Recently, a couple of my
friends have asked for my advice concerning their skin. I usually ask what the
problem is and what products they are using, but the usual answer these days
seems to be “Just face wipes”, to which I respond with silent shock before
crying “That’s it?!” Let’s face it, some people have immaculate skin and do
absolutely nothing for it. For the not so fortunate, we have to work hard to keep
our skin looking good. However, I think those bad habits will eventually bite
you in the arse (probably in the form of fine lines and dull looking skin). So for my friends, and anyone else who wants
to start looking after their skin before dealing with irreversible damage, I
thought I would post this beginners guide to building a basic skincare routine.
Cleanse
Your skin picks up a lot of dirt and grime throughout the
day (including makeup), so it's probably a good idea to wash it every morning
and night. Unfortunately water doesn't cut it, like dirty dishes, our skin
needs something a little more concentrated to help clear out our pores. And as
for packaged face wipes, I would recommend leaving those for traveling or days
you have no access to clean water. They contain heaps of alcohol that strip the
natural oils and PH levels of your skin. Instead I would opt for a micellar
water (Bioderma, Garnier, La Roche Possay). With a few wipes it will remove 98%
of your makeup and it’s much gentler on your skin.
Exfoliate
Twice a week, usually after you cleanse, you can exfoliate.
This removes all the dead skin cells that have built up over the last few days,
it encourages cell turnover and also brightens dull, and sluggish looking skin.
Some exfoliators have beads or grains that loosen the dead skin, and
because they can be quite harsh on the skin should only be used twice a week at
most.
Tone (Optional)
Straight after cleansing you can use a toner. A toner
removes all the leftover dirt, makeup, and any residue left after cleansing.
Personally I don't like toners, particularly western ones. Like face wipes,
they contain a lot of alcohol that strip your skin. In Asia, they have 'essences', which are used the same way as toners, but usually work to put back the moisture that was lost after cleansing. Interesting, hey? Regardless of skin type, I recommend something with more moisturising properties, or a toner without alcohol at least.
Treat
A treatment product, which comes in multiple forms like
a serum, concentrate, or oil, targets a very specific concern in a way the
products above cannot. Whether its acne, wrinkles, pigmentation, or dehydration,
there’s something for everything. I personally think rose-hip oil is a great
treatment to start off with, it's one of those all-rounder products that treats
acne, sun damage, it has anti-aging properties, and it's organic!
Moisturise
The fourth and final step in any routine is to
moisturise. Not only does it restore moisture to your skin, keeping it soft,
smooth, and young looking, it also acts as a barrier to protect skin from daily
grime and pollution.
Masks (Optional)
Masks aren't always necessary,
but sometimes they’re just nice to use. They usually take a bit of time to dry
or penetrate the skin (10-30 minutes, sometimes overnight) and can be really
good for winding down in the evening. Like serums, there are many different products
for different problems. If you have blackheads or suffer from breakouts, clay
masks are great at drawing out impurities. For those with dry, dehydrated skin
there are sleeping packs that you can apply over your moisturiser and leave overnight.
For everything else there’s cloth masks, not the most glamorous looking, but
damn does your skin feel good afterwards.
Unfortunately, it’s
virtually impossible to tell someone what to use and what would work well for
their skin, so finding the right products take time and money, so it’s always
important to do a bit of research before forking out all of your hard-earned
money.
Hope this helps!
Tegan
