Does your face seem oily, dry, or a combination of both? If so, what have you done to address the problem? Or do you even care about them? Well, you should; after all, nobody wants to look disturbing in front of other people. This is where the skincare routine comes in.
A skincare routine is a set of practices that aim to prevent common skin issues (e.g., acne) and improve skin concerns (e.g., dark spots and scars). This should be done daily to maintain overall skin health—when waking up in the morning and before sleeping at night.
A skincare routine makes use of various skincare products—each of these has a different purpose. If you don’t know which brand to pick, you may consider using luxury skincare products to assure you that your face won’t be harmed.
Today, there’s a wide range of skincare products in the market, and choosing among them can be a bit overwhelming. This article will guide you in identifying which products are worth every penny. So read on to learn more.
1. Cleansers
Cleansers are one of the most important parts of a skincare routine. They help get rid of all the bacteria, grime, dust, and dirt all over your skin that may cause skin issues, such as skin infections and acne.
However, you shouldn’t pick any cleanser you see in the market. That’s because a cleanser should match the type of skin you have. For example, if your skin is prone to acne breakouts, you should look for a cleanser that contains a good amount of salicylic acid but is gentle on the skin to prevent excessive dryness.
If the skin dries out, oil production will increase, leading to more breakouts. If you’re not sure what type of cleanser you should pick, ask your dermatologist to assess your skin type to find the right one suitable for your skin.
2. Exfoliators
Exfoliation is essential to any skincare routine. However, it’s often intimidating for people who have no idea what it means or what an exfoliator does to their skin. Simply put, it’s the process of removing dead skin cells using an exfoliator.
An exfoliator can be physical or chemical. Physical exfoliators can be purchased as cleansers with microbeads, which eliminate dead skin cells by scrubbing. However, they tend to harm the skin by causing small micro-tears, allowing dirt and bacteria to enter the skin.
This is where chemical exfoliators come in. These exfoliators (e.g., glycolic acid or salicylic acid) loosen the dead skin cells until they shed off, resulting in a more radiant and younger-looking complexion.
However, don’t exfoliate your skin every day. Once or twice a week is enough to maintain overall skin health and balance.
3. Toners
After cleansing or exfoliating your skin, what should you do next? The step is to apply a toner to refresh your skin without removing all the natural moisture it holds. Also, it helps get rid of all the chemical residues from your cleansers.
However, using a toner may irritate or cause excessive dryness. This is especially true for those with alcohol content, so always look for toners with 0% alcohol. Still, it doesn’t guarantee a moist skin surface. That’s why you need to use any skin treatment or moisturizer after.
4. Serums
Serums are potent liquids containing higher concentrations of extracts and other active ingredients that are good for the skin. These include hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, collagen, glycolic acid, retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, peptides, and glycerin.
Facial serums are also called moisturizers 2.0 because they can moisturize the skin in addition to their main function, depending on the active ingredient they contain. For example, if the active ingredient present is collagen, it can help tighten your skin aside from moisturizing it.
Furthermore, serums must be applied before moisturizers.
5. Moisturizers
Applying moisturizers should come after applying serums. The main role of moisturizers is—well, you guessed it—to moisturize the skin. In addition, it offers other great benefits depending on other active ingredients it contains.
Some moisturizers contain retinol to prevent skin aging, hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin, collagen to tighten the skin, or vitamin C to brighten the skin. Moisturizers are like serums but thicker and contain a minimal concentration of active ingredients.
6. Sunscreens
Sunscreens are an important part of any skincare regimen. They block harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun—both UVA and UVB—that can cause your skin to age faster. Look for sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 and above.
Also, sunscreens can be applied before or after the moisturizer. It depends on the type of sunscreen you use, whether physical or chemical.
Physical sunscreens contain minerals that block UV rays. They must be applied after moisturizing the skin because they don’t need to be absorbed by the skin to take effect. Chemical sunscreens are applied before the moisturizer because the skin needs to absorb them first to take effect.
Final Words
A skincare routine helps protect the skin from dirt and other skin conditions, such as aging, acne breakouts, infections, etc. It makes use of different products with different purposes. These include cleansers, exfoliators, toners, serums, moisturizers, and sunscreens. Before purchasing a skincare product, it’s advisable to consult a dermatologist to determine your skin type and the product suitable for your skin.