How To: Steps to Creating Your Best Skincare Routine
The good news is that skincare doesn’t have to be complicated. If you are looking to build a simple but effective skincare routine – then you’ve come to the right place.
Before getting into the routine, it’s helpful to know your skin type.
Knowing Your Skin Type:
This is going to help guide you in how to choose the products that will work best for your skin.
You could have one of 5 different skin types so lets go over each:
1. Oily Skin Type
At the end of the day, does your face feel oily and look shiny? People with oily skin often struggle with large pores that get easily clogged with sweat and oils.
2. Dry Skin Type
Your skin will feel tight and often flaky, especially in the winter. Dry skin demands a lot of moisturizer throughout the day, and it is especially needed upon waking or after cleansing the face.
3. Normal Skin Type
If your skin is even, and doesn’t feel tight or greasy you may be blessed with normal skin. Your skin will have a clean, soft appearance and feel supple to the touch. This seems to be the rarest skin type.
4. Combination Skin Type
If you don’t know your skin type, you are probably normal or combination. Combination is the most common skin type, and usually feels oily in the T-zone but dry everywhere else. If your pores are large and often clogged around the nose but are small and unnoticeable on the cheeks, this is a sign of combination skin.
5. Sensitive Skin Type
Usually feels itchy, patchy, dry and can sometimes sting. Sensitive skin will often feel clean and a bit dry after washing but the cleanser may trigger itching and irritation. When this happens frequently and with a range of products, it is a sign of sensitive skin.
Building Your Skincare Routine
Ok, now that you have some clues about your skin type, let’s go over the basics of building a routine. There are two times throughout your day that you are going to want to think about your skincare. In the morning and in the evening before bed.
Steps to a Nighttime Skincare Routine
Let’s start by going over the steps in a basic nighttime skincare routine:
The first step in your nighttime skincare routine is going to be cleansing and I am a HUGE proponent of Double Cleansing. The idea is that you start with an oil based cleanser that is going to break down the makeup, oil, and sunscreen on your skin. I personally hate the feeling of actual oil on my skin, and have steered more toward oil cleansing balms as I feel they work better for me.
Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm: My favorite oil based cleanser is this cleansing balm by Then I Met You. I have found that it works extremely well at removing makeup, dirt and impurities and leaves skin feeling soft and moisturized. It also has a citrusy scent that I’m obsessed with.
And if you’re not a fan or oil cleansers don’t work well for you, consider using a micellar water. Micellar water is a mild concentration of soap or detergent molecules suspended in water. They work very well as a makeup removing step, and can be used as the first step in your cleansing routine.
Bioderma Sensibio H2O: I’ve only got one micellar water recommendation, and that’s because this one is the best:
This is the Bioderma micellar water, and the one with the pink cap is for sensitive skin: All of Bioderma’s micellar waters only use one single surfactant, that delicately cleanse the skin, in a non-aggressive way.
Your next step is going to be a water based gel or lotion cleanser. This is going to be important to remove any residual oil from the oil cleanser, and any remaining makeup or dirt from your skin.
iS Clinical Cleansing Complex: This is going to be a good general recommendation for pretty much all skin types. It has some additional makeup removing properties so this would be good if you wear heavy makeup to remove anything left behind from your oil cleanser. It’s going to be deep cleansing with some light exfoliating, but won’t be too harsh for dry or sensitive skin.
First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser: If you’re into a more creamy, and foamy cleansing experience, this is it. This cleanser lathers but keeps it’s rich silky texture. I bought this cleanser on a whim and have been absolutely loving it. As someone with dry and sensitive skin, I don’t find it stripping or irritating at all, but leaves my skin feeling sufficiently cleansed.
Epionce Lytic Gel Cleanser: Best for Acne Prone Skin. This cleanser is STRONG. Proceed with caution if you have dry or sensitive skin. This cleanser is going to be best for those that want to kick there oil to the curb. It’s a super popular cleanser for acne prone skin, and is an award winning cleanser for a reason.
Step 3: Exfoliate as Needed
There are two type of exfoliants, physical and chemical.
Physical or manual exfoliants are going to be products that physically slough off the top layers of your skin. They are going to have grainy or sandy texture, and will act like a scrub. These are often harsh, and typically not recommended for the face.
