Living / 11 March, 2021 / Ellie Thompson

How To Put Together A Quick And Easy Skincare Routine

Getting into a good skincare routine can transform your skin. But there are so many different products to choose from that promise to fix everything from blemishes and wrinkles to dark circles and uneven skin tone. And if you’re short on time then applying twenty different products day and night just isn’t practical.

That’s why you need to know how to put together a quick and easy skincare routine. Once you’ve found a routine that you can stick to you’ll start to see an improvement in your skin.

Work out your skin type

Before you start putting together a skincare routine, you need to know what kind of skin you have so that you can choose suitable products.

• Oily skin: Do you find that your skin gets shiny or greasy as the day goes on? Then you’ve probably got oily skin. Choose products that are labeled as oil-free and don’t go for thick or heavy creams as these can clog up your pores even more.
• Dry skin: If your skin tends to look and feel dull and dry, or even starts to flake sometimes, then you’ve got dry skin.
• Combination skin: If your skin seems to change with the seasons or you find some areas are dry and others oily then you’ll want to choose products for combination skin.

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Identify and treat skin conditions

It’s important to identify and treat any specific skin conditions that you have with suitable products. If you start to use the wrong products on your skin it can make the problem worse or cause flare-ups.

One of the most common issues is skin irritations such as eczema and psoriasis, which make skin dry, red, and inflamed. It can be painful and uncomfortable and regular moisturizers aren’t usually enough to manage the condition. You should talk to a doctor or pharmacist and consider using something like Betnovate as a prescription option. Betnovate treats inflamed skin conditions and can ease flare-ups in about a week, but you still need to take care of your skin to keep it healthy.

Once you’ve identified and treated any conditions like eczema, it’s still important to choose your skincare products carefully, but it should increase how effective your day-to-day skincare routine is.

Four-step skincare routine

Your skincare routine should help balance your skin, boost your complexion, and even out the tone. There are four basic steps you need to include in your skincare routine: cleanser, toner, serums, and moisturizer. However, the products that you use for each of these steps may change as your skin changes with different seasons and as you get older.

Cleanse

The first step in your skincare routine should always be to cleanse your skin. You want to gently clean your skin twice a day to remove the everyday dirt and pollutants that it comes into contact with. It will also help your skin to absorb the other products that you’re going to use.

It’s important not to use a harsh cleanser that strips away too much of the natural oils on your face. You need to be especially careful if you have sensitive skin or you’re prone to breakout or eczema flare-ups.

Tone

Using a toner is a great way to tackle things like breakouts or dull skin, but again it’s important to be careful that you’re not using harsh products. A few key things to look out for in toners are:

• Glycolic acid: A glycolic acid toner such as Pixi Glow Tonic will remove dead skin cells for a brighter complexion. It can also stimulate collagen production to reduce signs of aging.
• Salicylic acid: This is good for acne-prone skin. It breaks down and removes dead skin cells, and also clears any dirt or debris in pores that can lead to blemishes.
• Vitamin C and E: These are antioxidants that can help protect skin from damage and help it to retain moisture.

Serums

Serums have concentrated doses of key active ingredients that can help hydrate and soothe your skin. These are a few of the best types of serums to add to your skincare routine:

Hyaluronic acid: You can use a hyaluronic acid serum to hydrate your skin and help keep moisture in.

• Vitamin C: If you’re not using a Vitamin C toner, then a serum will reduce dark spots and brighten your skin.
• Retinol and peptides: Stimulate collagen production and tackle signs of aging.
• Niacinamide: Calms irritation and reduces the appearance of imperfections.

Moisturise

Whatever your skin type, moisturizer is an essential part of every skincare routine. If you’ve got oily skin then don’t be tempted to skip this step, just look for oil-free, gel moisturizers that absorb quickly.

It’s a good idea to invest in a day cream and night cream as they’re designed to target different things. Day cream usually contains antioxidants that can protect your skin from pollution, and they’ll often include SPF protection, which is essential year-round. Night cream focuses on repairing and replenishing your skin while you sleep.

Add face oil at night

As part of your nighttime skincare routine, you can add oil as a final step. This will help to seal in all the products you’ve used and give your skin extra hydration during the night.

Maintain your skincare routine

Once you’ve chosen the right products for your skin type and any problem areas you want to tackle, it’s important to stick with them for a while. You’ll see the best results when you use a product consistently for at least six weeks to two months. So if you don’t see a difference overnight give it some time before you switch to other products.

An effective skincare routine doesn’t need to take hours every morning and evening. By following these tips you’ll be able to put together a quick routine that keeps your skin healthy and hydrated.

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