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Having a regular skin care routine is more than just a surface-level concern. No matter what your age is, having a skin care routine will help keep your skin healthy, making you look and feel good all throughout the year.
Skin Care Guide For Beginners
Skin care routine may sound too high maintenance but the truth is, it’s very easy to implement even for complete newbies. Below is a skin care routine guide for beginners.
Step 1. Know your skin type
The first step in establishing a skin care routine is knowing your skin type.
The most common skin types are normal, oily, dry, combination, and sensitive skin.
Normal Skin Type
A normal skin type is characterized by good blood circulation on the skin. People with normal skin type usually have smooth, soft, and even skin tone.
Oily Skin Type
An oily skin type is characterized by overactive sebaceous glands. Hence, people who have oily skin tend to produce more oil than necessary, making them more prone to having enlarged pores and acne flare-ups.
Dry Skin Type
A dry skin type is the opposite of the oily skin. People with a dry skin has a low level of sebum, making the skin flakier and feels tight after being wiped with a tissue.
Combination Skin Type
A combination skin type is characterized by dry or normal skin in some areas and oily in others. The oily area is usually the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin).
Sensitive Skin Type
Sensitive skin is a term used to describe a skin condition in people who break out easily. People with sensitive skin type can easily get itchy, blotchy, or stinging skin after using certain products or exposed to certain weather conditions.
Step 2. Learn what types of products you need
A basic skin care routine usually involves the following items:
- Cleanser
A cleanser is a product you use for washing your face. It is important to choose a cleanser that’s suitable for your skin type and one that’s meant for washing your face. The usual bar or body wash can have harsh ingredients that can easily strip off your skin’s moisture.Finding the right cleanser can be tricky as it’s usually a trial and error process. If you have dry skin, a fragrance or alcohol-free type can be a good option. If you have an oily skin, opting for an oil-free type can be your best bet.
- Toner
After you wash your face, you will need a toner to smoothen, soften, and calm your skin. A toner can provide a ‘clean’ feel for those with oily or combination skin type.A good toner contains ingredients that help restore nutrients to the skin. It can also help in reducing dry patches or redness.
- Moisturizer
Regardless of your skin type, you’ll need a moisturizer to hydrate your skin. It can keep your skin smooth and healthy-looking.
- Sunscreen
UV exposure doesn’t just cause skin cancer; it’s also the leading cause of wrinkles and other signs of skin aging.Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF of at least 30 can help protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun.
Sunscreen should be applied everyday even when it’s gray or cold outside.
- Exfoliating products
Exfoliating products are not meant to be used every day but they can be useful for certain skin types such as weather-induced dry skin. Using it once or twice a week after a cleanser and before applying the moisturizer can help in getting rid of dead skin cells. When used correctly, they can help clear the pores, giving you smoother and younger-looking skin.
Step 3. Determine when to use certain products
As a beginner, the list of skin care items to use may sound too overwhelming. A good way to remember what items to use at certain times of the day is this: morning routine should be about protection and prevention while night time routine should focus on cleansing and repair.
You can begin your morning routine by rinsing your face with warm water and then applying moisturizer and sunscreen. At night, a more dedicated skin care routine is needed. It involves cleansing the face with a product suitable for your skin type, getting rid of the makeup and dirt using a toner, exfoliating if there’s a need to, and then capping off the routine with the use of a moisturizer.
As the largest organ of the body and the first line of health defense, your skin needs to be taken good care of.
Whether you’re in your 20s or 40s, this skin care guide can get you to your goal of having healthy, smooth, and young-looking skin.