The Perfect Skincare Routine
Skincare routines are pretty standard when we look at what dermatologists and estheticians have to say. Most of the time, when you do not have any specific target and just want to take care of your skin against things that are out of our control, like ageing, we just need to follow a very minimal routine of 3 steps. Wash the face, moisturize and most importantly, apply sunscreen. Yes, it can be that simple.
Skincare routines do not have to be a million steps but along the way, you may find that it helps to add a few other steps to help with more specific areas for your own skin type. Every person’s skin is unique so our job is to find out what kind of routine would help our skin the most on top of the basic 3 steps.
To help you discover what kind of skincare routine you might benefit from based on your skin type, we have made a list just for you. In case you are unsure of what kind of skin type you have in the first place, here is a useful guide to find out for sure.
What Is My Skin Type
The easiest way to figure out your skin type is to observe how your skin naturally acts without applying anything after just cleansing it. After a while of just letting your skin rest, see how it looks.
For dry skin, you would notice that your skin looks flaky and might sometimes feel itchy. Oily skin is pretty obvious, with a shiny and greasy appearance on the skin, especially the T-Zone. If you have combination skin, you will see a combination of these two appearances. Parts of your skin may be oily while other areas might be rough. As for sensitive skin, your skin would get irritated easily so you might feel like your skin is having unexpected reactions or appears inflamed.
For all of these skin types, there are many different points to focus on and with a good skincare routine, we can help the skin feel and look healthier.
Dry Skin
If you have dry skin or are heading into a winter wonderland, the most obvious target is to keep the skin hydrated but also ensure that it stays hydrated. After all, what use is it if all that moisture just evaporates away? We want to make sure to not use products that strip the skin too much and give a gentle exfoliation to remove any dead skin cells.
Another key focus is to use products that help repair the skin’s natural barrier. This will help to keep all that moisture retained in the skin. So with that, let’s dive into our recommended routine for you to try if you have dry skin.
Dry Skin Routine
Exfoliate (only 2-3 times per week): We do not want anything that is too abrasive that will leave a burning sensation on the skin afterwards. So try to use a chemical exfoliant with AHA or BHA. Exfoliating for dry skin will help clear those dead skin cells and purify your pores. This helps your skin absorb the moisture you put on the skin afterwards more easily.
Toner: Balance your skin’s pH levels with a good toner. This will also help remove any extra residue you might have missed on the skin.
Essence: This step is there to hydrate your skin. The essence will help the skin absorb everything better from the next few steps.
Serum: The serum you use should be something that contains Vitamin E, humectants and peptides as these not only will help to hydrate the skin but also prevent collagen breakdown. You can use retinol in your nighttime skincare routine as well to help accelerate skin turnover.
Oil: Yes, oil. These might be a longer-lasting moisturizing tool for you if you have dry skin. A good beauty oil with either vitamin E, jojoba, rosehip, sweet almond, coconut, evening primrose or borage in it will help to really lock in all the moisture in your skin for the entire day.
Sunscreen: Finally, get your sunscreen out to just top it all off. Just remember to reapply around every 2 hours.
Oily Skin
One word. Sebum.
We have heard countless times about what monster sebum is but we do not want to completely get rid of it. Even though for people with oily skin, it may seem like the best option is to use products that completely remove all signs of moisture on the face, we actually do still want moisture.
The focus of the skincare routine for oily skin types is to regulate sebum production so we do not get too oily but still have hydrated skin. In chemistry, we learn about how an excess of one chemical will cause no more of that chemical to be produced. The same thing applies to the face. When we hydrate our skin enough, the oil glands in the skin do not need to produce any more oils to make up for moisture in the skin.
Oily Skin Routine
Cleanse: An important step for anyone with oily skin as cleansing helps get rid of the impurities on the skin that can lead to breakouts. So get a low pH cleanser that really cleans your pores while balancing the skin’s oil production. If you have blackheads, you might want to look into double cleansing with charcoal or Moroccan ghassoul to remove any dead skin cells.
Mask: To reduce the size of enlarged pores, you can use a nice, cool mask to tighten the skin. This also helps to cleanse the pores while exfoliating the skin. A good option for this step is to use a clay mask to really help remove the extra sebum.
