Key Steps For Establishing A Basic Skincare Routine

By Author: Sachin
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Skincare can seem overwhelming for beginners. But you don’t need a complex routine to get great results. A simple one with cleansers, moisturizers and sunscreen is enough to help you establish a healthy complexion. If you have oily skin, choose a mattifying moisturizer to control shine or a rich moisturizer with hyaluronic acid to boost hydration and minimize fine lines.

Morning Skin Care Routine
If you’re just starting a skincare regimen, it can be challenging to figure out what products and how much of each to use. It’s also important to understand the right order to apply your products. Applying them in the wrong order prevents them from working well and can even make them less effective. This guide will help you build an effective morning and night routine that’s easy to stick to.

The first step is to cleanse your face. A good cleanser can remove dirt, excess oil and makeup residue that builds up while you sleep, and helps to protect your skin from environmental stressors like pollution and UV rays.

After cleansing, you can ...
... use a toner or essence packed with antioxidants and plant oils to help rebalance your skin. This can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin tone, and minimize pore size. Our Regenerate + Protect Essence is packed with nicotinic acid, antioxidants and plant oils to help combat the visible signs of aging.

Next, you can apply a serum that addresses your specific skincare concerns. We have a variety of serums to choose from that target everything from aging and hyperpigmentation to fine lines and acne. Adding serums into your routine can provide a boost of hydration, and many can be used alone or mixed with other products, like foundation, to create the look you want.

The last step is to apply a day moisturizer with SPF. Sunscreen is essential for all skin types because it protects against harmful UVA and UVB rays that can cause premature aging and other skin problems. Our CeraVe Moisturising Lotion is a great option because it provides daily protection, hydrates the skin and contains SPF 15 to help prevent sun damage and other unwanted side effects from excessive exposure to sunlight.

In addition to choosing the best products for your specific skin type, you can add a finishing touch to your routine with our Mood Lighting. Available in Sheer Golden and Sheer Bronzed, our illuminating highlighters can be used on the cheekbones, temples and décolletage to enhance your complexion. Simply massage a small amount of the product onto clean skin, and blend in with your fingers. You can also add a little to your foundation or concealer for an extra pop of color that looks natural and glowy. For added luminosity, try applying it on your neck and chest before you go out. This way, you’ll have a beautiful filter-less glow that will last throughout the day!

Nighttime Skin Care Routine

A nighttime skin care routine can be as simple or complex as you want, depending on your skincare needs. For instance, if you suffer from acne or uneven tone, adding in an exfoliation step and serums with targeted ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid will help improve your complexion. If you're looking to target fine lines and wrinkles, a richer moisturizer and eye cream will work wonders on your skin. And of course, the best face masks can help you relax after a long day and treat your skin to some serious TLC.

If you wear makeup, start your routine with a gentle cleanser (or even a double-cleanse) to remove any leftover dirt, oil or makeup that may be on your skin. A micellar water is an editor favorite to quickly and easily dissolve any waterproof makeup, but for an extra deep clean, try an oil-based cleanser or balm. Rinse thoroughly and follow with a toner, which will help balance your skin's pH levels and prep it for the rest of your routine.

While the goal of a morning routine is to protect and maintain your skin's barrier, a nighttime routine focuses on treating specific concerns. "Because the skin doesn't have to spend precious resources on defense during the night, it has more bandwidth for healing," says dermatologist Sam Bunting. Plus, it's also better able to absorb topically-applied products and ingredients, so your nighttime routine can be focused on products that address specific issues.

After cleansing and toning, use a hydrating mist or toner with humectant ingredients, like glycerine and hyaluronic acid, to give skin a moisture boost. You can spritz the product directly onto your skin or apply it with a cotton pad. Make sure to avoid toners that contain alcohol, which can irritate the skin and strip it of natural oils.

Next up, use an anti-aging serum or a targeted treatment for your biggest skincare concern, whether it's discoloration, clogged pores, wrinkles or hyperpigmentation. For the latter, consider a retinol serum or medical-grade formula prescribed by your dermatologist. "Because the skin is more sensitive at night, this is a great time to incorporate a prescription-strength product," adds cosmetic surgeon and injector Kristin Gunn.
Finish with a light, moisturizing face cream, such as a lotion or gel. If you're targeting fine lines and wrinkles, choose a cream that contains retinol or vitamin C to help reduce the appearance of them. And don't forget about the eye area — use a nourishing cream with an SPF to fight against sun damage while you sleep.

Face Cleansing Routine

A well-devised skincare routine is the foundation of any beauty regimen. But creating one can be intimidating, especially for skincare newbies. There’s an overwhelming amount of product options, and it’s not always clear what steps to take or what products are most effective for your skin type.

A basic skincare routine includes four key steps: cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing and sunscreen. These essentials can help you establish a baseline for your regimen, and once you’ve got the basics down, it’s easier to expand it to include other products and ingredients.
Step one of a basic skincare routine is to cleanse the face twice a day, morning and evening. This helps remove impurities, oil and makeup residue that can lead to clogged pores, breakouts or dullness. Choosing a mild cleanser is important, as using a harsh formula can disrupt the skin’s natural oils or leave it feeling tight and dry. For oily or acne-prone skin types, look for a cleanser that contains anti-inflammatory ingredients like kaolin clay or charcoal and salicylic acid to combat congestion.

After cleansing, follow with a toner to refresh and prepare the skin for the rest of your routine. A toner should contain moisture-binding humectants, which help capture and maintain skin hydration so it stays soft, smooth and radiant. If you have oily skin, a toner with a balancing ingredient like alpha or beta hydroxy acids can also help improve your complexion by sloughing off dead skin cells and reducing excess sebum production.

Once you’ve finished toning, apply a serum to target specific skin concerns. A serum contains concentrated active ingredients that can be more effective than your moisturizer in treating your concerns, and it’s best applied to clean skin before applying a heavier cream or makeup.
After your serum, follow with a lightweight moisturizer to lock in hydration and keep your skin soft, smooth and radiant. If you have dry or sensitive skin, look for a gentle moisturizer with soothing ingredients like shea butter and rose water to calm the complexion. Alternatively, you can use an oil-free gel to hydrate your skin without adding any extra oils. Finally, top off your routine with a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect against UVA and UVB rays, which can accelerate signs of aging and increase your chances of developing skin cancer.