By Megan Robinson
Are you applying your skincare products in the right order? Do you know if you need to moisturise before putting on spot treatments, or after? How often should you complete a full skin care routine? Many people will have different answers to these questions depending on their skin types, but if you are stuck on how to start and maintain a basic beauty routine, there is a simple and effective way to do so.
Your skin can massively benefit from a daily routine and it doesn’t have to take you half the day to do it! Oily, dry, combination and other skin types just need five minutes of care every day and you will start to see happier, healthier skin.
Ensuring you are applying your products in the right order is also majorly important for better skin. Having the right sequence equals better results – what is the point of having a skin care routine if it’s not done right? We’re here to make the process a hell of a lot easier, just follow these simple steps and you’ll be on the path to gorgeous skin.
STEP 1 – CLEANSER
Cleansing should always be the first step of any beauty routine as it rids the skin of any dirt or pollutants that could be hiding. You can use different cleansers based on your skin type, such as: gel, foam, water, oil, and cream. Without cleansing, our pores can become clogged which leaves us more prone to breakouts, and it can even lead to premature ageing! No one wants that… Here’s some advice- make sure you cleanse morning and night. At night, consider a “double cleanse” to get rid of the day’s makeup and dirt, while also preparing the skin for the heavier products to come.
We recommend – La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Micellar Water, £16
STEP 2 – TONER
This is a product that quite a lot of people tend to skip as they don’t think it is important, but it has some benefits. Toner is great to use after cleansing both day and night as it reaches the impurities that are deep into the skin. Certain toners can tackle issues like sensitivity and acne, so it is best to get a toner that is alcohol free as this doesn’t damage or irritate the skin. If you don’t want to use a toner, serums are also a great alternative as they can brighten the skin, increase nourishment, and fight off acne.
We recommend – Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion, £22
STEP 3- SPOT TREATMENTS
Let’s face it, we all have a break out from time to time, whether it’s just the one spot, or several. Using prescription medication or other acne treatment is essential in any skin care routine and it is best to use spot treatments for your night time regime. Make sure you clean the affected area of any product before use. It will work better on bare skin as there will be nothing there to dilute or block the product from doing its job. Another tip- allow the spot serum to dry for a few minutes before applying your moisturiser.
We recommend – Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions™ Clearing Treatment, £21
STEP 4 – MOISTURISE
This is arguably the most important step of your routine. Moisturiser does what it says on the tin – it locks in moisture and hydrates the skin while giving you a soft, glowing appearance. Moisturisers come in the form of gels, oils, creams, and lotions, so make sure you choose the correct one for your skin. You should use this product day and night, but your day moisturiser should be light and ideally have SPF in them to protect you from harmful UV rays that could cause skin cancer. Your night time moisturiser should be heavier as it can be absorbed overnight to rejuvenate and repair skin.
We recommend – Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, £86
