Skincare can be confusing. There are so many products and ingredients that all claim to do different things and all claim to be the best. You have probably walked into a store, whether it was Sephora or Target, looked at all the products and not known where to start. I am going to break down some popular skin care products to help you on your skincare journey.
- Cleanser
- Cleanser is the product that washes your face. A cleanser gets rid of makeup, oil, skincare products and anything else that has built up on your skin throughout the day or night. Cleansers range from gentle and hydrating to being medicated with an ingredient such as salicylic acid. Cleansing balms are a good option for removing makeup. It is a good idea to double cleanse with a balm and then a cleanser in the evenings, especially if you wear makeup throughout the end of day.
- Toner
- Toners are not essential to a skincare routine but they can help you address any areas of concern. Like cleansers, toners can be hydrating or act as a treatment. You will find toners with ingredients such as humectants to help with hydration of acids such as salicylic to help with concerns like breakouts.
- Moisturizer
- Moisturizers come in many formulas. It is important to find a moisturizer that provides your skin with the hydration needed without clogging your pores. If you have drier skin, you should choose a heavier, cream formula. If you have oily skin or skin that does not often feel dry you can opt for an oil free lotion formula.
- Serums
- While a basic skincare routine technically only needs a cleanser and moisturizer, you may want to incorporate products such as serums to address any areas of concern. Serums can contain ingredients such as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. You can find specific serums for concerns such as acne and dark spots.
- Oils
- Oils can be beneficial for any skin type. It is generally thought that people with oily skin should not incorporate oils into their skincare routine. However, this isn’t necessarily true. Certain oils can help to balance oil production. Make sure to research first to see what oil will be beneficial for your skin type.
- Eye cream
- Like toner, eye cream is not absolutely essential to everyone’s skin care routine. Nonetheless, eye cream is useful to keep the eye area hydrated. This can help with issues such as dark circles and fine lines in the future.
- Exfoliators
- Exfoliators are an important step in skincare. We have probably all heard of St. Ives apricot scrub and a lot of us probably used it when we were younger (I definitely did). However, physical exfoliators can cause micro tears on the skin. For this reason, chemical exfoliation is a better route to go. There are different types of chemical exfoliators such as salicylic acid and lactic acid. These acids vary in strength and each have specific areas that they target.
- Sunscreen
- Sunscreen is a crucial step that everyone should do. There are many different types of sunscreen for the face. Firstly, you can choose from either chemical or mineral sunscreen. They both protect you from the sun but have different benefits. For example, mineral sunscreens are generally better for the safety of coral reefs. Sunscreens come in different SPFs but ultimately, the higher the SPF, the more protection you have.
The order that you apply products matters too. You should start with cleansing your face, then toning, then serum, treatments such as chemical exfoliator or retinol, moisturizer, eye cream, oil, and then sunscreen. Obviously, you don’t need to use all these products at the same time and do not need sunscreen at night.
Skincare is a personal journey and it takes time to try out products and find what works for you. Make sure to give the products enough time to work and don’t stress if you haven’t found what works best for you yet!