Moisturisers, cleansers, face masks… It can all be a lot. Especially if the extent of your skincare routine has previously been splashing your face with water and maybe slapping on a bit of Sorbolene when it’s felt dry.
But skincare doesn’t have to be confusing, nor does it have to involve a million and one steps that keeps you in the bathroom for an hour each morning and night. To help you out, we break down a simple, yet effective skincare routine you’ll actually enjoy doing everyday to keep your skin feeling clean, refreshed and nourished.
The best singular skincare product for each age group
Your morning skincare routine
Cleanser
After brushing your teeth, splash your face with water to begin your morning routine. Water should be enough however if you feel like your skin needs something extra to wash away the dirt, sweat and bacteria from the night before, you may choose to cleanse both morning and night.
Before selecting the right cleanser for you, have a think about what kind of skin type you have. Is it dry? Oily? A bit of both? Or is it sensitive? This will help determine what kind of product will work best for you.
For oily skin, a gel-based cleanser will work best. Dry or sensitive skins will benefit from a cream or oil-based cleanser. A cleansing milk is also a good option for most types of skin.
Serums
While this step is totally optional, serums are a great way to target any areas of concerns such as spots, dryness or fine lines. Vitamin C and Hyaluronic acid are two simple and user-friendly serums you can start with if you’re new to this world.
Vitamin C will boost collagen production and brighten the skin, while Hyaluronic acid will give your complexion a boost of hydration. Niacinamide is also another ingredient you can introduce to your morning routine. It will reduce the appearance of pores while evening out the skin tone. Your choice in serums will be based on your personal skin concerns.
Moisturisers
Now to lock everything in. Moisturisers will (unsurprisingly) moisturise your skin to keep your face looking nourished and supple. It will help moisture loss throughout the day, act as a physical barrier against pollutants and is also a great way to prepare your skin for makeup application.
Depending on your skin type, you may want to choose a lighter moisturiser in the morning, compared to something that’s a little heavier for your nighttime routine.
SPF
Arguably the most important step on your morning routine is the layer of SPF. Be sure to opt for something with at least 30 or 50 SPF to protect your face and neck from harmful UV rays. You can opt for a regular face sunscreen or one with a tint to add a bit of colour to the complexion.
Once you’ve applied your SPF, you’re free to put on any makeup if you’re wearing.
Your nighttime skincare routine
Cleanser
Now it’s onto the nighttime routine. We like to begin by brushing our teeth first and splashing our face with water (the same as what we did in the morning). If you wear makeup, it’s a good idea to come in with a cleanser that will break down tough makeup products without aggravating the skin. Otherwise choose an all-round gentle cleanser that will leave your skin feeling cleansed. This can be the same cleanser you used into the morning so there’s no need to purchase two seperate products.
If you’re committed, we’d recommend double cleansing your skin—a technique that involves cleansing your skin twice (pretty self explanatory!) This ensures a super clean surface free of makeup, oil and dirt from the day.
Serums
Your skin will naturally repair and regenerate while you sleep, so using serums at night time are a great way to enhance absorption. Retinol is a popular nighttime ingredient as it boosts skin cell turnover and collagen production.
Other ingredients like retinoid and AHAs/BHAs can increase your sensitivity to the sun so these are best used during the night. Retinoids can improve the appearance of fine lines, while AHAs/BHAs are chemical exfoliants that remove dead skin cells and similarly promote cell turnover.
Like your morning serums, this step is optional however we do recommend using these ingredients if wrinkles, a damaged skin barrier, uneven texture and uneven tone are concerning to you.
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Moisturisers
Like the moisturiser you choose to use in the morning, it should be super nourishing and help to hydrate the face, neck and décolletage.
If you feel like your skin is particularly dry and flaky, you may opt for a richer, thicker formula to support your skin’s natural repair and regeneration processes while you sleep.
Optional skincare steps for your routine
Face masks
As a bonus, face masks are a great addition to your skincare routine. Depending on the product, you can use these 2-3 times per week to give your skin an added boost, or it could just be a fun thing to do to help you unwind after a busy week.
There are SO many different masks to choose from. From sheet masks and gel masks to ones you wash off the next morning, have a think about what you want to target (dryness, dullness, skin elasticity) when choosing what’s best for you.
Eye cream
There are generally two schools of thoughts when it comes to eye cream: people who think they’re necessary and people who think they aren’t.
For those who think they aren’t needed, moisturisers will do the trick however many stand by the importance of a good eye cream. It’s really up to you if you think they’re worth it for your skin.
Eye creams are creams targeted to the delicate under eye area designed to hydrate, reduce puffiness and even minimise dark circles.
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