When you drop by a store to shop for skincare products, thousands of options will be present, which may confuse you. As there are numerous products available in the market, picking the products to use for your skincare routine is not a walk in the park. So, it’s necessary to know how to create a skincare routine depending on the skin type, the products applied.

Another challenge that may present during this time is the order of using different products. Do skincare routine steps even matter? Should you cleanse first before toning? How much product should we put on our faces during the skincare routine?

Having good skincare products is just the first step towards building a skincare routine. We must correctly use these products to deliver their intended effects. It is also essential to know that skincare routines may vary from one method to another. It can be highly customized based on the skin type, products, and particular time of application.

Sometimes these questions and confusions on how to create a skincare routine discourage us from establishing one. Figuring things out maybe a little overwhelming, but once you know all the basics and foundation you need, doing your skincare routine could be just a piece of cake.

How Do I Start Building a Skincare Routine?

No skincare routine fits all kinds of skin types. The perfect skincare routine begins with determining the type of skin you have. Do you have an oily skin type, dry, or a combination of both? After figuring this out, you can finally start picking skincare products tailored based on your skin type.

Once you know your skin type, it’s time to choose the right products for you! It is best to check the labels of the products you intend to buy. Some products target oily skin, while some work best on dry or sensitive skin. The key is understanding which products will work best for you.

Sometimes, building a good skincare routine also takes a little bit of trial and error. It may involve testing out new products and checking if it benefits your skin or not. If it does not bring its purpose, ditch it and find another skincare product until you find the best one. 

Trusting word of mouth may or may not be advantageous, so it is up to you. What works for your friend may not bring the same effect on your skin.

What is the Importance of Building a Good Skincare Routine?

Establishing a good skincare routine can bring a lot of advantages to your life. First and foremost, having a practice equates to taking care of your skin in general. Having a skincare routine helps the skin stay in its best condition. Shedding is a natural process, and it occurs to everyone. However, your skincare routine can lessen its evident effects and maintain healthy skin.

Skincare routines could also keep the skin looking vibrant and youthful even as we age. The turnover of the skin cells begins to slow as the years pass by, and the way you care for your skin could prevent it from turning dull and glum. Some skincare products could improve the skin cell turnover that helps keep the skin youthful.

Besides all these benefits from having a skincare product, it also enhances your self-esteem. With a good skincare routine order, your physical appearance would improve and how you view yourself as well. The confidence that good skin gives you is like no other because it impacts your overall mood.

What Are the Basics of Skincare Routines?

The basics of skincare routines are the use of essential skincare products in their proper way. Using the products efficiently could bring their best effect on the skin. Not only will it produce its intended effect, but it will be worth every penny you ever spend.

The following are the basics of skincare routines:

1. Cleanser

Some people may think that washing and cleansing the face is something we can do haphazardly. People should bust this myth because this is one of the most critical parts of building a skincare routine. Wet your face using lukewarm water and gently massage in your preferred cleanser. The amount you should use significantly depends on your product’s instructions, so read the label and follow the directions.

Using gentle pressure, wash your face in a circular motion. Rinse with lukewarm water and make sure to remove all the suds present. Pat your face gently to dry it using a soft towel.

2. Toner

After washing and cleansing the face, the following product you should grab next is your chosen toner. Toners improve the fine lines and wrinkles by unclogging the pores’ bacteria and sebum. It also hydrates the skin while providing additional cleansing properties.

The application of a toner also depends on your preferred product. More often than not, toners are applied by placing them on a cotton ball or cotton pad. Make sure it is moist enough so it will not be too dry once applied to the face. Spread the toner on the face and neck in a gentle manner. Avoid forcefully gliding the cotton ball or pad while doing this.

3. Moisturizers

The use of these skincare products is another essential step in one’s skincare routine. Its primary purpose is to keep the skin moisturized despite the weather and the body’s condition. Once applied, it leaves the skin soft once touched. You should use moisturizing products before applying cosmetic products to the face.

You may use your fingertips to get the product and gently dab and spread it on the face. It is vital to put moisturizer on the most exposed areas of the face, such as the forehead, nose, and cheeks. Using a swirling motion, spread the moisturizer evenly until it reaches the neck and ensures that it covers the areas that are pretty hard to get.

4. Sunscreen

This is another essential step on how to create a skincare routine. Almost all dermatologists would recommend this to protect the skin from the UV rays emitted by the sun. Incorporating this as a part of your skincare routine would keep you protected from visible signs of aging and skin cancer.

