In this day and age, you most likely can’t get through one commercial break without seeing an ad for some new face moisturizer or scroll through social media without seeing an influencer talk about five skincare hacks they recently tried (and whether they worked or not). It’s also likely that your budget is pretty limited, and you can’t afford to spend hundreds of dollars on top-of-the-line skincare products. That’s fine. Taking care of your skin doesn’t have to be a time-consuming process. If you have the basics of a skincare routine, you’ll be golden.
Keep It Simple
If you’ve never had a skincare routine, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of products on the market. Influencers have ten-step routines, and each product costs $20 per bottle. A normal person doesn’t have the time or budget for that, which is completely normal. A simple skincare routine with simple products can work wonders. Your basic skincare routine needs to have three products: cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.
Choose a Cleanser
Cleansers are the most basic step of a skincare routine. They clear your face of the sweat and grime that accumulated during the day. While there are a few types of cleansers to choose from, they all serve essentially the same purpose. Choose the product designed for your skin type (ex. a hydrating cleanser for dry skin). General advice is to cleanse your face twice a day, morning and night, though you should also cleanse your face after a particularly grueling workout or any other sweaty activity.
Include a Moisturizer
Moisturizer hydrates your face and helps strengthen your skin. It’s especially important in the winter season when the cold dries out your skin quickly. Moisturizer should be applied to your face after your cleanser while your face is still slightly damp.
Always Wear Sunscreen
For many people, they hear the word “sunscreen” and immediately think of lying out on the beach for hours on end. While you absolutely need to wear sunscreen during your summer vacation, sunscreen should also be a part of your daily skincare routine. Any time you’re headed outside for the day, you’re exposing your skin to the harmful rays of the sun. Apply sunscreen underneath your makeup before you head out for the day. Like with cleansers, choose your sunscreen according to your skin type for the best results.
Focus on One Thing at a Time
Once you establish your baseline skincare routine, now is the time to add things that will address the skin problems you want to address. This could be acne, dark spots, evening out your skin tone, or something else you’re looking to improve. It’s important to do careful research about what you’re putting on your skin. If you have any allergies, be mindful of that when choosing your products.
When it comes to making changes for your routine, it’s important to only add or change one thing at a time. This way, if you have an unintended reaction to something in your skincare routine, you know exactly what caused it. Adding or changing multiple things at once can result in confusion and potentially money lost if you realize two products you bought are actually doing the same thing.
As you establish your skincare routine, remember that it’s something that should be flexible and change when you need it to. Depending on where you live, your skincare routine should look different as the weather changes. A heavier moisturizer is needed in the winter, while summer is the time for heavy-duty sunscreen. You also should change out products if they’re no longer working. As we age, our bodies change and may react differently to products we’ve always used. Allow yourself to be flexible and set up the skincare routine you need to feel great about yourself.