Self-care has become a bit of a buzzword in recent years, and a common association is skincare. Having an extensive and elaborate skincare routine has been popularised on social media and in some cases, this could be doing more damage than good.
Most people don’t need such an intense and product-heavy routine to maintain healthy and beautiful skin. If you’re struggling with breakouts, dryness, or other skin issues, you might benefit from dialling it back a little.
Here is the ultimate, simple skincare routine you need to follow.
Table of Contents
Double-Cleanse
First of all, everyone needs a cleanser, and you should be cleaning your skin twice a day. However, double-cleansing is the recommended route to take.
Double-cleansing implies that you start by washing your face with an oil-based cleanser to remove your makeup and any grime, followed by a foam facial cleanser or a gentle cream cleanser to deal with the remnants.
Tone
If you aren’t using one already, you should definitely add toner to your routine. After washing your face, a toner will remove any residue left from your cleanser (you don’t want chemicals left on your skin) and help create an even skin tone.
Serums
Next, this is where you might consider applying some serums. Not everybody needs to be using serums, and you certainly shouldn’t be using an extensive variety on a regular basis.
There are many different serums on the market, such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and hyaluronic acid, to name a few. These all assist with various skin issues and should be applied in order to combat something specific.
Moisturise
After your serum has set in (dab it gently into your skin and then let it absorb for a minute or two), you’ll need to apply a moisturiser. During the day, make sure to apply a light moisturiser to keep your skin hydrated. If your moisturiser does not contain an SPF, make sure to apply a separate SPF cream on top of your moisturiser.
In the evenings, a heavier, more deeply hydrating moisturiser should be used to lock in that moisture and condition your skin overnight.
Exfoliate
Exfoliating is an important step that is often misunderstood. Many people either fail to exfoliate entirely, avoiding the task for fear of hurting their skin, while others fall on the other end of the extreme and do end up damaging their skin by over-exfoliating.
Using a gentle, and preferably natural exfoliant once or twice a week is more than enough. This is a safe way to remove dead skin cells and keep your face looking and feeling soft.
Other
Of course, there are other steps you might add to your routine, such as detoxifying clay face masks, hydrating sheet masks, booking professional facials, etc.
Usually, these steps are extra and won’t be necessary for the average person. However, if you struggle with a particular skin issue, then adding these to your routine might help. Talking to a dermatologist about your options is the safest way to go about this.
