How To Build The Perfect Skincare Routine For Your Skin

 

 

 

Hey, pretty people!

 

I have realized that I keep bringing DIY skincare solutions, but I have never really touched the ‘skincare routine’ topic.

There are so many recipes and reviews online, but before jumping into any of them you should ask yourself a couple of questions; is this good for my skin type? How can I implement it into my skincare regime?

This guide will be filled with many different infos, all of them crucial to building your routine. Grab a snack, it’s going to be a long one.

Let’s get started!

 

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BEFORE GETTING STARTED: IDENTIFYING YOUR SKIN TYPE

Truthfully, this is an essential step; you really shouldn’t invest in any product before knowing this!

There are a total of 6 skintypes: oily, dry, combination, normal, acne-prone and sensitive. Let’s break every single one of them down.

 

OILY

This is one of the most obvious skin types out there. The skin looks quite shiny, and the pores appear larger and definitely more visible; it tends to be a bit acne and blemish-prone as well. Also, it feels a bit slick to the touch – especially at the end of the day.

 

DRY

To be fair, this is also a type pretty easy to identify. The skin may present dry patches on its surface, to the point of them being flakey; consequently, it may feel itchy. Also, it could present a dull and lucklustre appearance.

 

COMBINATION

The thing about combination skin is that it could lean both ways: either oily or dry. Combo to oily skin types present a oily T-zone (nose and forehead) and dry (or normal) on the cheeks; combo to dry skin, on the other hand, presents a normal (to oily) T-zone and dry cheeks. Also, the pores could be slightly enlarged.

 

NORMAL

All of us wish we could have been blessed with this skin type, but we didn’t. Having a normal skin type means your complexion does not suffer from any conditions, like acne or more serious stuff, and it usually looks pleasantly dewy and glowy.

 

ACNE-PRONE

This is quite similar to a sensitive skin type, actually. Acne-Prone complexions tend to breakout with new skincare and makeup products, but that could also be a result of some sort of hormonal imbalance (or sensitivity in general). It’s usually a combination-to-oily skin type.

 

SENSITIVE

Your skin doesn’t really have to break out completely for it to be labeled ‘sensitive’. In fact, if it’s not getting covered in annoying pimples, it could become very dry. Another distinctive feature is that it can become red (or even hot) when touched, and it could be itchy as well.

 

 

STEP #0: MAKEUP REMOVER

This is crucial, and should always be your priority when it comes to skincare. It doesn’t matter if you want to do a full routine or not: removing your makeup is essential.

Why is this so important? Keeping your makeup on will enhance the chances of your skin breaking out, clogging pores and preventing it from breathing and restoring itself throughout the night.

There are hundreds of makeup removers on the market right now, so feel free to pick whichever better suits your skin’s needs. I would recommend Garnier’s Pure Active Micellar Water (for oily/combo-to-oily skin) and Nivea’s Micellair Micellar Water (for sensitive skin types).

 

STEP #1: CLEANSER

You could easily merge this and the previous step together, but I personally prefer to keep them separated; this way I will be certain to remove every single particle of makeup from my face. It’s an everyday practice for me, and it should be for you, too.

Cleansing your skin is the first step towards a better looking complexion, and it’s also a great addition if you need to remove stubborn makeup stains. Moreover, a good cleanser will be able to remove dirt and oils from the face, as well as cleanse your pores.

The only cleanser I would feel like recommending is ‘Purity Made Simple‘ by Philosophy; however, it’s a bit pricey – especially for people who are just starting out with skincare. Your local drugstore probably has a cheap and valid option for a lot less, so I would advise you to go check there!

 

STEP #2: EXFOLIATOR

The first thing I would whole-heartedly suggest you is to pick a gentle and mild exfoliator, no matter your skin type. Even if your complexion isn’t the most sensitive out there, you are working on a very sensitive part of your body – so it’s always better to be safer than sorry.

Exfoliating the complexion is essential to remove dead (and, potentially, dry) skin cells; subsequently, this will unclog your pores and promote healthier and better looking skin.

This practice helps fight and, most of all, prevent acne and blemishes (like blackheads), as well as helping other skincare products penetrate deeper (like face masks). Moreover, exfoliating helps reduce texture and brightens the complexion, therefore evening out the skintone.

I have another Philosophy product to recommend here: it’s the ‘Microdelivery Exfoliating Facial Wash‘. It’s my #1 face scrub, but know that it’s also a bit pricey. I personally prefer to exfoliate every other day, but feel free to do it less times per week if you don’t feel like it.