Chemical exfoliants work best. They dissolve the bonds between the dead skin cells, helping with cellular turnover leaving your skin feeling smooth.
FREQUENCY: This is NOT a step you should do every night, but just a few nights a week as needed for your skin. When your skin starts to look dull, and textured, you will know it’s time to exfoliate. If you over do it on the exfoliating, you will end up with irritated and inflamed skin.
Which Exfoliants Should I Use?
Ok, so what chemical exfoliants should I use?
Glycolic Acid is best for anti-aging and sun damage.
Lactic Acid is more gentle and best for pigmentation.
Salicylic Acid is best for pores, pigmentation and acne.
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner: As I mentioned glycolic acid is best for anti-aging and sun damage. This is an extremely affordable and effective exfoliating toner. It is on the stronger side at 7% so keep that in mind.
Paula’s Choice Salicylic Acid: best for pigmentation, acne and pores. This is a super popular cult classic product and is often touted as the best salicylic acid toner on the market.
First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads: Another great option for getting exfoliating acids into your routine, is to use exfoliating pads. These are going to have glycolic acid, lactic acid and are safe for sensitive skin.
Step 4: Hydrating Mist or Serum (Optional)
This step is not necessary, but can be done if needed. Mist your face, or use hydrating essences or hyaluronic acid if you are dry and need the extra moisture.
Even though it has the word acid in it. Hyaluronic acid is actual not and exfoliating ingredient, but a hydrating ingredient.
Hyaluronic acid can draw water into your skin helping it maintain and hold on to moisture.
Skinceuticals H. A. Intensifier: This unique formulation contains a high concentration of pure hyaluronic acid, Proxylane™, and botanical extracts of licorice root and purple rice to support the skin’s hyaluronic acid levels. It is pretty spendy, however so keep that in mind.
CeraVe Hydrating Toner: This is an amazing and affordable hydrating toner by CeraVe. With ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide this lightweight toner helps soften and smooth skin while locking in moisture. It can be found at any drugstore.
Step 5: Treatment Products
This step in your skincare routine is going to be any treatment products, prescription products, or serums.
You don’t have to include any serums or treatment products in your routine, but If you have any specific skin concerns like redness, pigmentation, or anti-aging this is where you would include them.
If you want to keep your routine simple, but still include a treatment product I highly recommend adding a Vitamin A product – either a retinol or Tretinoin.
Tretinoin is a prescriptions strength form of vitamin A. It’s great for anti-aging, cell turnover, and strengthening skin over time.
Retinol: Or if you are looking for something over the counter, you can look for a product with Retinol, which is a natural derivative of vitamin A. It’s going to be less irritating and is a great place to start if you are knew to using vitamin A products.
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum: With encapsulated retinol, this serum helps skin look smoother and more even-toned. Pore-minimizing serum for face helps refine skin’s texture over time and helps visibly reduce the appearance of post-acne marks.
Step 6: Moisturizer
This is where knowing your skin type is going to come in handy in choosing the right moisturizer to add to your skincare routine. If you have oily skin, you would want to choose a very lightweight moisturizer.
For Example, if you have dry skin, you want to include a moisturizer that is heavy and going to lock in moisture overnight. Our skin loses moisture as we sleep through the night, so in general it’s best to go heavier on the moisturizer overnight.
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion: This is going to be a great moisturizer you can find at any drug store. I would consider this a middle of the road moisturizer in terms of hydration. As someone with dry skin, I don’t find it rich enough to get my skin through the night and I tend to use this more in the daytime.
Epionce Renewal Facial Cream: I like Epionce moisturizers because they make one for every skin type. You can get super light moisturizers, all the way to extremely rich and calming for compromised and dry skin. This one is amazing, but on the spendy side.
Epionce Renewal Calming Cream: For night, I use this moisturizer. It’s extremely rich and hydrating but works really great for maintaining moisture overnight. It also doesn’t have any fragrance or active ingredients making it good for sensitive skin. You get much more bang for your buck with this product!
Purito Dermide Relief Barrier Moisturizer: Simply formulated, packed with ceramides and deeply hydrating. This moisturizer reduces redness and repairs a compromised skin barrier.
