A skincare routine curated with current and future skin goals in mind will set you up for healthy skin in the long term. This routine will differ vastly from person to person and season to season. And as you go through different stages in life, you will have to tweak it further, because several factors affect the way our skin looks. But here are some general guidelines to help you set up a skincare routine that your skin will thank you for over the years to come.
Decide what you want the skincare routine to accomplish
For the longest time, my skin-related goals (to the extent that I had any) were about controlling the oil on my face and getting the pimples to settle down.
It was much later in life that I finally began to understand my skin and could decide what I wanted it to look like. For me that meant: smooth texture, controlled oil production, and a healthy glow. I started looking for products accordingly.
Define your goals and determine the skin challenges you want to address.
I suggest you become as specific as possible in your skincare goals.
Your skincare goals will guide your skincare routine. (This also means, stop buying products arbitrarily!) For example, you may want smoother looking skin, an even skin tone, and shrunken pores. Or you may want the acne to stop and a product that targets acne scars and hyperpigmentation. In addition, you may want younger, plumper looking skin.
Do your research in this regard and come up with one product that serves each of your goals.
So, for the first scenario, one product that shrinks pores (salicylic acid), another that clears up pigmentation (niacinamide), and another that speeds up skin renewal (retinol).
You don’t have to use all the products every single day. Particularly with exfoliants, use only one per night to begin with, and keep the exfoliation to two to three times a week. Use a hydrating serum on top of an exfoliant, followed by a moisturiser (weather permitting).
That right there is a very simple night time skincare routine that is doable and will give you desired results in a short time.
Learn how to use the products the right way
This is key in extracting the maximum benefit out of your skincare products. Following is an example of a nighttime skincare routine done the right way.
- On a clean and dry face, the BHA serum goes first. This is because it can break through the oil on the skin and penetrate it for deeper action. (Salicylic Acid is my favourite BHA. It shrinks pores and smoothens skin texture.)
- Your AHA product should follow the BHA product. (Lactic acid and Glycolic acid are examples of AHAs.)
- If you’re also using a niacinamide serum, it should go before BHA but 30 minutes after your AHA product.
- Next comes your eye cream
- Follow with a moisturiser if it’s winter or your skin is feeling drier. Skip this step if your skin is/has been feeling oily.
- Follow with a face oil (again, only if your skin isn’t feeling oily. Or you risk breaking out overnight.)
Target only a few skincare challenges at a time
You may have and want to treat a number of skin concerns but it’s best not to launch an attack on all of those challenges at the same time.
It would be confusing to do so and would also be a lot for your skin to handle.
Determine the most important/pressing concerns and address them first. Then move on to the next biggest concern (or two). If you can find a multitasking product that kills several birds with one stone, more power to you!
Keep it simple
You honestly don’t need a litany of products and 30-step routines to achieve healthier skin. Especially when you are starting out, stick to a trusted few products until your skin looks replenished enough for you to try on new variations. Here is an example of a minimalistic skincare routine (for warmer weather) that will give you noticeable results in a short time. The key with effective skincare is to be disciplined.
Protect your skin during the day
With a slew of new chemicals being unleashed on it, particularly exfoliants, your skin will become that much more sensitive and need extra protection. Religiously use a high SPF sunscreen when you’re out in the sun. If possible, avoid unnecessary sun exposure.
Change the routine as per the season
In summer the aim is to protect the skin from excessive oil production (and resulting breakouts) as well as the harsh sun. So, a skincare routine for summer will look very different from that of cooler months.
In general, oily skin needs less hydration in hot and humid/rainy weather. Chemical exfoliants, oil-absorbing masks, and sunscreens are my mainstay for this time of the year.
In winters, however, you can experiment with a lot more and the aim should be to nourish the skin. You can try a new moisturiser, you can apply facial oils, you can also put on hydrating face masks.
Don’t forget the eyes… or the neck
Your skincare routine should take care of your entire face, neck, and décolletage.
You need at least one product for the eyes, depending on what you want to accomplish. Do you want to reduce undereye dark circles, treat fine lines, or brighten up the eye area? There’s a product for every need (and then a few!).
The neck and the décolletage should be moisturised on a regular basis (and also covered in sunscreen), regardless of the season.
Let trends be trends
Trends come and go. No harm in dipping your toes into a hot new skincare trend but remember that your skin is special and none of those trends may serve you. Be smart with your money and do your research before committing to a new trend.
Growing up in the 90’s, skincare looked very different (and very greasy!). Cleansing-toning-moisturising was the mantra in the skincare industry, mindlessly churned out in magazine after magazine. What did toning ever do for you? Toners would leave my skin even oilier, and moisturisers would break me out. Not a single product that I tried suited me and yet I kept following the C-T-M routine. I know better now, and you do, too.
Let your skin be your guide
Ultimately, whatever you apply to your skin should serve the purpose – it should take you closer to your skincare goals. Whether a product is working or not will become clear in a few short weeks. Discard anything that doesn’t work, despite the hype.
Improvise or change things up
I’ve found that certain products work very well on my skin for a short time and cease being as effective later on. When that happens, I find a similar product from a different brand and that seems to revitalise the process.
Prepare to be disappointed
Not all products will work as promised and despite extensive research you may lose money.
For instance, I’ve found that several products touted as oily skin-friendly don’t work as such on my skin. Don’t get disheartened, however. Trial and error will take you closer to the products that work just right for you. When you find those, keep them for life!
Also, prepare to be thrilled
If you create and stick to a good skincare routine, you’re going to be thrilled with the results. And in the future you’ll thank your younger self for taking the time and the trouble to treat your skin right!
