SKIN SCHOOL: skincare routines

Skincare Routines: Where to start

Sunday, March 20, 2016

I've had lots of questions recently about what products to use, when to use them in your routine, etc.
Today I'd like to help those who currently don't really have any kind of skincare 'routine', or are struggling with how to start one.

The main, basic steps that you should start with, are:
1. cleanse, 2. tone, 3. serum, 4. moisturise.
Any other steps can be added into your routine later on.

Cleanse - please read my cleansing post here first, for information on why you need to cleanse, what to do, what not to do, etc. Also, I've had a few people ask what 'cleanse' or 'cleanser' means, it basically means cleaning your skin. If you don't clean your skin, nothing that you apply to your skin (moisturisers, etc) will work properly. Also, who doesn't clean their skin?! Ew.

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I like to use a different cleanser in the morning than I do in the evening. In the morning, I use a lighter consistency that I can rinse off in the shower, because I am not wearing make-up when I get out of bed...(you shouldn't have make-up on your face in the morning, and yes, you do need to cleanse in the morning!) Nothing foaming. In the evening, I use an oil or balm consistency as it gives a much deeper cleanse if you are wearing make-up.
I have also done a post listing my recommended cleansers, from inexpensive, to more high end options, please read it here.

Tone - please read my toning post here, for information on why you need a toner, and which ones I'd recommend. The best option to go for, is always an acid toner. It'll keep your skin in top condition and make your serum/moisturiser work so much better. If you suffer with spots & breakouts, use an acid toner, if you suffer with dry or dehydrated skin, use an acid toner. Honestly, they are my holy grail (and many other people's!)

Serum - everyone needs a serum, literally everyone. If you aren't using one, start. They are one of the best things you will ever use. A serum is normally a fluid consistency, and you apply it to your skin before your moisturiser. If you have oily skin or suffer with spots, a serum won't make it worse or make it more oily, trust me. Read my serums/face oils post here for more information, and which ones I'd recommend. My favourites are Hydraluron, and also Hylamide, which isn't listed in that post, but is a really great one, and is on offer for £20 in Boots at the moment instead of £30! See it here.

Moisturise - you should always, always finish your skincare routine with a moisturiser. Again, I have done a separate post on moisturisers here, please read it for more information on what to look for and my recommended ones.

I hope this post has been helpful, if you have any questions, or products you'd like me to review on here, please comment below!

Until next time,

Gemma x

Cleansing

Routines

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Today I thought I'd do a quick post on skincare routines. There is a lot of confusion surrounding what should be applied, when and how often, so I'm hoping this should clear things up.

Morning:

Cleanse. No face wipes, no foaming face washes, no daily scrubs. A nice milk, oil or balm cleanser preferably, removed with a warm, damp face cloth. Clay based ones are also suitable for oily skin, as long as they are not foaming!
Tone. Acid toners are best, otherwise, use a mild toner, not with a high alcohol content.
Spritz hydrate. I like to layer skincare, so I add this step in to inject as much hydration into my skin as possible. It also feels really nice and soothing.
Eyes. Application of an eye cream/serum around the eyes, underneath and on top. Eye creams come before your face moisturiser, not afterwards. (Eye products seem optional for most people, but should be an essential if you are concerned with lines/wrinkles, dark circles and dehydration around your eyes.) Do not overload the thin skin around the eyes by applying it directly under or over the eyelid, apply it where you can feel the eyebone.
Serum/oils (Similar to above, a serum is also optional for most people. For me, it's an essential, because they are more concentrated and can penetrate more deeply into the skin). Serums should always be applied under your moisturiser. If you don't seal in your serum using your moisturiser, it'll just evaporate off the skin. Choose one based on your skin type, and one that doesn't contain mineral oil/paraffin or silicone.
Moisturise. Essential to protect and hydrate your skin for the day. Again, avoid silicone in your moisturisers. It's best to use a separate SPF rather than a moisturiser that contains SPF, as it won't have much benefit on the skin (as previously mentioned on here).

Night

1. Cleanse. As above. If you are wearing make-up, remove your make-up first, then cleanse your skin. To do this you can either double cleanse using your cleanser, or use a micellar water first to remove make-up, then your proper cleanser.

2. Tone. As above.

3. Spritz hydrate. As above.

4. 'Treatment' products, my favourite step. This is where you can really go to town, and where your main expense should be. Ideally you should have a few of these you can switch between, depending on what your skin needs that day. These products are things like: night creams, acid exfoliators (liquid gold for example), and facial oils.

Some of this has been previously mentioned on here, however I'm hoping this should reiterate certain things.

Pop any questions in the comment section below,
and remember to follow me!

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