Having healthy glowing skin is something to aspire to. Besides the many compliments, healthy skin prevents skin conditions, boosts confidence, and can even get you discounts on everything from groceries to air-cooled chillers! While there’s something to be said for genetics, a major key to having beautiful glowing skin is having a skincare care routine. But, there are hundreds of tips, tricks, and conflicting advice about developing a skincare routine, so it can be confusing to know what to do for your skin.
Here are some tips for developing a skincare routine that’s unique to you.
Figure Out Your Skin Type
Your skin type will determine the kinds of products to include in your routine as more and more products are now made for specific skin types. For example, hyaluronic acid is an essential addition for people with dry skin. So figuring out what category your skin falls in is the first step in developing a unique and effective skincare routine.
Skin types can be categorized into five primary categories: oily, dry, normal, combination, and sensitive. There are different methods for determining your skin type.
An easy but effective method to try is the blotting method. This requires pressing blotting paper all over your freshly cleansed face and examining the results in the light. If the sheet shows excess oil you have an oily face, if there’s little to no oil you have dry skin, and if there’s oil from the t zone area you have combination skin.
Test Products
Most skincare brands give out free samples- even the big names- and you should take advantage of this to test out products before you commit. You don’t want to spend money on a popular serum and be unable to use it because it irritates your skin.
- Pick a test spot. Preferably inaccessible spots like the inside of your elbow or the underside of your arm.
- Apply the same quantity of product you would typically use to the test spot.
- Leave it for as long as you normally should. For example, cleansers typically stay on the skin for 5 minutes before they’re washed off.
- If there are no rashes, itchiness, redness, or swelling after 7 to 10 days of repeated use, go ahead and buy it.
Know the Correct Steps
Once you figure out your skin type and the complementary products that don’t irritate your skin- it’s important to learn the correct step routine. Otherwise, you won’t get the full benefits of each product.
The general rule of thumb for applying skincare products is lightest first and heaviest last because thinner products are unable to penetrate thicker products. Thus, the steps of a basic routine should be – cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen in that order.
However, there are a lot more products to apply these days and if you prefer an extensive routine, a more comprehensive step structure will be:
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Serums
- Eye cream
- Spot treatment
- Moisturizer
- Face oil
- Sunscreen
Even with good genes, having healthy glowing skin takes dedication. By following these tips for buying the right products and the correct routine your skin will soon be the envy of everyone.
