When you are new to skincare, the overwhelming number of beauty products can make it difficult to know where to start. However, you don’t need to spend a fortune on creams and sprays; seven simple purchases will get you started. We’ll explain eight tips for taking care of your skin so that you know how to use your skincare products and in what order.
What Do I Need To Buy?
Any basic beauty box should consist of:
- Cleanser;
- Moisturiser;
- Face oil;
- Eye serum;
- Sunscreen;
- Derma roll;
- Exfoliant.
You can add to these if you want to, but as long as you get the right products for your skin, you shouldn’t need any extras. For example, you will see day creams and night creams, but since the purpose of both is to moisturise, you only need one good one. Also, some people swear by toners to restore the skin’s natural pH, but you only really need toner if you have oily or acne-prone skin. Choose one with 5% glycolic acid to provide gentle exfoliation without stripping your skin of its moisture. To nourish your skin without leaving a greasy residue, a toner containing aloe vera will help. Apply toner with a cotton pad after cleansing.
Do I Just Care For My Face?
A good skin care routine should not focus on your face alone. Take care of your neck, chest, elbows and hands as these are also frequently exposed to the elements and the environment and will soon start to give away your age regardless of how toned your face is.
It’s also important to be gentle with your skin as it can be easily damaged, especially as you get older. Use light, upwards sweeping motions that work against gravity and avoid pulling at or tugging the skin.
Cleanse Twice A Day
The skin needs to be clean and free from makeup for products to absorb well. Cleanse in the morning before you put anything onto your skin, and cleanse in the evening before bed.
A cleanser with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic gel is great for acne-prone or oily skin as they remove clogging from the pores, while a milky or glycolic cleanser will moisturise dry, mature skin well. A cleanser with alpha hydroxy acid is best for patchy skin with melasma to brighten your skin and leave it radiant.
Wash your hands and apply warm water to your face. Tip a 10p size amount of cleanser onto your palm, rub your hands together and then gently rub the product onto your face, including the hair and jawline as well as the neck. Take care around the eyes and mouth to avoid irritation and rinse with warm water rather than hot.
Follow Up With A Moisturiser
Every time you cleanse, you should follow up with a moisturiser to rehydrate and protect the skin. Choose a face cream that doesn’t contain heavy fragrances as these tend to cause irritation or dermatitis.
Apply your moisturiser while your skin is still damp to help lock that moisture in. Use upward, sweeping motions to massage your moisturiser into your face and neck, moving outwards from the middle of your face.
Feed Your Skin
Feed your skin with anti-oxidants like rosehip oil and vitamins C and E to fight off free radicals. After moisturising but before applying makeup, massage a face oil like this glow oil onto your skin to help soften and soothe while nourishing.
Prevent Crow’s Feet
Rather than having to work hard to undo the damage done to the delicate area around your eyes from laughter, smiling and general ageing, use an eye serum to prevent wrinkles and fine lines. Serums tend to contain a highly concentrated skincare product that aims to create a protective barrier and lock in active ingredients. If you suffer from puffy eyes or dark circles, then a serum containing caffeine can help as caffeine helps to shrink dilated blood vessels that cause swelling.
Wear Sunscreen Every Day
Even on an overcast day, we are exposed to UV light from the sun, and this not only increases our risk of getting skin cancer but it also visibly ages our skin. As the final step of your morning skincare routine, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 that provides UVA and UVB protection. Carry your sunscreen with you so that you can reapply it every two hours.
Derma-roll Once A Week
A derma-roller is a small hand-held roller with tiny needles that help to open up your skin to enable your skincare products to penetrate deep enough to do their job efficiently. By making superficial holes in your skin, you also encourage your body to produce more collagen to maintain healthy-looking skin.
Use a derma-roller once a week before going to bed so that your skin has time to heal while you are sleeping. Clean your skin and the derma-roller with an alcohol-based solution to reduce the risk of bacteria getting into your skin.
Roll the derma-roll up and down your forehead, chin and cheeks 4-5 times. Repeat the process using horizontal movements and then diagonal ones.
When using a derma-roller, avoid sensitive areas, such as the eyes, nose and upper lip, and do not apply too much pressure. After the process, avoid using hot water on your skin, don’t wear makeup, and don’t exercise for up to 24 hours.
Exfoliate Twice A Week
Our skin cells are constantly shedding and regenerating, but if we leave dead cells on our skin, it clogs our pores and leaves our complexion looking dull. While exfoliating helps buff away dead surface cells, scrubbing too hard will damage the skin, so avoid a physical scrub. Instead, use a chemical exfoliant with lactic acid and a neutral pH that doesn’t dry the skin. Use your fingers or a cotton pad to gently rub the exfoliant onto your skin.
Final Thoughts
Brands continuously bring out new products and techniques to encourage you to spend more money on your skincare routine. While taking care of your skin should rank highly in your daily to-do list if you want to keep it looking youthful and glowing, there is no need to buy a lot of lotions and serums to get you started. Use the seven products explained above in the right order, and you should have no trouble achieving healthy, glowing skin.
