➡ 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙮𝙥𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥-𝙗𝙮-𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙢𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙮𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢, 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙥 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙢. 𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙝𝙮𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙮𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙.
Are you one of those people who always gets confused about the order of their skincare routine? Don't worry; you're not alone. I struggle with the same thing all the time. With so many products on the market, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and not know where to start, especially when not all of us are skincare experts.
That is why I’m here to break down the order of your skincare routine, so you'll know exactly what goes on your face and when. Before we get started, though, I’ll introduce you to the ultimate rule of skincare application: always start with the thinnest product and work your way up to the thickest. That way, your skin gets the most absorption, and it’s easier for the products to penetrate through your skin, which makes the best use of the product for you to reach the best results.
And before we get to the routine, first things first, let's identify your skin type. Identifying your skin type will help you identify which products work well with your skin. There are five main skin types: oily, dry, normal, combination, and sensitive. Knowing your skin type is crucial when selecting the right products for your routine.
‣ If you have oily skin, go for oil-free toners and lightweight moisturizers to avoid that greasy feeling.
‣ Dry skin, on the other hand, requires gentle, moisturizing cleansers, rich moisturizers containing hyaluronic acid or glycerin, and facial oils for extra hydration.
‣ Normal skin is relatively easy to take care of with mild cleansers, lightweight moisturizers, and broad-spectrum sunscreens.
‣ For combination skin, go for gentle, pH-balanced cleansers, lightweight moisturizers for oily areas, richer moisturizers for dry areas; and oil-absorbing powders for the T-zone.
‣ For sensitive skin, avoid harsh ingredients like alcohol, sulfates, and fragrances, which can irritate the skin. It's also recommended to patch test new products before incorporating them into your routine to ensure they don't cause any adverse reactions.
To begin your skincare routine, it is essential to start with exfoliation. Once or twice a week, use a gentle exfoliant to remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. You have the option of using a physical exfoliator, like a facial scrub, or a chemical exfoliator.
Now that we have identified your skin type and asked you to exfoliate your skin, let's dive into the step-by-step guide for your skincare routine:
Step 1: Cleanse
Never skip cleansing! You don’t know just how much dirt sits on your face after a day out. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser formulated for your skin type using lukewarm water to avoid stripping your skin of its natural oils.
Step 2: Tone
Use a toner to balance your skin's pH levels and remove any leftover dirt or makeup. Choose a toner that contains hydrating ingredients like aloe vera or hyaluronic acid.
Step 3: Treat
This is where it gets specific. If you have any specific skincare concerns, use a targeted treatment. For example, if you have acne, use a spot treatment with salicylic acid or tea tree oil. And if you are concerned about hyperpigmentation, use a serum with vitamin C or niacinamide.
Step 4: Moisturize
This is the best step! It’s like drinking water, but for your skin. Your skin needs hydration as much as your body. Moisturizing is essential for all skin types. Go for a lightweight moisturizer that hydrates your skin without clogging your pores.
Step 5: Eye Cream
We never realize the importance of eye creams until we are past a certain age. Eye creams are miracle products. The skin around your eyes is delicate and requires extra care. Use an eye cream with caffeine or peptides to reduce puffiness and dark circles.
Step 6: Sunscreen
Living here in the Maldives means you're exposed to the sun's strong rays year-round, so apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day. Don't forget to reapply every two hours if you're spending time outside. And I know reapplication is a hassle for us with a full face of makeup. But let’s try, shall we? Your skin will thank you so much.
Step 7: Lip Balm
Protect your lips from the sun and keep them soft, supple, and hydrated with a lip balm containing SPF and other moisturizing elements.
Aftercare:
‣ Hydrating Mist: Revitalize your skin at any time of the day by using a hydrating mist that includes calming components such as rosewater or cucumber. This is especially beneficial on days when the weather is humid. Choose a lightweight spray that won't damage your makeup but will hydrate and invigorate your skin, leaving you feeling refreshed.
‣ Drink Plenty of Water: Hydration is key!! Your skin is so thirsty for water.
Bonus Tip: Get a hand fan!
Using a traditional hand fan can help to speed up the drying process between applying skincare products and ensuring that they absorb properly into your skin. This can be especially helpful during hot and humid weather when your skin may take longer to absorb the products. By using a hand fan, you can keep your skin feeling refreshed and prevent products from rubbing off or smudging while they're still wet. It's a simple and effective way to enhance your skincare routine and get the most out of your products.
And that is as far as my expertise goes on this matter; please keep in mind that not all of these steps may be necessary for you. And you can switch it up by adding more products or even fewer in a way that works best for your skin. Following a proper skincare routine is essential for maintaining healthy, glowing skin. By following these steps, you can ensure that you're using your products in the correct order and getting the most out of each one. So go ahead and pamper yourself—you deserve it!