Healthy skin sounds great but you probably had loads of questions regarding what a perfect daily skin routine would look like, what is the correct order to apply products, or how to maintain your skin basically without too many complications. 

The truth is, skin care is complicated only if you make it. 

If you are reading this, you are either at the beginning of the skincare road and you want to do more research before investing or to understand better how to start a simple and efficient skincare routine. 

In general, people start taking care of their skin better when problems and concerns occur. Breakouts? Pigmentation? Chronic dehydration? Ops, better do something! 

As a skin nerd and professional I would suggest 7 important tips to keep in mind from the start. 

1. Know your skin.  

Listening to your body in general, should be a must. I said body not mind (ha). The same is true with your skin! To know your skin is super important because this will be crucial in choosing the right products. Also, you need to prioritize your concerns; for example, my first concern is my congestion in the jawline area, then my second concern is my fine lines and wrinkles, third concern (the least important) is that I am a bit dehydrated and I got puffy eyes (when I work hard and I don’t get my beauty sleep).

Now, write down on paper the following that applies to you: oily, oily and dehydrated, dry, dry with sensitivity, acne, breakouts, inflammation, dry patches, rough and coarse skin, redness, blackheads and open pores, deep lines, eye wrinkles, pigmentation, broken capillaries, breakouts with redness and inflammation, dehydration, dull, tired or puffy (literally everything you see in the mirror on your face). 

This will determine what you will treat/correct first or prevent. Because some of the concerns have different priorities. 

If your skin has: Inflammation, redness, irritation, flushing, or rosacea (mild) will always be treated first, no matter what is your concern. First, you must minimize the risk of worsening sensitized skin by reducing inflammation and redness. Nourish, protect, and hydrate for a while. Then move on to your next concern, then you can go with more actives that stimulate the skin. 

Trust me, you don’t want to piss off an already irritated and inflamed skin with some harsh ingredients. 

2. Recognise the ingredients your skin needs. 

Ingredients and formulations matter. Brands matter more or less. Of course, the more advanced technology and better quality ingredients the more expensive it may be, but can also be the bigger the company and marketing the more expensive. So don’t fall into that trap. Research first. 

In the beginning, stick to a few active ingredients and then introduce them in your products. For example: you need vitamin C, salicylic acid, and hyaluronic acid. Find a salicylic acid-based cleanser, a vitamin C serum to use in the daytime, and a hyaluronic acid-based moisturizer (or whatever combinations you find). 

Just remember don’t mix up too many actives in the same time, unless they are already in some product formulation. 

3. Buy the basics first for your skincare regimen. The correct order to apply products.

Aim at the beginning for a good hydrating cleanser that you are going to use AM/PM. Then treat the skin for your primary concern with a serum that you are going to use in AM/PM. Not at the last is important to protect and prevent the skin during the day with an SPF (it can either be a moisturizer with SPF in it or 2 separate stuff) and hydrate at nighttime with a normal gel/cream formulation. So, the correct order to apply your products is:

AM: Cleanse, serum, SPF

PM: Cleanse, serum, moisturizer. daily skin routine

Weekly: acid/enzyme-based exfoliant

Ideally, a good exfoliant would work incredibly with all combined together because your skin needs to shed the old, dead cells in order to glow, have better absorption, feel smoother and softer and increase cell turnover. 

If you have more than basics and you are not sure how to use them then that’s the correct order to apply products:

AM: Cleanse, tone, eye cream, serum, spot treatment/lightweight moisturizer, SPF;

PM: Cleanse, cleanse again, tone, eye cream, serum (retinol), medium weight/heavy moisturizer;

Weekly: Exfoliate, use an overnight mask or regular mask.

Monthly: get a facial or a skin treatment. (extractions)

4. Add slowly other actives and extra products.

Don’t be afraid to introduce cleansers or masks with actives such as glycolic, salicylic, or lactic acids. They can only be used weekly like 1-2 times to avoid any excess dryness or redness that may occur.  Be careful if you add retinol. Based on the fact that can only be used at night time, you can either introduce it 1-3 times weekly but with the avoidance of another keratolytic agent (exfoliant). You can also add a toner, eye cream, overnight or regular masks, or an extra serum, and start mixing and matching them. Your skin will love it if you find the perfect combination in your skincare regimen.

5. “My budget is low” story

This is a reality, and I don’t blame anyone who cannot afford things. A low budget is also relative, but my advice for you is to focus on a cheaper cleanser (not the cheapest), and for moisturizers, opt out for the one without SPF because you can use it AM/PM rather than SPF that can be used AM only. Don’t get me wrong; SPF is extremely important, so you may buy a broad-spectrum SPF at least 30 as soon as possible.

In general, I recommend using good quality skincare. Just think about it as a good investment in your skin’s future. You’re using it every day (your face; is crazy isn’t it?)

Also, cheap products may not bring you any benefit. Most of them may have actives but in almost inexistent concentrations or may have too many harsh ingredients that may sensitize and disrupt the skin’s barrier. Then you complain that you used 9374774 cheap brands with no result, and nothing is working! (You did not try the good stuff yet)

6. Try to have a balanced life in general.

Good food, enough water and sleep, destress, socialize, go in nature, or do whatever the f*8k makes you happy. Working in a dull and continuous routine will affect the you and your skin whatsoever. Make little changes that count for your peace of mind and you will see that your daily skin routine may also change (you will find what fits your lifestyle eventually)

7. Don’t be afraid to ask professionals

Also, try not to listen to your friend’s / influencer’s recommendations! Your skin is unique, so does theirs and the fact that the same product may do great for all of you would be just a fortunate situation.

In conclusion, taking care of your skin is not hard! You just need to include it in your skin’s daily routine and never skip it. It’s like you can’t skip food or water. No matter how tired you may be, get up and cleanse! Your skin will thank you one day! 

Have patience and invest in your skin like you invest in a pair of shoes or a bag! Who likes a bad face with a fancy bag? 

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