Daily skincare routine. These three words have several perceptions associated with them. While some consider this a luxury, others remain aloof about its significance in your life. Unlike popular belief, a daily skincare routine has little to do with vanity and more with maintaining healthy skin.
It helps hydrate your skin and prevents acne, wrinkles, and other dermatological diseases. If you stick to a good skincare routine, over time, your skin becomes healthier, looks more youthful, and positively impacts your overall body health. Now that you know the benefits of skincare at a superficial level, let’s dive in deeper and understand what makes up a good skincare routine and how it affects you.
The Basics of a Daily Skincare Routine
Any skincare routine begins with the fundamentals. This includes 3 crucial steps: cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. Let us understand what entails each of these.
Cleansing
Every day your skin comes in contact with pollutants, dust, and several other elements that make your skin oily and dirty. Your skin comprises pores that get clogged with such impurities and need to be cleaned. For this, you must first wash your face. It’s the very first step you must take before applying anything to your skin. Wash your face twice a day.
Next is the use of facial cleansers. Facial cleansers are solutions or compositions designed to clean your skin. It helps unclog your pores, clean impurities such as oil and dirt, and also helps with removing dead skin cells from your face. However, cleansers are not a one-size-fits-all formula. Several types of cleansers are available based on your skin type. Here are a few you must know:
|
Skin Type |
Cleanser Type |
How It Helps |
|
Oily or Acne-prone |
Liquid Foam |
The foam breaks the dirt down in the pores |
|
Sensitive |
Oil |
The oil absorbs the oils from your skin. Ensure it is lightweight, non-comedogenic, well-tolerated, and has moisturizing capabilities. |
|
Mature |
Melting Balm |
The balm melts into a liquid and dissolves the impurities and heavy makeup when rubbed on the skin. |
|
Dry, Red, or, Eczema-prone |
Cream or Lotion |
The emollients in these can wipe away the impurities and hydrate the skin. |
|
Any Type |
Micellar Water |
These comprise formulations that attract all kinds of impurities and oils to your skin. |
Note: Depending on the cleanser you use, you need to rub these on your face, massage your skin, or simply swipe them across your face with/without rinsing them.
Toning
After cleansing your skin comes the second step, toning. Toning and toners can be considered a tool to offer an extra layer of replenishment for your skin. Different types of toners have different purposes based on the toner you use.
Generally, toners remove excess dirt, oil, makeup, and other impurities, thus balancing skin pH. Furthermore, they hydrate the skin without robbing it of natural nourishing agents.
People sometimes also confuse astringents with toners. While astringents are alcohol-based, toners are not. Using the former will dry your skin and might irritate it if you have sensitive or dry skin. These are suitable for oily skin and are more potent compared to toners. Toners are suitable for all skin types and comprise hydrating and skin-nourishing agents.
You can apply toner with your hands or use a cotton pad. If you use a cotton pad, gently dampen it with the toner and swipe it over your face. However, ensure it doesn’t absorb the toner before reaching your skin. Using bare hands is the best way to go about applying a toner. Use a few drops on your palm and swipe it over your face. Besides this, you can also use a spray bottle to spray your face with the toner. Again, ensure you don’t overdo it, and let the air dry it out.
Moisturizing
Finally, the third step in your daily skincare routine must be moisturization. As the name suggests, the general role of moisturizer is to hydrate your skin and prevent water loss from the outer layers of your skin. It can also work with the naturally available oil in your skin and enhance hydration. Like cleansers and toners, even moisturizers differ based on your skin type.
|
Skin Type |
Moisturizer Type |
How It Helps |
|
Dry |
Cream or Soft Cream |
Creams comprise oils necessary for dry skin as they require a higher level of moisturization. |
|
Oily |
Gel |
Gels are water-based and lightweight, making them more suitable for oily skin types. |
|
Normal |
Lotion |
These are conventional moisturizers that normal skin can absorb well. |
|
Sensitive |
Balm |
The emollients in these can wipe away the impurities and hydrate the skin. |
To apply moisturizer, you must first dampen your skin. This helps lock in the moisturizer you apply. Rub gently on your face with an optimum amount of moisturizer in your palms. Ensure your strokes cover more surface area. Another important thing is that you must reach all parts of your face, including your hairline, neck, and ears. Move your palms upwards to give a lifting effect. If you use gel or water-based products, move your palms in a circular motion. On the other hand, if you use creams, pat them gently on your skin. In any case, do not press hard.
Additional Steps for an Enhanced Skincare Routine
Now that you’ve understood the basics of a skincare routine let’s move on to other aspects of enriching and protecting your skin.
Exfoliation
Exfoliation is like the deep-cleaning process. Cleansers can only work on surface-level impurities such as oil, dirt, and makeup. However, exfoliation gets deeper into the skin and cleans it. Furthermore, it removes dead skin cells and the top layer to make your skin look smoother and radiant. Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells, allowing other products to get deeper into your skin and increase their impact.
