Skincare can seem overwhelming especially when you don’t know whether you’ve been able to pick the right products for your skin. Knowing which products to pick first will build the foundation of your routine before going ahead to include serums and exfoliators. This basic foundation is built around the 3 essential steps in every skincare routine. Which include cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen.
- What’s a cleanser? A cleanser works to remove dirt, oils, and dead skin that has been accumulated throughout the day. It also should help you remove any left-over makeup and sunscreen.
Tip: Your cleanser should make your skin feel clean. If it leaves your skin feeling “squeaky” clean its likely you’re using the wrong one.
- What’s a moisturiser? Moisturisers help nourish the skin and hydrate and soften the skin.
- What’s sunscreen? It helps to protect your skin and prevent sun damage, premature aging and evening out of the skin. It should be applied every morning even when it’s cloudy or you’re indoors.
Tip: use the two-finger rule (applying to your index finger and middle finger) to ensure you’re getting adequate protection.
Now that you know what the 3 essential products are, in order to pick the right ones for you. You need to look in what is your skin type. Skin types are how we classify the skin according to how much oil we produce.
For example, oily skin produces a lot of oil while dry skin struggles to produce enough oils. People with normal skin have the perfect balance of both.
How do I find my skin type?
- Wash your face with a gentle cleanser.
- Let your face airdry and do not apply any product for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Observe your skin.
- Pick up a tissue or blotting paper and apply to your t-zone (forehead, nose and chin), cheeks and jawline.
Oily skin will see a lot of oil on the tissue/blotting paper and will look shiny/greasy. Dry skin will feel tight, dry and itchy. Their blotting paper will have little to no traces of oil. Normal skin will have very little oil on the paper and will not feel overly oily or dry. Combination skin will have a lot of traces of oil on their t zone area and their cheeks will have little to no oil.
When picking products, each skin type should look out for the following in products.
- OILY SKIN should use products with gel textures, this will help the products absorb faster and will not cause them to feel or look like their skin is greasy.
For example: La Roche Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Wash, Garnier Skin Active Moisture Rescue Moisture Gel-Cream and Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++
Tip: Avoid products with the word mattifying they can cause your skin to over produce oil. This is because they are dehydrating in nature and you don’t want to dehydrate your skin as it will make your skin oiler.
- DRY SKIN should use products that are heavier in consistency similar to creams and lotions. This will help retention of moisture for long without feeling dry. Products such as a non-foaming cleanser (hydrating cleanser), cream moisturiser and lotion/cream sunscreen would be ideal for this skin type.
For example: Vanicream Facial Cleanser, Cerave Moisturising Cream, Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA+++
Tip: Stay away from products made for oily skin as it will dehydrate your skin and make it feel tight, dry and uncomfortable. Stick to creams.
- NORMAL SKIN should use products that are lotion like. Luckily enough normal skin can get away with using most of the different textures without feeling overly oily or even dry. Products such as a gel cleanser, lotion/gel moisturiser and lotion like sunscreen would be ideal for this skin type.
For example: Cosrx Low PH Good Morning Cleanser, Cerave Daily Moisturising Lotion, Garnier Ambre Solaire Sensitive Advanced UV Face Fluid SPF 50+
- COMBINATION SKIN should use products with a gel texture and lotion like products. This will help their skin balance out the oils and not have an overly oily t-zone. Products such as a gel cleanser, lotion moisturiser and gel sunscreen would be ideal for this skin type.
For example: Cerave Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser, Elf Holy Hydration cream, Keep Cool Soothe Bamboo Sun Essence SPF50+ PA++++
Disclaimer: products listed are not a full customised routine to a specific person.