How To Build A Skin Care Routine
Skin care is personal — or at least, it should be. After all, each of us has different skin types, tones, textures, concerns, and goals. One person may look for a facial moisturizer to help stave off fine lines, while another needs to use one that boosts hydration. Someone might turn to a serum to help calm irritation and redness, while another person wants one that can fade acne scars and ward off future breakouts.
Skin Care Tips Before You Start
Three Main Steps
Think of your skin-care routine as consisting of three main steps:
- Cleansing — Washing your face.
- Toning — Balancing the skin.
- Moisturizing — Hydrating and softening the skin.
The goal of any skin-care routine is to tune up your complexion so it’s functioning at its best, and also troubleshoot or target any areas you want to work on. “Beauty routines are an opportunity to notice changes within yourself,” says the San Francisco skin-care specialist Kristina Holey. As your skin needs shifts with age, so will your products. Still, she adds, “it’s not about creating perfection.” Allow these three steps to become your daily ritual that fortifies your skin and grounds your day.
Do’s...
- Do know your skin type: Before purchasing over-the-counter skin care products there are some basic facts to know. Whether your skin is dry, oily, a combination or normal can impact how a product interacts with your skin. To determine your skin type, wash your face and wait a couple hours to observe your skin based on its natural state.
- Do create a daily skin care routine: The key to success with most skin care products is repetition. Establishing a daily routine is important, especially with anti-aging creams. Don’t be discouraged, it may be six to eight weeks before seeing improvements with over-the-counter remedies.
- Do be cautious of “miracle” products: Skin care products that seem “too good to be true” probably are, so use your best judgment. Reputable product lines are the best bet and likely to be most effective and safe.
What do you really mean when you say “skin care”?
We mean the basic care and keeping of your largest organ—your skin! It plays an important role in protecting you from outside pathogens and, you know, holds all your internal organs in place. And in the same way that you regularly brush your teeth, your skin requires at least some attention to keep it functioning properly.
It also requires protection—from skin cancer, primarily. At SELF, when we talk about skin care we’re talking about science-backed ways to improve both the look and function of your skin to address and manage both cosmetic and medical concerns.