. You want to avoid gel or spray sunscreen, which contains alcohol for dry skin. Sunscreens with minerals and pure zinc-oxide are great for sensitive skin.
Conclusion
Cleaning, exfoliating, serums, and moisturizers will all work as long as you’re consistent. It takes time for the process to work. Be patient and be caring to yourself and your skin. Use sunscreen on your face, neck and the back of your hands. Also, use sunscreen indoors since UV rays can enter your home through your windows. Hope this article helped.
