Did you know that the things that can make your skin healthy are the same things that can make your skin beautiful? There’s a reason why daily skincare is recommended by beauty gurus and dermatologists alike. A consistent routine with products tailored to your skin type and skin needs is the best way to achieve your best looking skin. At Beauty Co. in Raleigh, NC, our skin experts can walk you through how to build a routine that works for your skin.
What Are the Basics of Skin Care?
You’ve probably heard of a few different methods for the daily care and maintenance of your skin, such as the Basic Three or the 10-Step Korean routine. But what is the best method? Ultimately, your routine and products will depend on your skin needs, your preferences, and even your lifestyle. But if you want to start with the basics, then you’ll need to be sure your routine hits five main categories, including cleansing, exfoliating, actives, moisturizers, and sun protection.
Cleansing
Daily cleansing might be the most important step of your routine. Most people prefer to cleanse morning and night, and while this is highly recommended to remove dirt, oil, makeup, dead skin cells, and other skin products, the frequency of your cleansing will depend on your skin type and the cleansers that you use.
For example, people with very sensitive skin may only need to cleanse their skin with soap once a day and use something like micellar water for the second daily cleanse. Some people may also like the double-cleanse method, which involves using an oil-based cleanser followed by a cream or foaming cleanser; the double-cleanse method is ideal for makeup removal or those who have oily or acne-prone skin.
Exfoliating
Exfoliating is a divisive step in building your routine, but if you do it right then your skin will reap the benefits of better product penetration, brighter tone, and oil regulation. While some people may be tempted to use an exfoliating product, such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or manual exfoliators like sugar scrubs, it’s best to limit your exfoliation step to at least two to three times a week – or less if you have sensitive skin.
While exfoliation is essential to remove dead skin cells and address concerns such as dull, dry, or rough skin, over-exfoliating the skin can lead to skin sensitivity. When you exfoliate the skin, you are removing the surface layers of dead skin cells. Exfoliating too often can make your skin thinner, break down your moisture barrier, and make your skin more reactive to active ingredients. If you are using professional exfoliation treatments, you may only need an exfoliation step once a week.
Actives
While cleansing and exfoliating the skin help regulate the oil production and skin cell shed cycle, these steps also prepare your skin to receive the benefits of active skin ingredients. Actives are an essential portion of your routine, so if you’re skipping over actives, you may be doing your skin a disservice. Actives are additional serums, acids, or other ingredients that target specific skin concerns and can be used as often as every day.
What Are the Best Active Ingredients?
So, what are the best active ingredients? Ultimate, the best ingredients for your skin will depend on what you want to target and many people use multiple ingredients, either as separate products or incorporated into other products, such as cleansers or moisturizers. Some of the most popular active ingredients include Vitamin C, ferulic acid, lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, benzoyl peroxide, collagen, niacinamide, panthenol, retinoids, snail mucin, and much more.
It’s perfectly acceptable to use actives during the same routine, but you should be aware of the best way to layer your products. Always start with your thinnest actives and gradually layer up, which means using water-based, oil-based, and then thicker serums or essences. You should also be aware of interactions. For example, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide work very well together, but Vitamin C may cancel out retinoids if these products are applied sooner than 30 minutes apart.
Moisturizers
The role of a moisturizer is to both lock in the moisture of your active ingredients and also form a protective barrier for the skin from wind, extreme weather, and other potential irritants. Your moisturizer should ideally be lighter for the daytime and heavier for the nighttime. Keeping the skin moisturized is essential for regulating oil production, which seems counter-intuitive – but when your skin is moist, it will produce less oil and become healthier over time.
Sun Protection
The final step in your basic skin routine is sun protection. Protecting your skin from harmful UV rays will prevent some types of skin cancer and also may reduce visible signs of aging. It’s also necessary to protect your skin from sunlight when you are using certain active ingredients, such as benzoyl peroxide or retinoids. Your sun protection can absolutely be incorporated into your makeup foundation.
Find the Right Routine for You
Building a skincare routine for your skin means ensuring that you have products that work well together and that you can apply consistently – after all, the skin thrives when products are used daily or weekly. We offer several product lines such as Revision Skincare, SkinBetter, SkinMedica, and ZO Skin Health. Please contact Beauty Co. in Raleigh, NC to schedule your consultation so we can help you build a routine that works to meet your skin needs and goals.
