How to Build a Skincare Regimen that Works

Good skin isn't all about good genes. It's about finding the right skin care regimen for you and one-size-fits-all skin care is unlikely to work for all skin types, issues, ages or seasons. But, building a skincare regimen that works for you is not as complicated as you might think. Here are a few tips to put together a personalized routine for best results:

Know Your Skin Type

The very first step in building any skin care regimen is knowing your skin type:

• Dry: noticeably dry with a tendency towards visible fine lines, pores and patches of dry skin with or without makeup
• Mature: tendency to be dry and usually has fine lines, deep lines and age spots or areas of dark pigmentation
• Oily: shiny much of the day and often acne-prone
• Sensitive: reactive to products, environmental changes or even a rough touch, often in the form of redness, bumps and acne
• Any combination of the above
  
  

Once you've determined your skin type (which can change at different stages of your life), you will want to focus on finding products formulated for:

Step 1: Cleansing

Cleansing is one of the most critical steps of your routine. By removing dirt, sweat, makeup and pollution from your face, even oil from sleeping on your pillow all night, you increase the absorption capacity (and thereby potency) of every other product you use and reduce breakouts. No matter what product you use, those with dry and sensitive skin types may want to limit cleansing to the morning to avoid over-drying.

Step 2: Serum

Serums are the workhorses of your skincare regimen. They pack a punch with ingredients to help with your skin issues, like uneven skin tone, under-eye bags, acne or fine lines and wrinkles.  Serums may even help calm inflammation, like rosacea flareups.Apply the serum formulated for your skincare issue after cleansing but before moisturizer.

Step 3: Moisturizer

Every skin type needs to moisturize, not just dry or mature skin types. Dryness causes oily skin to start overproducing oil, which leads to even more breakouts. Mature and dry skin types should look for thicker creams, especially for night. Oily skin types should look for light, oil-free and gel-based moisturizers to provide the right amount of moisture without leaving a greasy feeling. You can go for a different morning and evening route because your skin's needs are different at the start of the day than at the end of it. For example, you can use a lighter moisturizer or one that includes SPF to go under your makeup for the morning. In the evening, you can use a heavier night cream to help replenish moisture and repair your skin while you sleep.

Bonuses and Important Additions

In addition to the basics, you can add steps and products to your routine depending on your needs, such as:

• Makeup remover (to be used before cleansing)
• Oil cleanser (like makeup remover, it is an extra step to remove excess oil before your usual wash)
• Toner (toner can act as a cleanser, a mild exfoliant, a pH balancer, or a moisturizer depending on the toner)
• Masks (there are a variety to provide added benefits and complement your everyday routine)
  
  

When applying any part of your skincare regimen, remember to apply from thinnest to thickest you'll start with a cleanser and end with a moisturizing cream. Start building a skincare regimen that works for your skin's type and needs by completing our skin assessment. When you have questions or are ready to order products formulated for your needs, Contact us today!"