Steps to a Daytime Skincare Routine:
Step 1: Wash With Just Water
Or a gentle cleanser as needed. If you can avoid a cleanser in the morning, that would be ideal as we want to avoid your skin feeling stripped.
However, if you are super oily or feel you need to cleanse in the morning choose something gentle like a lotion based cleanser.
Vitamin C is good for ANY skin type. If you don’t have a vitamin c in your moisturizer, then add one into your skincare routine as a serum. Look for a product with L-Ascorbic acid as this is the pure and active form of vitamin c.
Side Note: If you are using L-Ascorbic Acid, do not use with benzoyl peroxide or copper peptides as they can inactivate your vitamin c. Just use those at night instead.
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic: This is a tried and true vitamin C. A patented daytime vitamin C serum that delivers advanced environmental protection and improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, loss of firmness, and brightens skin’s complexion. It’s a cult classic, but comes with a pretty intense price tag.
Timeless Skin Care’s 20% Vitamin C + E + Ferulic Acid Serum: Brightens skin, builds collagen, and evens out tone. This is going to be a great dupe for the Skinceuticles vitamin C if you are looking for something more affordable.
Because of the low PH of Ascorbic Acid, it may be difficult to use for those with sensitive skin. In this case, look for an alternative form of vitamin c, like:
Tetrahexadecyl ascorbate. This alternative form of Vitamin C is lotion based and much more gentle for sensitive skin.
Revision C+ Correcting Complex: Is an option for those that cannot tolerate l-ascorbic acid. It’s a lotion based consistency and great for sensitive or dry skin. It’s a medical grade skincare product and does come with the pricetag to match. I’ve used this one, and I highly recommend it, if it’s in your price range.
Paula’s Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum: Highly stable blend of oil- and water-soluble vitamin C protects skin from free radicals & releases slowly into the skin, helping it be more resilient to UV exposure.
Step 3: Moisturize
Typically with a lighter weight moisturizer like a gel moisturizer for daytime. Your skin doesn’t lose as much moisture during the day, so you can usually get away with something lighter than you would use at night.
If you are oily or have normal skin, may be able to skip this step and go right into the next step.
Versed Dew Point Moisturizing Gel-Cream: This lightweight moisturizing gel-cream with a jelly-like texture absorbs instantly and disappears into your skin, leaving it feeling refreshed, never greasy. This is one of the best moisturizers I’ve added to my skincare routine.
Rovectin Calming Lotus Cream: Is a sensitive, dry or oily skin friendly moisturizer. Gentle but with just the right amount of hydration leaving skin feeling refreshed with no greasy residue. Blends well with other skincare products and make up, making it truly a daily cream.
Step 4: Sunscreen
This is a NON negotiable step in your skincare routine, that should be done every morning, rain or shine. I highly, highly, highly recommend you look for a:
physical sunscreen (with zinc and titanium) vs a chemical sunscreen (as some of the chemical sunscreen ingredients have been shown to cause cancer.) So let’s just go ahead and avoid those.
Epionce Daily Shield Lotion Tinted SPF 50: Is a sheer, hydrating sunscreen that lends a subtle, healthy-looking glow. This broad-spectrum sunscreen is formulated with botanical ingredients and antioxidants that delay signs of aging. Gentle enough for sensitive skin types, this lightweight product can be worn alone or underneath makeup.
SkinCeuticals’ Physical Fusion UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50 not only provides broad-spectrum sun protection from both burning and aging sun rays, but it also offers a universal tint that enhances your skin tone and boosts radiance.
Kinship Self Reflect Sunscreen is a sheer, lightweight, 100% mineral SPF 32 sun protectant suitable for both face and body. Serving as a moisturizer, primer, and SPF all at once, it effortlessly blends into the skin, leaving you hydrated, shielded, and with a radiant, blurred glow.
And there you have it. A simple, but effective skincare routine with all the necessary foundational steps.
Skincare does NOT need to be complicated. You can absolutely have a very effective skin care routine that combats anti-aging, acne, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, any everything in between.
If you have any skin care questions or concern, please leave them in the comments below and I would love to follow up.
