Skincare for beginners

The idea of a skincare routine should be to keep your skin healthy and functioning at it's best. A skincare routine is also to help fix any issues you have, such as acne, dry skin, pigmentation, et.

Determine your skin type

Before you buy any skincare products you need to determine your skin type, this is important because different skin types need different types of products and have different issues to address. Here are some useful videos to help you work out your skin type.

How To Find Your Skin Type | Skin Care 101

2 Simple Ways to Find Your Skin Type: Oily, Dry, Combination, Sensitive, Normal Skin

Sequence is key

It is very important that you apply your skincare products in the right order otherwise you lose their effectiveness. Here is a basic routine for beginners:

1. cleanser - It is important to wash your face twice a day, in the morning and at night, in order to remove the dirt and dead skin cells which can clog your pores and cause spots. You should wash your face with a cleanser for about 2 minutes, with gentle circular motions, to allow the ingredients long enough to sink in. If you wear makeup you should always remove it before bed. Do not your makeup wipes as they pull at the skin and can cause wrinkles, instead use a cleansing balm, cleansing oil or micellar water before your normal cleanser. The skins natural PH is around 4.5-6 so you try to find a cleanser which has a similar PH, do not use soap as it has a PH of around 8-10 and may upset your skin.

2. Moisturizer - Moisturizer is a must for all skin types. Moisturizer forms a layer on top of the skin to stop moisture loss throughout the day. Some people with oily skin believe they don't need moisturizer, but not using moisturizer leads to the overproduction of oils which can lead to spots.

3. Sunscreen - Sunscreen is the most important part of any skincare routine, it protects against skin cancer, signs of ageing, acne, hyperpigmentation, and sun damage. You must wear at least SPF 30 every day and you should reapply it, especially if you are outside.

Choose the right products for your skin type

Ingredients

There are some ingredients that are very beneficial, and worth looking out for when buying skincare ingredients. I would recommend looking out for these ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, which helps to bind water to collagen, trapping it in the skin, so that skin can appear plumper, dewier, and more hydrated; Ceramides, which are fats which make up about 50% of the outer layer of your skin, they lock in moisture and help prevent dryness and irritation; and glycerin, which hydrates the skin and helps it hold onto moisture.

I would also recommend that you look out for fragrance in products and try to avoid it as it can cause irritation, especially for people with irritating skin. Frangrance can be hard to avoid as it is known by many names, such as Fragrance, perfume, parfum, essential oil blend, aroma.

Oily skin

People with oily skin should look for products containing: salicylic acid, glycolic acid, niacinamide, and benzoyl peroxide. Some of these ingredients can be irritating so always patch test before use and follow the instructions given.

For oily skin use a gentle cleanser, harsher leaders can strip the skin causing it to produce more oils. Choose a gel moisturizer or an oil-free one, don't skip moisturizer even if your skin is oily as it will make your skin more oily. For sunscreen look for a gel, many Korean sunscreens are light and non-greasy.

Dry Skin

People with dry skin should look for ingredients like glycolic acid, aloe vera, lactic acid, Urea, Hyaluronic acid, ceramide, and glycerin.

You should look for hydrating and gel cleansers, with hydrating ingredients. For dry skin choose a heavier moisturizer and a cream sunscreen.

Sensitive skin

Look for soothing ingredients such as Bisabolol (extracted from Chamomile), Calendula extract, oatmeal, panthenol, shea butter, cucumber oil, and liquorice extract. It is most important for people with sensitive skin to avoid fragrance and other harsh ingredients.

When choosing a cleanser look for a gentle hydrating one. For cleansers and moisturizers look for products with minimal active ingredients, brands like simple, and ceraVe are great.

Combination skin

For combination skin, you may be able to use products for oily or dry skin but if you have very oily areas and very dry areas you may need tow different moisturizers and sunscreens. When choosing a cleanser choose a gentle hydrating cleanser as it is suitable for all skin types.

Keep it simple - less is more

It is important to stick to the products you actually need, especially for beginners, as using too many products you don't need can cause irritation or it can lead to less effective skincare.

Be consistent and patient

Most skin care products can take a least a few weeks to show some signs of working, but it can take a few years for you to improve the problem you're trying to solve. In order for it to work though, you have to be consistent, every morning and evening. Another thing to bear in mind is that you can't just do your skincare routine when you have a problem with your skin you have to do it every day for as long as you want good skin.