Noelia Garone – May 2022
SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR BEGINNERS - A DEFINITIVE GUIDE
The skincare market has boomed in the last few years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we all witnessed dozens of videos of celebrities and influencers showing off their skincare routines or trying out new products. Many women and girls started their skincare routines or improved them during the global pandemic lockdown. Self-care has become an important buzz word in these difficult times.
While this is a great opportunity since it gives us a variety of new ingredients and formulations, this can be really overwhelming for the consumer - especially a newbie.
Getting started with skincare is a smart decision, but then you realise that there is too much information and too many different products on offer: there are fifty steps and forty types of creams, and that can overwhelm you and take away your desire to start.
Each person has unique skin —and thus different skin issues, concerns and needs-. However, some skin routine rules generally apply across the board. These are known as the basics, and here you can learn what they are and get skincare tips that apply to all of us, novices, and experts alike. If you are not confident about how to put together a skincare routine, or you're looking to brush up on the basics, here is your beginner's guide to skincare.
Let's cut the chitchat and get started!
- 4 TIPS BEFORE START
- Dermatologist wanted!
First of all, remember that it is always best to see a dermatologist. A skin specialist is a right person to guide you through your first steps in skincare, and to determine your skin type, condition and needs.
- Learning before starting: your skin type
To kick off a skincare routine, it is important to be aware of your skin type.
There are four skin types and all of them have specific requirements:
- Normal skin
- Dry skin
- Oily skin
- Combination skin
Besides a visit to a specialist, you can browse a variety of websites to help you determine your skin type.
For example, Eucerin offers a handy guide to identifying your skin type.
- Less is more – keep it simple
Put together -and stick to- a simple daily routine. In creating your first skin-care routine, keep it simple.
With the wide diversity and variety of products, it is always tempting to buy more.
But the most important skin-care advice would be to start with your basics and expand as you see fit.
Let's make it as basic as possible. As you get used to the routine, you can add more things.
- Discipline, discipline, and more discipline!
Be consistent.
It can be hard sometimes, when we're running late, to think about doing the nightly routine, but consistency is what will get us results. Skincare is an investment in the long run. ⠀
- THE 3 STEPS ON THE ROUTINE
You've probably heard of serums, creams, exfoliators, contouring, essences, cleansers, oils and more. But what should we use, in what order, and when?
Only 3 steps are a must in any routine. Then you can gradually add more steps depending on what you need and your persistence.
But, which of all are the 3 steps? CLEAN, MOISTURISE and PROTECT. That is all about.
- CLEAN
Cleansing is the first and crucial step. We need a cleanser that removes creams, make-up, sunscreen and accumulated dirt.
It sets the skin up for moisturising and all the other steps included in the routine.
There are different cleansing products to wash our face at the beginning and the end of the day: gels, cleansing milks, micellar water, oils, etc. To start off with, the best choice may be a gentle skin cleansing gel.
- MOISTURISE
A proper moisturiser is a must to protect the natural skin barrier, hydrate the skin and deliver the necessary lipids throughout both day and night.
Over time, skin naturally loses its ability to lock in moisture, as day-to-day activities, such as washing and external stressors, can cause the skin to deplete its natural moisturisers.
Moisturisers assist in preventing water loss through the outer layers of skin by hydrating and soften the skin.
For beginners, the same moisturiser can be used both day and night. However, day and night creams have different functions according to the needs of each time of the day. Day creams are designed to protect the skin from the environmental stresses we face away from home. They may contain antioxidants to minimise free radicals from pollution and sunscreen to protect you from ultraviolet radiation. They are usually light in consistency. On the other side, night creams target damage repair with ingredients such as retinol to accelerate cell renewal and counteract dark spots. These creams also replenish moisture levels by using emollients that provide a rich, thick texture.
The choice of moisturiser will depend on your skin type, age, needs and skin conditions, etc. Many options are there!
By night, here is when your routine comes to an end. Easy peasy, just two steps.
- PROTECT
If it is daytime, always use sunscreen. Specialists call sun protection "the most important anti-ageing product".
Using sunscreen not only protects us from skin cancer but also prevents wrinkles, facial blemishes, dark circles under the eyes, etc. It is absolutely imperative.
When should we use it? 365 days a year. A product that doctors recommend using all year round for all skin types. If we don't use sunscreen, no miracle cream will repair the permanent damage caused by the sun. Using sunscreen is the best way to prevent ageing.
Simply by following these three steps you will be ready to jump-start your skincare routine. Gradually, you can introduce exfoliators, serums, contours, etc. But first, you should focus on having the essentials and sticking to them.
- THE 6 CLASSIC BEGINNER SKINCARE MISTAKES
Last but not least, a few common running on beginner's mistakes that any healthy routine should steer clear of.
Here a quickly list!
- To over-washing the face. We have started the routine, we get into it, and now we wash our face ten times a day because we trust it will be cleaner. Excessive washing of the face dries out the skin as well as makes it greasy. Twice a day will be plenty enough. This also applies to exfoliation. Start with a gentle product just once a week.
- All in one go. Yes, it is such a temptation. There is too much variety of products and ingredients in fancy packaging, and we want it all at once. However, using different new products once is not a good decision. It takes time for the skin to get used to the products. If we put on several new ones at once, we won't know how each one works. Also, if our skin reacts, we won't know what product provoked that.
- To apply more than enough product. For a product to work and work well, it must be applied sparingly. Here is a practical guide to quantities:
- For creams (feet, body, hands), the size of a pea.
- For moisturisers, serums, contouring or facials treatments: the size of a grain of rice.
- For cleansers, toners and masks: the size of a grape.
- Carry out the entire routine right before bedtime. It is necessary to let the products have time for the skin to absorb them. Otherwise, they will remain on the pillow. One hour before going to bed is enough.
- Forget the neck and décolleté. It is part of the routine, so do not overlook it. You can apply the same products as for the face.
You now have all you need to tackle your skincare routine. Ready to get started?
Let us know!