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Getting started in skincare can be a mind boggling! With so many items out there and so many brands claiming to be the best and just what your skin needs it can be super confusing. With the emergence of online shopping destinations and more and more brands (which is great, don't get me wrong) it can be difficult to get your head around what you actually need and what may be extras, very nice extras but confusing extras.
So we have broken down the core items that you need. This way there is no confusion about getting a good regime. Taking the time to care for ourselves should no longer be considered an indulgence, or even a luxury. Rather, for so many reasons, it's a necessity, there is another undeniable truth: It can often feel overwhelming.
Though everyone has different skin and different concerns issues and goals there are certain skin-routine rules that generally apply across the board. These are the basics, and if you're unsure about how to put together a skincare routine, or you're looking to brush up on the basics, here is your expert-backed beginner's guide to skin care.
The very basics that you need comes in just 3 steps. You need to do this in the morning and at night. I know night can be tough after a long day but this is key to target any skin issues and to help repair the skin. Your whole body, including your skin repairs and rejuvenates while you sleep. So please do not skip the nighttime steps. The idea behind the 3 steps is that they are actually achievable, not confusing and easy to follow.
The steps that you need to do in the AM daily are 1. Cleanse 2. Moisturise and 3. Apply SPF (even if it is not sunny). Then in the evening you should be doing these basic steps 1. Cleanse (even if you did not wear make up) 2. Treat - this targets specific skin concerns such as anti-aging, dark spots, acne 3. Moisturise.
AM
1. Cleanse - You should be cleansing your complexion twice per day — once in the morning, once in the evening — is ideal. Cleansing in the morning will help to remove any evidence of sweat or oil left from your pillow and hair during your beauty sleep, cleansing at the end of the day, it’s important to cleanse to remove not only skin-care products and makeup that you applied in the morning, but also excess oil, sweat, dead skin cells, pollutants, and other debris that collect on the skin throughout the day. When choosing a facial cleanser, go for a gentle, hydrating cleansing as any type of skin will be able to take a hydrating cleanser.
Cleanser that are effective are - The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser, Hydrates the skin, Hada Labo Tokyo Gentle Hydrating Cleanser, Super Facialist Rosehip Hydrate Calming Creamy Cleanser, Removes Make Up, Refreshes and Soothes
2. Moisturise - Your next step is use a moisturiser. If you have specific skin concerns you can also use this step to target specific skin concerns by using a moisturiser that's formulated with additional ingredients that tackle your skins need. Some concerns would be acne, ageing, dry rough skin, dullness etc.
Moisturisers that work great are - Facetheory Supergel Oil-free Moisturiser for acne skin. Australian Bodycare Face Cream 50ml - Moisturiser spot treatment, pimple, oily, acne prone skin. Tea Tree Cream Face Moisturiser. Great for acne skin. Farmacy Honey Halo Ceramide Face Moisturiser Cream . Hydrating Facial Lotion for Dry Skin. Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream Ultra Rich, Intensely Hydrating Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream for anti ageing. Super Facialist Skin Defence Daily Moisturiser Face Cream for Luminous, Hydrated Skin infused with Vit C.
3. Sunscreen - Often overlooked, sunscreen is your first line of defense for protection against skin cancer, it also helps protect against premature ageing form the sun. If you were to do nothing else for your skin, wear SPF.
Some we love are - Upcircle SPF 25 Mineral Sunscreen, Bondi Sands Fragrance Free Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+, REN Clean Skincare Clean Screen Mineral Mattifying Face Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin SPF 30 50ml - this is great for sensitive skin. Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen Fluid SPF.
Opt for a sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher, and apply it daily (even when it's cloudy), always as the final step in your skin-care routine.
For the night time we still have 3 steps and 2 are the same as before so it is simple to follow.
1. Cleanse - as before, you need to get that day grime of before you treat the skin.
2. Treat - these come in a few forms, but a treatment that we all know of are serums. Serums treat skin conditions and you can choose one base don what you want to target. Some common targets are ageing skin, lines, wrinkle, dark spots, discolouration, rough skin or dulness. There are more of course, but this are some common ones.
PraNaturals Skin Perfector Face Serum Kit 3x30ml – Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol & Vitamin C, treats skins against ageing lotion, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, comes enriched with natural oils and vitamins.
Vitamin C Serum For Face with Hyaluronic Acid Serum - Anti Ageing & Anti Wrinkle Serum. Customers call it a face Llft without the needles! This Vitamin C serum will plump, hydrate & brighten your skin.
Retinol Serum For Face/Neck/Eyes with Hyaluronic Acid. An anti ageing retinol serum for acne treatment, wrinkles, fine lines & sensitive skin, it hydrates & brightens your skin.
SkinLabo - Concentrated Collagen Shot. This face serum can be used to counteract and prevent the formation of wrinkles.
3. Moisturise - you can use your moisturise as before, or you can have a more intensive targeted moisturiser. What this means is a moisturiser that aims to fix and repair the skin as you sleep. Night creams often have infused and specialised ingredients to repair and renew the skin. Some fade dark spot, re hydrate the skin, gently exfoliate, brighten the skin. The only thing you must be careful about is that if you are using a strong treatment in step 2, ensure that the 2 products work together and are not too strong together. If you choose a retinol in your treat step, then something with Vitamin C to moisturise may irritate your skin.
Keep it simple with your skincare, you can add in extras as you feel and it will help your skin, but don't feel pressured to add too much. Some extras are eye creams, mask & exfoliate (once a week) or a hydrating spray.
Consistency is key when it comes to skincare. Your skin may feel and look better after a few days but it takes at least a month to 6 weeks to see bigger results. Your skin takes approx. 28 days to renew itself (can differ from person to person), meaning after 28 days you basically have a new surface level of skin. That is skin that you can see. So it takes at least 28 days to see any proper results and to have good skin continuously, you need to continuously treat it well.
Disclaimer: This information and content does not replace that advice of a dermatologist or medical advice. Please seek medical advice if you suspect that you have a dermal condition.
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