 

STEP #3: FACE MASK

Starting from this step, you start targeting specific skin problems like acne, blemishes or dryness. I would personally suggest you to do a face mask 3 times per week, but feel free to customize the usage to your personal needs.

Before applying a mask, you need to make sure your skin is clean and your pores are open. You want to make sure the formula will penetrate your pores, and to do that you need them to be clean and open.

The general rule with masks is to leave them on for 15-20 minutes, but always read the directions provided.

I have 2 recommendations when it comes to face masks, both by Revolution Skincare; I find the ‘Pink Clay Detoxifying Face Mask‘ perfect to target blemishes and oil production problems, while the ‘Honey and Oatmeal Nourish & Glow Face Mask‘ works great for dry complexions. You can find the complete review for the Pink Clay one here, while the review of the Honey and Oatmeal is here.

 

STEP #4 – TONER

Toning is another everyday step to your routine, even if you don’t always do a face mask; weirdly enough, it’s also a pretty disregarded procedure!

Using a toner will help you shrink your pores and restore your natural pH balance, especially after a mask. Moreover, it’s the first layer of moisture your skin will receive before a proper moisturizer.

Toning is the perfect way to prepare your face for various serums and moisturizers, and it’s a step you really shouldn’t underestimate.

To be honest, my favorite toner is rose water: it’s inexpensive and effective, and you will easily find it on the shelves of your drugstore.

 

STEP #5: SERUM(S)

There are oh so many serums out there, and it’s quite difficult to navigate yourself through them and find the perfect ones for your needs. Reading the directions through is also a crucial step to properly use a serum!

If you need to target various skin problems, like acne and prominent dryness, implementing a serum is the way to go.

Layering serums is also a very common and good practice if you want to target multiple issues at once. What you need to remember, however, is to wait for the serum you have layed down to penetrate completely before proceeding with another one.

I have two recommendations for fighting acne and large pores, and it’s actually the same product by two different companies. The ‘Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%‘ by TheOrdinary will help you fight acne and blemishes, while the same formula by Revolution Skincare (review here) will mainly target your pores and oil production.

 

STEP #6: EYE CREAM/SPOT TREATMENT

After your serums have penetrated the skin, it’s time for some additional spot treatment. Many people prefer to stick to some regular eye cream, but if you don’t feel like using it there’s still much room left to target some other annoying issue.

It’s always better to wait a couple of minutes and make sure the serums have worked their magic; you don’t want to layer too many formulas at once. This will only result in the products being a mess, and they will most likely loose all their effectiveness.

 

 

STEP #7: MOISTURIZER

Finally, we can end our skincare routine with a good amount of moisture!

Based on the previous steps, your skin has received a series of benefits; the use of a proper moisturizer, however, shouldn’t be too overlooked. This step is what ties everything together, and what furtherly helps the skin looking (and, more generally, being) healthy.

Your moisturizer creates a barrier between your skin and makeup or simply the bacterias and such gravitating around you. When applied at night, the cream will help the skin restore itself, as well as slowing down the aging process (don’t expect miracles, though).

I would personally suggest not to use too much formula at once. The perfect amount for me is less than half the size of a walnut, and I have a big face!

When it comes to recommendations, I only have two. The first moisturizer I would suggest you to check out is the ‘Natural Moisturizing Factors’ by TheOrdinary, and the ‘Hydro Boost Gel Cream (with Hyaluronic Acid)‘ by Neutrogena.

 

STEP #8: EXTRAS

Truthfully, your skincare routine could very well end with the application of your moisturizer. However, there are a couple more ways to spice things up!

For starters, you could give some attention to your lips. A good scrub will be effective in getting rid of the dead skin; however, a good lip balm (or, even better, lip gloss) will have wake up with an entirely new mouth. It really doesn’t have to be anything too expensive, something from Maybelline or your favorite brand will do the trick just fine.

I personally prefer to apply a clear lip gloss before going to sleep, and I am positive that if you try this technique you’ll want to do it over and over again!

Another thing you could invest in is a facial spray; I am certain you have seen a lot of those around, but aren’t really sure what’s their deal; well, they’re pretty much a nice boost of hydration to your skin.

A facial mist will definitely help you add a little bit more moisture to the complexion, as well as set your makeup! My absolute favorite is the ‘Facial Spray with Aloe, Chamomile and Lavender‘ by Mario Badescu, but there are literally hundreds of them to choose from!