The skin is the largest organ of the body, yet many people neglect its care. The skin is exposed to the sun’s rays and environmental pollutants all the time. That is why a good skincare routine is very important. Good skincare is essential at any age and can strengthen and prepare your skin for the effects of aging.
Taking good care of your skin is important for more than just appearance. It is absolutely worth the time and energy to take care of your skin daily. Moreover, your skincare routine contributes a lot to your beautiful and healthy skin.
Why Is Skincare Routine Important?
A good skincare routine is important for the following reasons:
- It helps your skin stay in good and healthy condition. You’re shedding skin cells throughout the day. So it is important to keep your skin glowing and in good condition. An effective routine can help prevent acne, treat signs of aging, and even out skin complexion.
- Secondly, your skin will look more youthful. As you age, your skin’s cells turn over more slowly, making it look duller and less radiant. Using an effective skin care line can help remove dead skin cells.
- Prevention is easier than correction. An effective routine for skincare assists in preventing skin problems.
- Last but not the least, your self-confidence will get a boost. When your skin looks better, you’ll feel better about yourself and have more self-confidence.
Skincare Tips Before You Start
To get the most out of your daily skincare regimen, you should start with three simple steps: cleanse, treat, and moisturize. You will need to find a cleanser that is gentle on your skin while helping to remove oil, dirt, makeup, etc. A moisturizer acts as a barrier between your skin and the environmental impurities that can harm it.
Many people find it beneficial to add a third step to their basic routine, which is “toning.” This step generally goes between cleansing and moisturizing. There are many toners on the market, all with different goals.
- Cleansing – Washing your face.
Washing your face is the most important and basic step of a skincare routine. The skin comes in contact with environmental pollutants, dirt, and other impurities each day that should be removed. Wash your face twice a day to avoid clogged pores, dullness, and acne.
- Toning – Balancing the skin.
Toning helps in removing any leftover dirt following cleansing. These thin liquids deliver an extra shot of nutrients to your skin. Plus, they help other products in your regimen absorb better, while still balancing your complexion.
- Moisturizing – Hydrating and softening the skin.
The next step is to moisturize your face. The basic function of a moisturizer is to hydrate and soften the skin. Essentially, moisturizers aid in preventing water loss through the outer layers of skin. Choose the best moisturizer depending on your skin type. Click here to learn about the best skincare products for sensitive skin.
Skincare Routine: Steps To Follow
Whether you want a simple three-step routine for the morning or night, the order in which you apply your products matters. There isn’t a point in having a skin care routine if products don’t get a chance to penetrate the skin.
No matter your skin concerns, start with a clean, toned base, then apply active ingredients. And finish by sealing in moisture and, of course, SPF in the daytime.
Below are the steps for a good skincare regimen. Read on to learn more about how to layer your products for maximum impact!
Cleanser
Do this step: Morning and night
First of all, you need the cleanser to wash off all the oil, dirt, and makeup sitting on your face all day. Morning or night, rinse your face with water and rub a small amount of gentle cleanser. Gently pat your face with a soft towel. Additionally, if you wear makeup, you may need to cleanse at night. Remove your makeup gently with cleansing oil or micellar water.
Toner
Do this step: Morning and night
Apply toner just after cleansing your face and before everything else. Take a few drops of toner into your palms or a cotton pad and gently swipe onto your face. If your toner is exfoliating, meaning it removes dead skin cells with ingredients like glycolic acid, uses only at night. However, toners with hydrating formulas can be used twice a day.
Serum
Do this step: Morning and night
Morning is the best time to use a serum that contains antioxidants. They protect your skin from the free radicals that you encounter throughout the day. In contrast, nighttime is a good time to use a moisturizing serum having hyaluronic acid, which keeps your skin from drying out at night. Whatever you’re using, always remember: Water-based serums need to go underneath moisturizer, while oil-based serums should be applied after moisturizer.
Retinoid
Do this step: At night only
Retinoids (vitamin A derivatives including retinol) reduce dark spots, breakouts, and fine lines by increasing skin-cell turnover. However, they can also be irritating, especially for sensitive skin. If you want to use retinoids, know that they break down in the sun, so they should only be used at night. Besides this, they also make your skin extra sensitive to the sun.
