The ultimate guide to building a skincare routine for beginners
Focus on what your skin needs to thrive
Are you feeling overwhelmed and confused in creating an effective skincare routine? You are not alone. Don't let that stand in the way of you and your best skin ever. The truth is, possibilities are endless, but the needs of the skin are quite simple. Your skin wants to be cleansed, nourished, exfoliated and protected.
Begin designing your beauty rituals by focusing on a solid foundation for healthy skin to thrive as you age. Cut through industry noise and streamline your routine by keeping it simple and realistic for your lifestyle. Don't worry, you can always complicate it later.
6 pillars to beautiful skin: cleanse, antioxidants, retinol, exfoliate, hydrate and protect
With these elements in place, all skin types will have what's needed to create an environment of healing and regeneration.
Since everyone's skin is unique, there is no one set protocol. We must each use our skintuition to discover specific products and a routine based on our skin type and lifestyle. When in doubt, ask your Esthetician!
Keep reading to discover how you can set up your skin for success morning and night, along with product recommendations to get you started.
Morning Ritual - Hello Face!
Rise and shine by treating your skin to a morning reset. The purpose of daytime skincare is to hydrate and protect your skin from environmental stressors. This is done by infusing your skin with antioxidant rich nutrients, moisturizer and SPF protection.
Morning Cleanse - The morning cleanse is important but need not be aggressive. A gentle hydrating cleanser does the trick to sweep away nighttime products and provide a clean hydrated slate. This allows your morning products the best chance to penetrate and work their magic.
Ideally, take a moment to massage cleanser in, removing with luke warm water. Try splashing with cool water to finish, for a refreshing perk to the skin.
Try:
Antioxidant serum - An antioxidant rich serum is a go-to for fighting those pesky free radicals that accelerate aging. Learn more about antioxidants and their role in the skin here.
Serums are always applied in the middle of your routine, and are designed to be potent and fast absorbing. If you have more than one serum, they can be layered based on texture (from thinnest to thickest).
Vitamin C is a popular choice and loved by many, but don't stop there! Our skin loves a variety of topical antioxidants, just as our bodies benefit from a variety of veggies. Other antioxidants to look for include: Vitamin E, spin trap, resveratrol, superoxide dismutase, green tea etc... these will work synergistically to firm, brighten, protect collagen and get that glow on.
Try:
Hydrate - After your serum seeps in, your skin may feel a bit tacky. The next step is to hydrate and seal in all the goodness. The moisturizing step acts as a barrier to protect your skin from epidermal evaporation water loss.
A hydrating mist is optional but goes a long way in helping the skin to absorb more water working with the humectant effects of the serum. After a light mist you can follow up with a layer of moisturizer, based on your skin type.
Cosmedix Antioxidant toning mist
Cosmedix Humidify Moisture Cream - dry skin types
Botnia Daily Face Cream - for all skin types
Cosmedix Skin Thirst - oily skin types
SPF - A layer of SPF 30, applied to face, neck and chest is the essential last step for protecting your skin for the day. Remember we don't always realize how much sun we are getting, from sitting in the car to running errands, to taking walks the UVA rays are always present.
As unglamourous as it may seem, sunscreen will be your biggest ally for slowing down the aging process. Without it, you won't be able to achieve the results you desire.
Try:
Tizo SPF -tinted
Evening Ritual - Rejuvenate the night away
While you sleep, your skin switches from 'protect' into 'repair' mode. Cellular turnover and blood flow increase, making it a prime time for collagen building and cellular regeneration.
Double Cleanse - A single cleanse is great, but a double cleanse is more effective at thoroughly removing daytime products and cleaning the skin.
A double cleanse begins with either micellar water or for a more elongated treat, massage with an oil cleanser- balancing for all skin types!
The second part of the cleanse will be to follow up with another cleanser of choice. This removes oil, balances the skin and is another excellent opportunity to add a bit of facial massage. Don't underestimate the power of a good cleanse, it will work wonders for your skin!
Try:
Cosmedix nourishing oil cleanse
Botnia skin balancing oil cleanse