Basic Skincare Routine

Starting a skincare routine early will benefit you when getting older. It can slow down the aging process, prevent cancer, help with skin texture, help with blemishes, and reduce oils. When creating your routine you want to figure out if you have normal skin, oily skin, combination skin, or dry skin. you need to know if you have sensitive skin or acne-prone skin. Narrowing down your skin concerns will tell you what kind of products to use.

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Face wash

You want to wash your face morning and night to remove excess oils, dirt, and dead skin cells. You want to pick this based on your skin type so if you have oily skin, it’s good to get a cleanser with salicylic acid in it. If you have dry skin, you’re going to want to get a hydrating facial wash. You’re going to want to wash your face with lukewarm water and go into circular motions for a minute to make sure your face is clean.

• Cerave hydrating cleanser

• Youth to the people kale + green tea

• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser

• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser

• The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Acne + Pore Cleanser

Chemicals exfoliate/ toner

A chemical exfoliator encourages the skin cells to turn over, it can penetrate deep into the skin removing any dirt and sebum, and can help skin texture and reduce fine lines/ wrinkles. The two most popular skin exfoliants are BHA’s and AHA’s. AHAs are the gentler version these are recommended for beginning with chemical exfoliation and for people with dry skin. BHA’s are recommended for people with oily/ acne-prone skin. Salicylic acid is the most common it is fat-soluble, enhances penetration to get the pores clean and sebum free, it can also fight bacteria. There are some with a combination of AHA and BHA people with dry skin, normal skin, and oily can use these. The combination of both is also a good way to start with chemical exfoliation. It is best to use these at night because they can cause sensitivity to the sun. Do not use these on the same night as you use retinol. These and retinol need to rotate one night use the chemical exfoliator the next night the retinol.

• The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution

• Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

• Clarifying Facial Toner with Glycolic Acid 7% AHA + Salicylic Acid 0.5% BHA

Serums

These are not necessary for your everyday routine, but they do help. The serum is typically more potent with its ingredients. They are lightweight and their benefits can vary depending on which you use and what you need them for. The best thing to look for in serums is retinol, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. Retinol is vitamin A and is fat-soluble. You can use this for anti-aging, hyperpigmentation treatment, and scaring. This helps renew the cells on the epidermis and the dermis layers of the skin, this also helps produce collagen. This should be used at night only and never use on the same night as a chemical exfoliant, these must alternate nights. Niacinamide is vitamin B3. This helps improve skin smoothness, increases radiance, brightens, improves moisture, and reduces blemishes. Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule that naturally occurs in the skin. It can help pull moisture from the air into the skin, helps bind water to collagen to make the skin plumper, and helps retain moisture.

• Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum

• Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%

• Retinol Complex Serum

• La Roche-Posay Pure Retinol Face Serum with Vitamin B3

• The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum

• The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum

Face Moisturizers

These are usually thick creams or light gels to help moisturize the skin. They create a barrier that locks in hydration, keeps skin from drying out, and protects it from environmental irritants. Depending on the ingredients they can do other things besides just hydrating the skin. They can have anti-aging benefits, help reduce oil, and help even skin tone.

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Face Moisturizer Gel-Cream

• Cerave moisturizing cream

• The INKEY List Peptide Moisturizer

• La Roche-Posay Double Repair Face Moisturizer

Sunscreen

Sunscreen protects the skin from the sun’s rays. It should be applied every morning. Applying it can help reduce skin aging and skin cancer.

• La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light Fluid Face Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 60

• Paula's Choice Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 50

• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion, Broad Spectrum SPF 55

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When doing your skincare always start with washing your face, then your toner, then your serums, after that your moisturizer, and if it's the morning your going to end it off with your sunscreen. When you apply your skincare products you are going to want to go from the lightweight formulas to the heavier formulas so creams and oils should be last. Now that you have the building blocks to building a great skincare routine.