Eye Cream
Do this step: In the Morning only
You can apply moisturizer to your under-eye area, but if you want to use a specialized eye cream, layer it underneath the moisturizer. Since eye creams tend to be thinner than moisturizers, they should be applied before moisturizers. For the best results, look for ingredients like peptides which help tighten your skin as well as antioxidants.
Spot Treatment
Do this step: Morning and night
You need to use spot treatments on active breakouts only. If you’re dealing with acne issues, you can apply a spot treatment both morning and night to speed up the healing process. The two most common over-the-counter ingredients for spot treatments are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria, whereas salicylic acid gently exfoliates and dries out your oil glands.
Moisturizer
Do this step: Morning and night
Moisturizer simultaneously hydrates skin and locks in all the other layers of product you’ve applied. Look for a lightweight lotion for the Morning, while in the evening, you can use a thicker night cream. Those with dry skin should use a cream morning and night.
Face Oil
Do this step: Morning and night
When using face oil, make sure to apply it after your other skincare products. Since nothing else will be able to penetrate the oil, the common recommendation is to apply it last at night. And second-to-last before sunscreen in the morning. To apply, pour about 2-3 drops of oil into your palms and pat lightly over your face.
Sunscreen
Do this step: In the Morning only
It may be the last step; dermatologists unanimously agree that sun protection is the most important part of a skincare regimen. Protecting your skin from harmful UV rays can prevent skin cancer and signs of aging. Moreover, look for broad-spectrum SPF, as it protects from both UVA and UVB radiation.
Basic Morning Skincare Routine: What should I use in the Morning?
The skincare routine for the morning is all about the protection and prevention of your skin. Your face is going to be exposed to harmful sun rays, environmental pollutants, and dirt. Therefore, it is necessary to use moisturizer, sunscreen, etc., to stay protected.
- Cleanser: Use cleanser depending on your skin type to remove residue that’s built up overnight.
- Moisturizer: This hydrates the skin and is available in the form of creams, gels, or balms.
- Sunscreen: Last but not the least, it is essential for protecting the skin against the damaging effects of the sun.
Basic Night Skincare Routine: What should I use in the Night?
Your nighttime skincare routine should focus on cleansing and repair. It is the best time to use anything that makes skin sensitive to sunlight, including physical exfoliants and chemical peels.
- Makeup remover: Use makeup remover to remove the makeup residue you can’t see.
- Spot treatment: You can effectively treat breakouts at night with anti-inflammatory products.
- Night cream or sleep mask: Finally, a richer moisturizer assists with skin repair and rejuvenation.
FAQs on Skincare Routine
Why do we need a skincare routine?
A proper skincare routine helps your skin stay in a healthy condition. Also, an effective routine can help prevent acne, treat wrinkles, and keep your skin looking its best. Besides this, using good products can protect your skin from environmental damage and fight the effects of aging.
Will skincare help with acne?
A good skincare routine is essential when you have acne-prone skin. The daily routine can remove excess oil, keep pores clear, and help blemishes heal quickly. An acne skincare routine should include a cleanser, acne medication, moisturizer, and sun protection. Check out the best skincare products for acne-prone skin.
What skincare routine do I need to follow for dry skin?
When it comes to a skincare routine for dry skin, your first step is to choose a hydrating cleanser. Always look for an alcohol-free toner with active ingredients that restore the pH levels of your skin. In addition, use an oil-based moisturizer for hydrating your skin. Lastly, apply sunscreen to prevent your skin from harmful UV rays.
The Bottom Line
It is not enough to have good skincare products from reputed brands. For products to be effective, you need to apply them in the correct order. Most Importantly, the routine for your skincare will depend on your skin type. Plus, it will depend on the ingredients & formulations of your products and the time of day. The most important thing is finding a skincare routine that works for you.
Taking care of skin and developing a skincare routine is important because it can make it healthy. Add a skincare routine to your other healthy routines so you can develop better health habits all around.
Develop a skincare routine that can keep your skin looking and feeling amazing for years to come!