Written by Noelle Park
Building a skin care routine can be overwhelming especially when you don't know where to start and what kinds of products work well with your skin. The three core steps of any skin care routine is to cleanse, treat, and moisturize. Consistency is also key to seeing results when it comes to treating your skin. The benefits of a strong skin routine are typically seen within six to twelve weeks, and people can usually tell if their routine is beneficial for their skin after three to four months.
Cleansing:
Cleaning your skin is the first important step to clearer skin because you are getting rid of the dirt and impurities that clog your pores and lead to skin problems. Dermatologists recommend to cleanse your skin two times a day; once in the morning and in the evening. Our first tip for cleansing is to be gentle with your skin because hard scrubbing can strip away your skin’s protective barrier and healthy oils. Picking the right cleanser is the next step, and we recommend sulfate and fragrance free cleansers are perfect for protecting your skin’s natural oils and giving you a fresh, clean feeling.
To target acne, dermatologists recommend cleansers with salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide or sulfur. People with more oily skin should use a foam or gel cleanser that contains salicylic acid. Dry skin needs more of a balm or creamy product that has ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid and botanical oils for a more moisturized look and feel.
Our Rose, Grapefruit, and Lavender Gentle Cleansers are perfect for dry and sensitive skin. They contain glycerin and essential oils that can soothe and calm skin (rose and lavender) and brighten (grapefruit, citrus oils).
Treatments:
After cleansing, you should treat your skin and make sure that all of the debris has been removed from your skin. Treating your skin entails addressing the problem areas of the skin which involves using products that work with your skin type and that give you the results that you want to see. Toner is an excellent product for this step because it can make your skin feel tighter, removes any leftover makeup or dirt, and it helps balance your skin’s PH levels.
Like cleansers, different skin types require their own unique ingredients for toners.
If you have acne prone skin, try a toner with hydroxy acids, including salicylic acid and lactic acid. Dry skin requires much more soothing ingredients so try products with aloe vera, rose water, and glycerin. Oily skin requires products that dry out oil so witch hazel is the perfect product.
As part of your treatment routine you can incorporate serums that can target any complexion issues. Some serums; however, only work in the mornings or evenings so remember to always read the ingredients and directions carefully on products to ensure that you’re using the product correctly. We highly recommend using an antioxidant serum to help treat signs of aging. Our Chamomile Facial Serum contains vitamin E and chamomile oil that helps soothe stressed skin and has great anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. Serums with vitamin C and citrus essential oils are also fantastic for treating aging skin. The Refresh Serum contains grapefruit essential oils as well as lavender essential oils, and helps soothe and brighten the skin.
Moisturizing:
After treating your skin it needs a layer of moisture to help strengthen the skin’s barrier. Oily skin or acne prone skin require a light moisturizer preferably a gel product so it can easily absorb into the skin and products that are “oil free”. Drier skin types need a thick product such as a cream. Moisturizing is a crucial step in a skin routine that helps keep skin youthful and healthy. Night creams can also be applied before you go to bed to help add extra moisture to the skin.
The last step that the Makeup Studio would like to add to this routine is to apply your sunscreen. We highly recommend applying sunscreen after you moisturize so your skin is protected from the sun all day. Especially now, during the summer time, it’s so important to incorporate sunscreen into your skincare routine. Applying sunscreen can also help prevent your skin from premature aging. Dermatologists recommend a SPF 30 for sunscreen, and to make your skin routine a little easier, use a moisturizer with SPF to help cut down the amount of steps.
Skin routines typically only take 5-10 mins a day to complete and it’s essential to keeping your skin looking youthful and healthy. Understanding your skin type is a crucial step in building your product collection so take note of the ingredients that work with your skin type and read ingredients carefully.
Lastly, your skin routine should also be a relaxing part of your day when you can decompress and take time for yourself so have fun with it. Have a favorite skincare product or routine tip to share? Comment below and we would love to hear from you!