Broadly there are two types of exfoliators:
Physical: These comprise grains and nuts that, when rubbed on your skin, remove the dirt and impurities stuck deeper in the pores of your skin. You can apply these using fingertips, mitts, or a cleansing brush.
Chemical: These comprise acids that dissolve dead skin cells. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are the two main acids to look out for. AHAs break the bond between the dead skin cells and make it easier for you to scrub them away. BHAs cut through oily follicles and penetrate deeply while cleaning your pores. Based on your skin type, you can either use AHA-based exfoliators or BHA-based exfoliators or ones that comprise both chemicals.
Although each skin differs, ideally, you must use exfoliators once a week. Ensure that you do not rub too hard or don’t use exfoliators that are suitable for your skin type. You must gently rub the physical exfoliator on your skin in a circular motion. On the other hand, you must apply chemical exfoliators and leave them on for a short period. Besides these, always follow the instructions on the package as they will be precise and help you get the best out of the products.
Sun Protection
Sun protection is a crucial aspect of skincare. You must apply sunscreens daily, even if you’re not stepping out, as they protect your skin from UV rays. UV rays cause wrinkling, aging, hyperpigmentation, and more such issues. These and several other problems can be avoided by applying sunscreen.
While choosing the sunscreen, you must take into account your skin type. Select one that says broad spectrum, as it will protect you from UVA and UVB rays. Always choose sunscreens with SPF higher than 30. The higher the number, the more protection your skin will get. Your sunscreen must be water resistant as it must stay intact even while you sweat or go for a swim. Besides these, choose the sunscreen that works best for you. Here are a few tips and tricks to do so.
Eye Care
People tend to forget the tiny areas underneath their eyes when it comes to skin. Eyecare is an equally important part of the routine as physical and mental stress can impact them. Puffiness of eyes, dark circles, and more indicate lack of sleep, overworking, or fatigue. Here’s how you can take care of them.
First, choose a suitable cream for your eyes.
- If you have fine lines or crow’s feet, choose creams that contain potent antioxidants.
- For dark circles, choose ones that have brightening agents such as Vitamin C and licorice.
- If you face puffiness, choose creams infused with caffeine.
- If your skin is dry, use creams with hydrating agents.
While applying, take a couple of drops and apply the cream underneath your eyes gently. Ensure you move from the inner corner of the eye to the outer. Wait for a few moments for the skin to absorb it slowly. After that, gently massage your skin from the inner side to the outer. Be gentle, as the skin here is fragile, and use a roll-on if you have to.
Tips and Tricks for an Effective Skincare Routine
Consistency is key
Any practice must be consistent for it to impact whatever you do. In this case, if you want your skin to be healthier, radiant, and youthful, have a proper skin routine you follow daily. Ensure that you set times or periods of the day for your skin. This can be part of your me time and that part of your day you do nothing but take care of yourself, particularly your skin.
Know your skin type
Before you understand any of this, you must understand yourself. It’s a cliche line to use, but true and effective. Know your skin type and understand what works and doesn’t. Once you do so, selecting the right products becomes easier, and you don’t waste too much time or money experimenting.
Understanding ingredient labels
Ingredient labels are an essential part of your selection. The better you understand what certain ingredients do, the better it is for you to choose the right product. Based on your skin type, you will know if you feel irritated or if your skin has an abnormal reaction to some products. Find out the ingredients behind the same, and stick to the products that do not have them.
Commonly, skincare products have hydrating agents, nourishing agents, and chemicals that can keep your skin healthy. However, several ingredients might not work for oily skin or sensitive skin. So, find out what those are from this guide, and go for products that suit you best.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to see results from a daily skincare routine?
Early results can be seen after 28 days, and after following the routine judiciously for 4 months, you will likely see a change in your skin texture and overall health.
Can I skip steps in my skincare routine if I’m short on time?
You might always have something going on every single day. But do not skip your routine altogether; you won’t see the impact if you’re inconsistent. You can skip intensive parts such as exfoliation on certain days, but your basic routine must be followed.
What should I do if my skin reacts negatively to a product?
Understand the ingredients it has and the type of your skin. Then, find out which component caused the issue, and going forward, use products that do not have the ingredient.
Is it necessary to have a separate nighttime skincare routine?
Yes, nighttime skincare routines are necessary. Your skin overnight removes dead skin cells and repairs your skin. If the pores are clogged, and the skin isn’t cleansed, it becomes difficult for the natural nourishing process to occur.
Conclusion
In summary, a daily skincare routine can enhance your skin’s health, make it look youthful, and prevent several skin-related issues such as flakiness, hyperpigmentation, wrinkling, and more. While curating your skincare regimen, understand your skin type, find out what works for you, and stick to it. Do not spend too much time and energy on experimentation, as it will deteriorate the quality of your skin.