How Do I Start With Skincare

Great skin is not simply down to your genes or DNA its down your daily habits and your skincare routine. But there are so many differing opinions from how to cleanse to what moisturiser to use as well as so much misinformation on the internet.

The exact order to apply skincare product:

Day

1. Cleanser
2. Toner
3. Serums
4. Eye Cream
5. Spot Treatments
6. Moisturiser
7. Face Oil
8. Sunscreen

Night

1. Makeup Remover
2. Cleanser
3. Toner
4. Serums
5. Eye Cream
6. Spot Treatments
7. Moisturiser
8. Retinol
9. Face Oil

Know your skin type

Oily Skin: Higher-than-average production of sebum. Skin can appear shiny or greasy and is often accompanied by skin concerns like blackheads and enlarged pores. Prone to breakouts.

Dry Skin: Skin that doesn’t have enough oil. It may look dull or feel tight, while severe dryness can cause the skin to crack, flake, or peel.

Combination Skin: Both dryness and oiliness—in different areas. Usually an oilier T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin), and drier cheeks.

Sensitive Skin: Heightened sensitivity to stressors, including some skincare products. Degrees of sensitivity can vary: some people only experience mild irritation when exposed to stressors, while others struggle with redness, itching, and discomfort regularly. Sensitivity isn’t always visible—sometimes, it’s just about how the skin feels.

Normal Skin: well-balanced and displays no persistent skin concerns.

Rub-a-dub-dub: Cleansers

If you have oily skin, a foaming or gel cleanser will ensure adequate removal of excess dirt and oil from your skin; ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid can help regulate and remove excess oil. For acne-prone skin, a gentle foaming cleanser with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide or sulfur is your best bet. For those with dry skin, look for a cream or balm formula with hydrating ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid and botanical oils. For my sensitive skin people, try micellar water, an ultra-gentle cleanser that includes tiny particles called micelles that trap impurities and lift them away without drying your skin in the process.

Get rid of that oil: Toners

If you have acne-prone skin, look for a toner with hydroxy acids, including salicylic acid and lactic acid, which increase cell turnover. For dry or sensitive skin, seek out a hydrating toner (or its sister, an essence) made without parching alcohol and with ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to soothe. For combination skin, look for gentle exfoliants, hydration boosters and antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E and green tea, which can combat free radicals and prevent skin damage For oily skin, look for astringents, such as alcohols or witch hazel, that tighten pores.

Hydration is key: Moisturisers

If you have dry skin, a rich cream packed with emollients, humectants, ceramides and occlusives is key to quenching dryness. For oily or acne-prone skin, look for light lotions or gel-based formulas labeled "non-comedogenic" or "oil-free. For those with sensitive skin, seek out formulas that are hypoallergenic and free of potential irritants, like fragrance and alcohol.

Lock in those vitamins: Serums

Hyaluronic acid and ceramides: to seal in hydration and strengthen the barrier function (the top layer of your skin) to prevent moisture loss.

Vitamin C: to help brighten dull skin and decrease dark spots with continued use.

Retinol: stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, proteins in the body that help prevent lines and skin sagging.

Niacinamide: to calm redness and irritation by decreasing inflammation, and improve acne with its antimicrobial effects.

Salicylic acid: penetrates deep into pores to loosen dead skin cells and clears clogged pore as well as reduces sebum secretion. Helps to break down pimples and comedones.

The Conversation