It is vital to ensure that the sunscreen you are using contains the right amount of SPF you need. Broad-spectrum SPF provides your protection from both UVA and UVA light rays, so it is best to check the label of your sunscreens!

What is a Good Daily Skincare Routine?

Aside from knowing the basic skincare routine steps, you should also learn more about other skincare products and elements that you may add to your regimen. It could enhance not only your physical appearance but your general skin condition as well.  

But, with so many products available to incorporate into your skincare routine, which of the following do you require? What skincare products should be used in the morning and night?

According to experts from Healthline, having both an AM and PM routine could help improve your skin.

Wait, is there a difference between these two skincare routines?

The answer is simple – your morning and evening routine differs, and you should know which particular steps are needed for a specific time of the day.

Build Your AM Routine

Since you are more active and on the go during the mornings, your routine skincare should target skin hydration and protection. Here are the following steps you can use for your routine:

Step 1: Cleanser 

Get rid of all the accumulated sebum overnight by washing your face with your trusty facial cleanser! Pick a product that is gentle but could effectively remove all the bad stuff present on your face.

Step 2: Toner 

After cleansing, grab your toner and soak a cotton ball or pad. Gently apply it to your face so it can stay nourished. It also offers additional cleansing properties.

Step 3: Serum 

The use of serums may not be considered an essential skincare step, but it helps protect the skin and keep it healthy. It contains high concentrations of substances that keep the skin hydrated and protected. Some serums also target dull skin and pigmentations.

Step 4: Eye Cream 

Putting this skincare product on your under-eyes could lessen the puffiness and tiredness, especially if you pulled an all-nighter the night before! It helps you appear less tired and more invigorated.

Step 5: Moisturizer 

You should incorporate this primary skincare step into all skincare routines. It keeps the skin moisturized and nourished while also serving as protection from external factors.

Step 6: Sunscreen 

To cap off your AM skincare routine, wear sunscreen with the appropriate SPF to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Build Your PM Routine

After a long day, taking care of the skin is essential. Since you are about to go to bed during this time, you have the luxury of time to nourish your skin with nutrients and active ingredients. This will help the skin repair itself over the night.

Step 1: Cleanser 

Use a gentle cleanser to remove all the dirt harbored in your face the whole day. This helps remove not only the dirt but also the make-up you applied during the day.

Step 2: Toner 

You may apply the toner the same way you used it during your AM routine. Spread it gently on your face and avoid rubbing the cotton ball or pad aggressively to prevent abrasions.

Step 3: Serum 

Aside from the highly-concentrated serums that you may use in your AM routine, there are other options. You can also apply other serums such as retinol to your PM routine. Since it is a form of vitamin A, it helps reduce the visible signs of aging and age spots. Retinol stimulates cellular turnover, which allows your body to create new skin cells and get rid of old ones faster. The skin becomes more exposed to UV rays when cell turnover is enabled, so use it in your PM routine.

Step 4: Eye Cream

Application of eye cream during the night is also a good skincare routine step so you can wake up with less tiredness and puffiness the following morning.

Step 5: Spot Treatment

If you have acne-prone skin, you may use acne spot treatments to help reduce the inflammation and size of the pimples present.

Step 6: Moisturizer 

Even during the night, it is still essential to keep the skin hydrated and nourished. The majority of moisturizers create a barrier that locks in the moisture leaving the skin glowing and plump, especially after waking up.

Step 7: Face Oil

Several face oils are available, and you may choose from the selection depending on your target. Certain face oils intensely hydrate dry skin, brighten and even out the darker skin tones, reduce inflammation and hyperpigmentation, and protect skin from bacteria.

Incorporate Exfoliation Into Your Skincare Routine 

Exfoliating 2-3 times a week helps shed old dead skin cells from the skin’s surface, unclog pores, oil build-up, and at the same time, gently refines rough textural irregularities, dry, flaky skin, and revives a healthy glow. Exfoliating helps improve product penetration, so all your creams and serums penetrate the skin more efficiently. The nights you are exfoliating, start with cleanser, toner, exfoliate, and moisturizer.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to create a skincare routine for yourself is one of the best investments you will have in life. A good skincare routine helps keep your skin healthy, glowing, vibrant, and young. It will also boost your self-esteem.

Start YOUR journey towards better skin health. The perfect skincare routine begins with knowing your skin type. Take our free skin type quiz and start building your skincare routine today!