Are you looking to get started with skincare but don’t currently have a routine? Confused about where to get started? If you answered yes to either of these, read on to find some helpful pointers about how you can get started with a minimal skincare routine
Why is skincare important?
Your skin is the largest organ in your body. You take care of your other internal organs by eating healthily, staying hydrated and exercising. These three things are also good for the skin, but your skin also requires additional treatment to keep it looking it’s best.
What are these things I must do?
As to not overload you with information, we’re keeping this simple. Establishing a simple three step routine is a fantastic place to start, and will work wonders for your skin. The three steps are cleansing, exfoliating and moisturising; terms I’m sure you’ve heard before or might be familiar with.
Step #1 – Cleansing
Perhaps the most important step. Your skin has small pores with glands that secrete sebum. This secretion is to keep your skin moisturised and protected. Over time however, these secretions build up on your face. Couple this with the dirt and oil from everyday life and you have one dirty face. These dirts and oils can clog your pores and lead to breakouts, as well as giving you a dull complexion.
Cleansing ensures all that dirt and oil build-up is washed off your face therefore allowing your pores to breathe, and reducing the chance of any breakouts and blackheads. We recommend Cetaphil – Gentle Skin Cleanser for this purpose. It’s gentle enough to not overly dry the skin, but will give you squeaky clean finish. You want to wash your entire face thoroughly and make sure you focus on any problem areas.
Step #2 – Exfoliate
While cleansing is good to get rid of any surface layer dirt, exfoliating really gets the job done. Exfoliating sloughs those layers of dead skin cells off through micro-abrasion/chemical products and promotes the skin to regenerate. Might sound a little daunting but these chemicals are perfectly safe for use on your skin, and provide fantastic results.
A physical exfoliant we recommend is Nip + Fab Glycolic Scrub Fix 75 ml. This is a fantastic product which helps brighten and renew skin with regular use. Physical exfoliants can be a little harsh on the skin, for this reason we recommend you only exfoliate 2-3 times a week.
This product also includes glycolic acid and salicylic acid, both of which are chemical exfoliants. A product we recommend is The Ordinary – Salicylic Acid 2% Solution. We recommend you read this article to better understand chemical exfoliants and the benefits for you skin.
Step #3 – Moisturising + Sunscreen
After cleansing and exfoliating, the skin can be left a little dry. Dry skin can cause peeling, and leads to fine lines and wrinkles. For this reason you must moisturise everyday, preferably first thing in the morning. If you have drier skin however, consider moisturising two or perhaps three times a day to ensure your skin stays hydrated.
Sunscreen is also very important. There are two-in-one products now available on the market which both moisturise and provide protection against the sun. UV rays are very damaging to the skin so you must ensure you apply product if you’re going to be directly exposed.
We recommend Nip + Fab post-glycolic moisturiser. It is oil free and so won’t clog your pores, and it also includes SPF 30.
We hope this article has given you some insight into the world of skincare routines. Ensure you read our other articles for minimal skincare advice and many other topics.