How to Build a Skincare Routine – Creating a skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, it should be simple and tailored to your skin’s unique needs. But in a world full of viral TikTok routines, influencer product hauls, and endless social media ads, figuring out where to start can feel overwhelming. Social media trends often promote flashy results without explaining what works for different skin types, leading to confusion and sometimes wasted money.
Whether you’re completely new to skincare or just trying to build a more intentional routine, this guide is for you. Read to the end to learn all about the basic steps and how to choose the right products to achieve your dream healthy skin.
How to Build a Skincare Routine?
1. Identify Your Skin Type
The first step to building the perfect skincare routine is to find your skin type. This step is important to make sure you’re buying the right products for your skin type. Your skin can either be dry, oily, normal, combination, or sensitive. This all depends on how much sebum your skin produces. Sensitive skin is generally considered a skin type, but it’s also a measure of how reactive your skin is. So, your skin can be a certain type, and sensitive at the same time.
You can find your skin type at home by waiting at least 30 minutes after cleansing your face, and observing the oil on your skin. If your skin looks shiny all over, you likely have oily skin. If your skin feels tight, looks flaky and rough, then your skin is dry. If you only look shiny on your T-zone, that’s a sign of combination skin. However, if your skin still feels hydrated, not oily or dry, then you most likely have normal skin.
2. Start with the Basics
If you’re just starting skincare, you should start with a basic routine. This consists of a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. In the morning, end your routine with sunscreen. At night, simply cleanse your face and apply moisturizer. Once you’ve got the basics down, you can start to incorporate more steps and products into your routine.
When it comes to choosing sunscreens for daily use, you need to make sure it has at least SPF 30. However, if you’re staying outdoors for a long time, go for at least SPF 50 or higher.
3. Add Targeted Treatments
If you want to keep a very simple routine, then you can skip this step. But, if you have any skin concerns like acne, wrinkles, dark spots, etc., then you can also add targeted treatments into your skincare routine.
These can include exfoliators, serums, spot treatments, eye creams, and many more. For example, if you have dark spots, you can use serums containing Vitamin C, Retinol, or use exfoliators such as AHAs and BHAs to brighten and even out your skin tone.
Building a skincare routine doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By starting with the basics, you can create a strong foundation for healthy skin. Next, you can slowly add targeted treatments based on your skin’s specific needs. Remember, consistency is key, and more steps doesn’t always mean better. You don’t need to follow every skincare trend on social media. Take the time to understand your skin, be patient with the process, and choose products that work for you.
Sources:
- https://www.cerave.com/skin-smarts/skincare-tips-advice/what-skin-type-do-i-have.
- https://blogs.bcm.edu/2022/02/03/skincare-101-the-basics.
- https://www.qvskincare.com/cn/en/articles/healthy-beautiful-skin/how-to-build-a-basic-skincare-routine.html.
- https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/quick-dose-how-much-spf-do-you-really-need.
- https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/how-to-get-rid-of-dark-spots#prevention.
