Skincare routines, do you have one and do you need one? YES & YES! I have talked about skincare a lot on my blog but never really said how to create a skincare routine (or maybe I have, then take this as an updated post LOL). Today’s post will be on the different types of products in a routine and how to build one, let’s get started
So you want a skincare routine?- what products do I get? What skin type do you have?!
Before we dive into the business of creating skincare routines, we first need to find out what our skin type is. Knowing your skin type really sets the tone of your skincare routine, i.e., which products you will buy and which ones will work best for your skin! With so many products on the market, your skin type will help you narrow it down!
Check out this post on Paula’s Choice which is quite helpful. You can also visit a dermatologist or just do some experimenting with your skin and make some notes. (I may do a separate post on this)
Skin type and skin concern are two different things: skin concern is something you want to treat/fix e.g. dark spots. Skin type is your skin
My skin type is normal/combination. This means my tzone– forehead, nose & chin gets slightly oily and the rest of my face feels normal– not too dry or oily. I don’t have large pores (thank God and good skincare routine)
Skincare routines 101 – I like long romantic walks down the skincare aisle
A skincare routine is a sequence of actions that you regularly follow. You will have about 6 -8 products or more depending on how much time you want to spend on it. Before I get into product recommendations, it’s important to know the types/categories of products you should have.
TIP- its best to pick products no matter the type that suits your skin type. This will ensure you get the most out of them and you get real results!
- Makeup Removers – only necessary if you wear makeup. it’s SUPER important you take off your makeup before you sleep( gurl your skin will thank you!) take your pick of the different types of makeup removers e.g. wipes, oils, balms etc
My reviews on some makeup removers- B Micellar Wipes, Boots Cleansing Water
- Cleansers/Face wash– the double cleansing method is probably best practice among skincare lovers and it ensures all your makeup is off! Your 1st cleanse is your makeup remover, then 2nd cleanse is your face cleanser/face wash. it ensure the last bits of your makeup ( esp in the pores), dirt and oils is taken off
Reviews on cleansers/face wash- Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, L’Oréal Clay Wash
- Face masks– think of these as the deep conditioners of your face. You use masks 2 to 3 times a week to keep your skin healthy and glowing. Sheet masks have become a thing recently and whilst I super love them, I won’t recommend you replacing your ‘traditional’ face mask with them.
Reviews on face masks- Garnier Tissue Mask, L’Oréal Glow Mask
- Toners– after makeup removal and cleansing, the pH of your skin tends to be slightly off. Toners help reset the pH of your skin and prep it for the next step. For this step, I love to use acid based toners that they help to exfoliate the skin. Read all about acids here
Reviews on toners- Nip Fab Pads, Pixi Glow Tonic, The Ordinary Glycolic Acid
- Serums/oils– serums are super concentrated products that work deep down in the skin. They are best used as targeted treatments for your skin concerns. For instance, hyperpigmentation is the bane of my life (because I can’t leave spots alone lol) so I use serums that help to heal this.
Review on serums- Body Shop Drops of Light, The Ordinary Lactic Acid
- Moisturizers– is a night cream really necessary? Can’t I just use the same cream for day and night? The answer depends on you really & the product. Your morning or ‘day’ cream should have SPF (YOU NEED SPF, NOT MATTER YOUR SKINTYPE OR COLOUR) and should be light enough to not look oily but have all day hydration. Your night cream doesn’t need SPF but should be rich enough and to not be too heavy and last all night. Your skin does all its repair work whilst you sleep so it’s important to give it the right tools
Reviews on moisturizers- Dermalogica Pure Day & Night, Boots Botanics Day & Night Cream, Nivea Night Cream
- Eye Cream– they say the first signs of ageing are usually around the eyes so it does pay to take care of this area too. I must admit I didn’t really bother much with eye care but I am starting to do some research and taking better care of the area.
How many products will be in your skincare routine?
The answer again depends on you, you can have as little or much as long as you have covered your basics. For instance, in the mornings I have 6 products in total- cleanser, serum, day cream, SPF ( my current day cream has SPF15 which I don’t like so I use additional SPF 50 on top of it), 2nd serum & mist. I skip toner in the mornings. My evening routine has cleanser, toner, mist, 3 serums, night cream, eye cream and lip balm making it 9 in total. I have a few posts on my skincare routine on my blog, please check them out!
The number of products is not important- it’s what you use. As long as it’s tailored to your skin type and you are using the right techniques, you will see a massive improvement in your skin!
Once you have a solid routine down, you can start to experiment with different products and ingredients to figure out what’s best for your skin! I have a ton of posts on my blog check out ‘related posts’ below this post for more!
I hope you found this post super helpful and answered a lot of your answers! Follow me on insta for more advice and product recommendations! I’m more active on there than here (LOL) Instagram- SarahFynn
That’s all for now! I will be back with more post very soon! Forgive my little hiatus but I’m back baby!
xoxo
sarah fynn 