Skincare Guide: For All Skin Types

In today cosmetic industry, you are bound to be confronted by hundreds of choices, whether you are out shopping for a cleanser, toner, moisturizer, or any other skin preparations. Finding a skincare routine that works for you can seem like a never-ending beauty quest. Most skin care philosophies and theories are kept within five basic steps that form the foundation of a good and smart skin care routine. First, you need to find out which skin type you have and sensitive it is.

Read on for the five basic steps you can take towards a clear and healthy complexion. It is a simple skin care routine approach for all skin types.

Step 1: Cleanser

Cleanse your skin in the morning and in the evening to remove sweat, oil, dirt and other pollutants that your skin naturally collects throughout the day and night. Make sure your hands are clean before you start the cleansing your face, this is to prevent excess dirt from entering your pores, keeping your pores clear and your face fresh.

Rinsing with water is not enough to clean your face. When your face is clean, it allows the other products you use to work even better, morning and evening.

Your cleanser may vary based on your skin type. It is best to steer clear of harsh bar soaps as they tend to dry out your skin and result in overproduce of sebum (the natural oil of your skin), causing clogging pores and breakouts. A gentle, water-soluble cleanser that removes debris, oil, and makeup is good.

Apply your cleanser using an upward, circular motion to prevent wrinkles from forming.

For Normal/Combination Skin

You don’t need to buy fancy nor expensive products. Use a gentle cleanser or wash, and you may opt to use a FOAM cleanser. Rinse with plenty of warm water, then pat dry. If you find your skin dries out or gets oily, try a different cleanser.

For Dry Skin

If you have dry skin, use a gentle cleanser that doesn’t have alcohol or fragrance. Those ingredients can dry your skin out even more. You can choose to use a CREAM cleanser. Gently wash your skin, then rinse with plenty of warm water. Don’t use hot water because it removes the natural oils from your face faster.

For Oily Skin

If your skin is oily, you can use GEL-BASED cleanser to wash your face. Rinse with plenty of warm water.

For Sensitive Skin

If your skin is sensitive, wash it with a very gentle cleanser and rinse with warm water. Be sure to pat dry and DO NOT RUB. Try not to use products that have alcohol, soap, acid, or fragrance. The fewer ingredients in a skincare product, the happier your face may be.

Step 2: Toner

There is a lot of confusion around toner as it may seem as unnecessary. However, toning can be an important addition to your skincare routine as toners smooth, soften, and calm skin, while removing the last traces of makeup. Toner can also hydrate and refresh the skin’s immediately after cleansing, sometimes also help diminish the look of redness and dry patches. The added cleansing effects help to prepare your skin to absorb moisturizer and minimize the appearance of pores.

Avoid using harsh alcohol or citrus-based toners, and they may irritate your skin. Apply toner right after you have cleansed your skin. The best way to apply it is with a cotton pad or cotton ball, simply soaking the pads in the toner and wiping upwards, starting at your neck.

See if a toner works for you, and if not, take this step out of your routine.

Step 3: Exfoliate

Every day, our skin sheds millions of skin cells and also due to the environmental exposure causes the surface of the skin to become dull, rough, and uneven and need extra help to remove those cells build up on the surface. Exfoliating eliminates this build up, removes these dead skin cells that have accumulated in our pores. If you struggle with blackheads, acne or breakouts, you’re not going to want to miss this step.

It’s best to exfoliate after toning and before moisturizing. You should exfoliate 1-3 times a week, but this depends on your skin type and how it reacts to exfoliation.

There are chemical exfoliators (nonabrasive) and granule exfoliators (abrasive) such as your traditional sugar or salt scrub. Chemical exfoliating ingredients like alpha and beta hydroxy acids (AHA and BHA) are often more effective and consider nonabrasive by dissolving the top layer of the dead cells, getting deep into your pores and removing buildup. AHAs exfoliate the surface of the skin; BHA exfoliates the surface of the skin and can penetrate oil that leads to clogged pores. Abrasive exfoliating products remove dead skin cells by physical friction.

Apply the scrub with onward and outward movements. Roll and press on your skin, rather than rub the scrub into it. Avoid the delicate eye area.

A word of caution: If you have inflamed acne lesions, an irritation, a sunburn on your face, you should never use abrasive scrubs, no matter how natural or gentle they feel. Grain and beads in the scrub will further damage the fragile skin in the area of inflammation, so the irritation gets worse. Opt for chemical exfoliators that contain AHA and BHA. For acne and blackhead plagued skin, look for an exfoliator containing BHA as it penetrates deeply into your pores. If you struggle with sun damage, AHA is your preferred option as it mainly exfoliates the upper layers of skin.

Step 4: Moisturise

All skin needs moisture and moisturizers help to keep your skin from drying out. Use it daily, no matter what skin type you have. Moisturizers (cream, lotion, gel, or liquid texture) improve skin’s appearance, helping to keep it feeling smooth, plumped and soft. You can use them around the eye area; however, if you prefer using an eye cream, you can apply it over or instead of your moisturizer around your eyes.

Apply it while your skin is still damp from washing or rinsing to help seal in moisture. If you have acne or your skin is oily, avoid heavy or cream texture as they will block your pores.

Step 5: Protect, Apply SPF (Sunscreen)

The sun is the most damaging factor to our skin and can lead to skin cancer, so it is important to apply a sunscreen after your moisturizer in your morning routine. It is a good idea to use a separate sunscreen even your moisturizer may already have sunscreen in it. A sunscreen should work against both UVA and UVB rays with an SPF of at least 30. Wear it every day, even if it’s not sunny and even if it’s cold. The sun’s rays can reflect off water, sand, and snow.

Word of advice: Re-apply a few hours (every 2 hours) in you anticipate heavy sun exposure throughout the day as it wears off.

SaveSave