There isn’t one woman on this earth who doesn’t need or think of adopting a nice skincare routine. We, as women, are expected to have a skin that is flawless, beautiful and healthy. All facts straight, this isn’t easy. There are a lot of things you need to do to achieve a perfect skin and healthy skin.
- The fact that your skin cannot take care of itself is somewhat scary. Your face skin or the exposed body skin face the pollution and dirt of the outside world on daily basis. From time to time, it needs toning and care to eliminate the dirt particles, rather than storing them inside, only to turn into serious skin problems.
- And no, I am not only referring to the mere use of a face mask. Face masks are just a part of a good skin care order. There are a lot more things you need to do on a daily basis to give your skin what it deserves.
Talking about skincare routine, you must be aware that everyone has a different skin type. You might have an oily skin type, dry skin type or maybe sensitive skin. Now, the skincare routine for each type of skin will be different. Each type of skin needs its own kind of care to deal with all the problems.
Let us first look at the before getting to the basic skin care steps.
Types of Skin
1. Dry Skin-
Dry skin can be easily recognized. If your skin feels stretchy, irritative, whitish or flaky, then you have a dry skin type. Dry skin is a result of a poor moisture barrier. The skin is not able to retain moisture and lets it escapes easily, leaving behind the dehydrated and dry skin.
2. Oily Skin-
Oily skin is also easy to recognize. If your skin is oily from some places and an oil-like liquid covers your skin from time to time, then you have an oily skin type. Oily skin is a result of excess sebum production which seeps out and collects on the skin.
3. Combination Skin-
Combination skin, as its name suggests, is the combination of the two above. Your skin might feel dry from some areas, while oily from others at the same time.
4. Sensitive Skin-
Sensitive skin is a lot more irritative than the dry skin. If you are constantly facing acne problems or see dark patches appearing constantly on your skin, then you have a sensitive skin type.
5. Aging Skin-
If your skin has started showing fine lines, wrinkles, spots or is starting to sag, then your skin has started to age. This means (and I’m sorry to say) you have an aging skin type.
6. Normal Skin-
These are the people who are the luckiest. If your skin doesn’t feel dry or oily, neither does it feels sensitive or aging, then you have a normal skin type.
Each one of these skin types needs its own kind of Skincare routine. So, I bring you the best skin care regimen based on your skin type. Read below to know what you should be doing.
Best Skin Care Regimen
1. Dry Skin Care Steps
For dry skin, you need to use things that help your skin to remain hydrated. For that, you should have the following products on your shelf all the time.
Morning Time-
- Cleansing Lotion- A good cleansing lotion that forms no foam or lather. It must be mild in nature and should be used in the morning time.
- Toner- A good and mild toner which is free of alcohol and ethanol must be used in the morning.
- Serum- A good serum which is anti-oxidant which is comprised of nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E. This must be used in the morning so that it can prevent the breaking down of collagen of the skin during the day.
- Moisturiser + SPF- Those with dry skin need to thrive on a good moisturizer. Choose a nice hydrating moisturizer and follow with a good SPF lotion before you do anything else.
Night Time-
- Cleansing Lotion- Same as the morning time.
- Toner- Same as the morning time.
- Retinol serum- A good retinol serum is a key to a good night time skincare routine. A serum is better than a night cream since it is able to penetrate deeper than a cream.
- Eye Cream- You also need a good hydrating cream to apply under your eyes in the night time. The eye cream works in re-building collagen and hence filling in for wrinkles and cracks around that area.
- Moisturiser- For the night time, you will need a good hydrating moisturizer to apply after washing your face. Make sure your moisturizer has a tint of jojoba oil or any other essential skin oils to soothe your dry skin.
Weekly Use-
- Scrubs- Dry skin has a dead cell build-up over the skin. It is important to remove them, which can be done with the use of mild and gentle facial scrub. Try not to use one with sharp edges.
- Face Oil- Use a good face oil such as rose oil or tea tree oil for applying in the night time.
2. Oily Skincare Routine Order
Those with oily skin need to get rid of the excess oil and sebum under their skin. This can be done by following the given skincare routine below.
Morning Time-
- Gel Face Wash- Try and use a good gel-based face wash which is also sulphate free. Use it to wash your face at least 3 times in a day to get rid of the excess oil.
- Toner- You will need a mild toner which is free of alcohol and may be comprised of ingredients such as witch hazel and geranium.
- Moisturiser- The moisturizer you choose for an oily skin type must be oil-free. It must contain ingredients such as sodium PCA and glycerine.
- Sunscreen- For an oily skin type, use a zinc oxide sunscreen since they come with a matte finish which is perfect for oily skin type.
Night Time-
- Gel Face Wash- Same as morning time.
- Toner- Same as morning time.
- Alpha/Beta-Hydroxy Serum- Serum with alpha-hydroxy acids or beta-hydroxy acids are the best for oily skin types. For acne prone skin, go for tea tree oil or salicylic acids for a clearer skin.
- Retinol Serum- Serum makes the skin pores smaller. Use a good and mild retinol serum for taking care of those big pores over the skin.
- Moisturiser- Same as morning time.
Weekly-
- Clay Mask- Use a clay mask on weekly basis for oily skin. Make sure to not let it dry too much before taking it off.
- Face Oil- You can add 1 drop of a good face oil in your oil-free moisturizer on a weekly basis. This will take off extra oil production on your skin.
3. Combination Skin Care Order
The skincare routine for a combination skin type can be somewhat midway in that of a dry skin care and oil skin care routine. You can follow the following mentioned skin care routine for combination skin type.
Morning Time-
- Gel Face Wash-Same as that for an oily skin type. If your skin starts feeling too dry, you can turn to cleanse lotion for this step.
- Toner- Same as that for the oily type.
- Moisturiser- Your moisturizer doesn’t need to be an oil-free one. Instead, it can be lightweight.
- Sunscreen- Use a zinc oxide sunscreen, same as that for an oily skin type.
Night Time-
- Gel Face Wash- Same as morning time.
- Toner-Same as morning time.
- Alpha/Beta-Hydroxy Serum- Same as that for oily skin type.
- Retinol Serum- Same as that for oily/dry skin type.
- Moisturiser-Same as morning time.
Weekly
- Clay Mask- For a combination skin, use a clay mask only on the T-zone.
- Face Oil-Use a light face oil for night time use, on a weekly basis only and not daily.
4. Sensitive Skincare Routine
Morning Time-
- Cleansing Lotion- Use a sulphate-free cleansing lotion for the morning time.
- Toner- Use a toner which is alcohol-free and is comprised of ingredients such as green tea or white tea extracts and other anti-inflammatory agents.
- Moisturiser- For sensitive skin, choose a moisturizer which is free of artificial scents that could cause irritation.
- Sunscreen- Use a zinc oxide sunscreen lotion for sensitive skin types.
Night Time-
- Cleansing lotion- Same as morning time.
- Toner- Same as morning time.
- Moisturiser- Same as morning time.
Weekly-
- Gel Mask- Use a gel face mask to soothe oily skin on a weekly basis.
- Lactic Acid Serum- Use a lactic acid-based serum for gentle exfoliation on a weekly basis only.
Frequently Asked Questions About Skincare Routine
1. How often should I use toner on my skin?
You can use a mild toner for any skin type on a daily basis. In fact, you can use one for the morning time and the night time. Toner works well in rejuvenating your skin before sleep and after sleep.
2. What kind of sunscreen should be used on oily skin?
For oily skin, use a zinc oxide sunscreen. This will leave a matte finish and even out the oiliness on your skin.
Read more – 10 Alarming Ways You are Spoiling Your Skin Yourself!