Maintaining your skin daily is essential if you want to look flawless. It helps slow down the signs of ageing and acne breakouts. But sometimes, you may not know what is the right skin care routine you should do. Some would get intimidated at the number of steps they have to follow for certain routines. As a result, they would just skip doing that routine altogether which can lead to various skin issues. At Cambridge Therapeutics, we have come up with a basic skin care routine that even the busiest of people can follow. Read on to find out more.
Before buying any product, it is important to understand your skin type. This is to ensure that you are buying the correct products and preventing any unwanted side effects. Observe how your skin feels; whether it feels oily, dry or both. Also observe if you have any skin conditions like wrinkles or acne as they would be need special products to target those issues. You can also go to a dermatologist in Singapore to get an in depth analysis of your skin and advice on what products to use.
Below are the basic products you need to apply every morning and night in that order.
Cleanser
Cleansing your face is first and very important step in your skin care. It washes away dirt and pollutants you caught on the face from outside exposure. You need to choose the right kind of cleanser for you face, ideally something that does not dry out your face nor makes it feel greasy. If you were wearing any makeup, you may need to cleanse your face twice or even thrice to ensure that all the makeup is gone. Before washing your face, you could clean off most of the makeup with some makeup remover or micellar water. This would make the cleansing process easier.
Tip: When you wash your face, use warm water as it will open up your pores and allows the cleanser to wash away dirt more effectively. Finish off with cold water to close the pores and calm any inflammation.
Toner
Toners are used to rebalance the pH value of the skin after cleansing your face. They can also clear off any remnant dirt left on the skin and close all the pores. They can contain nourishing benefits for the skin, depending on the type and brand of toner you are using. For instance, toners can have antioxidant benefits and vitamins which can be absorbed by the skin. Micellar water can be used as a toner as it is mild and gets rid of dirt easily.
You should apply the toner after cleansing your face. Make sure that your skin is dry before applying. Pour some toner on a cotton pad and wipe all around your face. You can also use your hands but make sure that they are clean before touching your face.
If you have not been using a toner and your skin looks and feels alright, then it would be okay to skip the toner.
After toning, it is a good time to apply any serums or treatments to your face. Serums are concentrated solutions that penetrate deep into the skin to provide nourishment. There are different types of serums that are used for different times of the day. For instance, serums used for the day contains antioxidant properties to protect against free radical damage from outside exposure. Night time serums contain properties that can repair scars and slow down ageing. It is a matter of picking the serum to suit your routine and skin type.
There are also treatment serums and creams you could be prescribed or have to use. They can be like acne spot treatment, anti-ageing, or eye serums. If you are using these treatments, you need to follow the advice from your dermatologist and the instructions carefully. Some of these products may contain properties that can dry the face or make the face greasy. Also, some of these products may not come cheap so it is best not to use them unnecessarily.
Tip: Apply serums before your moisturiser as the serums can be absorbed better.
Moisturiser
Everyone needs to apply moisturiser, no matter what their skin type is. Even if your have oily skin, you still need a moisturiser. They are key in locking in moisture and preventing the skin from getting too dry. By locking in moisture, you are allowing your skin to regenerate and protect it from exposure. Especially if you are under a dry, air conditioned environment or constantly exposed under the sun.
Moisturisers can come in many forms; they are different types for different times of the day. For instance, some night moisturisers are typically thicker than day time ones. Choose a product that you are comfortable using and makes your skin feel hydrated but not overly greasy. Moisturising should be the last step of your skincare routine as once it is applied, no other solution will be able to get absorbed by the skin. You could go for hyaluronic acid based moisturisers as hyaluronic acid is highly compatible to the skin.
Tip: You should apply it when you skin is damp so that it can lock in all the moisture. If you are doing a spot treatment, it would be best to avoid applying moisturisers there so that it will not hinder active ingredients in the treatment.
Sunblock (For the Day)
You need to apply sunblock if you are going to exposed under the sun. The ultraviolet rays from the sun can cause free radical damage leading to dryness, pigmentation, and signs of ageing. [1] Find a sunblock that has a broad SPF rating (over 30) and apply after your moisturiser. Opt for those that do not need to be absorbed by the skin, meaning it is literally a layer of protection on the skin, so that it does not reduce the efficiency of your moisturiser.
This the basic skincare routine that everyone needs to have in order to maintain their skin. You can find some of these products in a set of cleanser, toner and moisturiser or ala carte. If you need advice or check out our products we offer, contact us here!
D'Orazio, J., Jarrett, S., Amaro-Ortiz, A., & Scott, T. (2013). UV radiation and the skin. International journal of molecular sciences, 14(6), 12222–12248. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms140612222