Toner: Balance the skin’s pH with a toner with calming ingredients such as Centella Asiatica Extract and a good toner can help with blemishes or breakouts too. This will help keep the excess sebum under control as well as better absorb the other products into the skin.
Serum: A pro tip, you can keep the serum in the fridge so that when you apply it, it is really cooling on the skin. Hydration is key, so get a serum that is hydrating and with oily skin, you can even get yourself a thicker textured serum as it would still absorb well into the skin.
Moisturize: For this step, you can look for an oil-free moisturizer such as water-based or gel creams that will still keep your skin super moisturized but will not cause your skin to feel very heavy. These also absorb much better into the skin so your skin looks plump and hydrated. Soothing ingredients such as tea tree oil will also help with any redness on the skin.
Sunscreen: We recommend using a cooling sunscreen if you can get your hands on one as this will help to soothe the skin while still protecting the skin.
Combination Skin
Ah, the best of both worlds. Talk about confusion. Having combination skin can be frustrating for people looking into what is the best option for skincare. Is it double the products since the skin is both oily and dry?
Luckily for everyone’s wallets, the answer is no. There is a sweet middle ground between these two worlds and we are going to share a routine that just might be what you need.
Combination Skin Routine
Cleanser: Using a gel-based foaming cleanser is a great option for this step. We want something that is not too stripping but still gets the gunk out of the skin.
Toner: This step will help to even out texture and you can look for something that also acts as a chemical exfoliant. If you have any hyperpigmentation, then this step might help with that as well.
Serum: Reduce any redness or blemishes in the skin using this step. You can look for products that have niacinamide in them as that can help to control sebum production. Layering is also an option to use a hydrating water-based serum after as well with something with Hyaluronic Acid.
Moisturize: In the morning, you can use a lightweight moisturizer and at night, get yourself a good ol’ thick gel moisturizer that will really help to keep your skin super hydrated and moisturized.
Sunscreen: Finally, a good sunscreen to keep the skin protected. It might help to opt for a gel-based or moisturizing sunscreen.
Sensitive Skin
This skin type is very delicate as the skin can have reactions to all sorts of things most common among skincare products such as scents. This is why it is crucial to find out what makes the skin react and what kind of ingredients you would avoid.
Noticeable red flags with ingredients might be itchiness, redness, uneven texture, burning and really just any sort of discomfort. This is why we keep clear from the pain and stick to a simple routine that is gentle and suitable for sensitive skin
Sensitive Skin Routine
Cleanse: Use micellar cleansing water if you need to remove makeup and stay away from wipes. Then use a gentle hydrating cleanser. For sensitive skin, we highly recommend CeraVe products as their products are super gentle and hydrating. Plus they are accepted by the Eczema association so their products tend to really use ingredients that prevent any adverse reactions on the skin.
Exfoliate (Only 1-2 times every week): Exfoliating can be a harsh step for sensitive skin so really find out what suits your skin. If you are looking for a physical exfoliant, opt for power exfoliants. Otherwise, we recommend using a chemical BHA exfoliant to smooth and even skin tone. It is so important to keep this step to a minimum to keep your skin from getting damaged.
Moisturize: This step will help to plump and hydrate the skin. Again, CeraVe is a great option as they do not use any scents and the ceramides really keep the skin very hydrated. There are also no irritating ingredients inside so when you get a moisturizer, keep a lookout for the ingredients list.
Sunscreen: For the last step, like all routines, we end with sunscreen. Try to get one that does not have too many unnecessary scents or sometimes brands put glitter in the sunscreen as well. So, again, take a peek at the ingredients list and if all else fails…CeraVe still has your back. They are seriously your best friend.
Final Thoughts
Of course, this list is not a do or die. Everyone has different skin needs and you can experiment and customize your skincare routine to fit what you want to target. Hopefully, our guide did give you a general direction or template in what kind of skincare routine might be suitable for you. It is a journey to discover the best routine and products for your skin but we promise you, once you find that routine, you will never want to let go.
Skincare is so different for everyone so there is not really a strict guide that will act as a metaphorical yellow brick road to perfect skin. But there are certain guidelines that help to narrow down what your skin’s concerns and needs are so when you look for products, it makes your life so much easier.
