Calm young african woman with good skincare routine touching face after shower

Build Your Basic Skincare Routine from Scratch

2023-01-16T08:00:25+00:00

By Rody

Having great skincare products is not the only thing to focus on in your skincare journey. It is important to know how to layer them properly and have a basic routine that guides your product usage in order to maximize the benefits.A basic skincare routine will not target any specific problem like acne, hyperpigmentation, psoriasis, or keratosis pilaris. Instead, it will feature the basic needs of a skin that would ensure it’s properly cleansed, hydrated, exfoliated, moisturized, and protected.Treatments can be incorporated based on recommendations from dermatologists or estheticians.

Factors to consider when building a skincare routine

1. Skin Type

We have varying skin types, including normal, dry, oily, and combination skin. Each of these skin types require different types of products targeted to work on them.A foaming cleanser is usually suitable for oily skin while a moisturizing cleanser is good for drier skin to add more moisture to their routine.These products are formulated in a way that will be appropriate for those that use it.

2. Texture of products

Products have varying texture that range from light to thick consistency. Application should start from light products so as to aid proper absorption. This is the most common metric used in product application.

3. Weather

During harmattan or dry seasons the skin tends to be dry, which makes incorporating hydrating and moisturizing products important even for those with oily skin.Using these products may clog the pores on regular days. It is important to be able to adjust as the time changes.

Skin care routines can be modified or fixed based on the skin conditions to be tackled at any point in time. However, no matter the skin problem you aim to tackle it is important to have a clean base and moisturizer, and to use sunscreen for sun protection before incorporating add-ons.

Basic routine for a normal skin type

1. Cleanser

Wash up with a mild cleanser that is suitable for your skin type. Using the right wash for your face or body has a lot of influence as to how other products will work because it serves as a base. When you have make-up on, cleanse with micellar water or oil before going in with your normal gentle cleanser.Cleanse your face for about 30 seconds before rinsing off, your cleanser must not be too stripping or harsh for your skin.

2. Toner

This step is usually done to give radiance to the skin and remove dirt. There are two types of toners: exfoliating toner and hydrating toner. Exfoliating toners are used to remove dead skin from the skin, while hydrating toners are used to refresh the skin. It serves as a great prep for your skin to absorb other products.

3. Serum

This step can be skipped but is a great addition to your skincare routine. There are different types of serums that offer different benefits like: brightening, anti aging, and texture improvements, among others.These serums like Vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid serve as support for skin products to protect skin from free radicals, keep it plumpy, and increase radiance.

Serums come in water based and oil based. Water-based serums should be used before moisturizer while oil based should be used after.They also target different skin concerns, should be selected appropriately, and used with the right supervision.

4. Treatment

This step targets the specific skin concerns and treats them like acne, psoriasis, keratosis pilaris, hyperpigmentation, melasma and many others. This is usually used based on recommendation from dermatologists.

5. Moisturizer

The usage of moisturizer in your routine is crucial. A moisturizer helps to lock in all the nutrients you’ve fed your skin and serves the purpose of preventing dryness, protecting skin from the harsh conditions, and seal in moisture to the skin.

6. Sunscreen

Doing skincare without sunscreen is like pouring water in a basket to fill a tank, there will be no result. Sunscreen is the one product that protects your face from getting sunburnt, deteriorating your melasma, and increasing hyperpigmentation.Sunscreen offers the skin adequate protection, and it also allows all your products to work well without interference.Sunscreen should be used as an independent item with Spf-30 upward. However, if it is included in your moisturizer make sure it is Spf-30 upward as most moisturizers have Spf-15 which is inadequate.To apply, use the two finger rule using your index and middle finger for a full face coverage. It should also be used on all exposed body parts and reapplication should be done after every 2 hours. NOTE: Discontinue usage when a product is irritating your skin.

Also, there are acids in skincare that should not be used together, like your exfoliant and retinoids.If you want to derive maximum benefit and have good skin, it is of utmost necessity to have a dermatologist to guide you on your skincare journey as there are lots of products that might be too sensitive for your skin type.

Conclusion

Skincare is to body what food is to health, it is important to take it seriously. Building a good skincare routine involves choosing the right products based on skin type, concerns, and weather. A basic skincare routine includes cleanser-toner-moisturizer-sunscreen. Serums and treatments can be added for specific benefits. To get the most from skincare it is encouraged to have a professional that can hold your hand through the journey. Rodiat Ajuwon