Every time I scroll through social media, I come across the unavoidable: girls with perfect glass-like skin; flawless, smooth and not a pimple or blemish in sight. For months, I envied those with the silky smooth base that made makeup application seamless and immaculate. But when I look in the mirror, I see pesky blackheads, whiteheads and the occasional soul-sucking, confidence-killing volcano of a pimple. I decided I was tired of my two-step “wash and slap on some moisturizer” routine and decided to do some digging into the world of skincare.
Once upon a time as a seventh-grader, I was obsessed with the seemingly magical elixirs and various serums you could tap into your skin. But as I got older and busier, the obsession slipped away as my college life took over and sleeping in half-removed makeup became routine. But now my obsession has been reignited with the trends of glass skin and modelesque skincare routines, as I seek out what your skin really needs to be as perfect as can be. And with 2022 in our midst, here are all the things your skincare routine needs to keep you glowing.
Cleansers
You can’t build a good skincare routine without it resting on a solid foundation. As this article progresses, you’ll notice that everything mentioned goes in order of how your skincare should be applied. Of course, you start with your cleanser.
Your skin can only reap the benefits of the serums and lotions if it’s clean and free of makeup, dirt and oil. Depending on your skin type, there are a variety of cleansers that can get the job done, from gels and oils to thicker creams. Good cleansers are available from the aisles of Walgreens all the way up to luxury skincare counters. Basic cleansers that never fail to deliver their promise of clean skin can be found under brands such as CeraVe and Cetaphil. At affordable prices, these cleansers have hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides and glycerin. If you’re looking to up the ante with a higher-end drugstore product and find the same hydrating properties, La Roche-Posay cleansers have been praised for their luxurious quality and notable ingredients lists. For those looking for a skincare splurge, try looking in the lands of Tatcha, Drunk Elephant or First Aid Beauty for celebrity and makeup professionals’ ride-or-die products. Trying to tackle acne? Look for cleansers with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, two active ingredients that will work to rid and prevent acne. If you’re in need of extra hydration, look for cleansers with oils and creamy textures.
Toner
Now that your skin is clean and makeup removed, it is time to swipe on some toner. Ever heard of it? Well, put the witch hazel solution down. Gone are the days of harsh, alcohol-based solutions we believed helped more than hurt when faced with skin woes like acne and dullness. Now, there’s a new wave of acid-based toners and essences that gently exfoliate away impurities and brighten our skin. However, when most of us think of exfoliating, we think of grainy scrubs and brushes that slough off layers of skin, which, in fact, only make dark spots and irritation worse. The key to healthy exfoliation is all in acids, such as alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) and beta hydroxy acids (BHA). Salicylic acid is an example of a BHA that tends to be best for oily skin. An example of an AHA would be glycolic acid, which tends to be better for dry skin. These acids work deep into the pores to remove gunk and grime to eventually reveal clear and glowing skin. Don’t be surprised if your skin purges out all of its ickiness over a few weeks though. Brands such as Paula’s Choice, Kate Somerville and Sunday Riley are only three of many beloved brands that work to reveal smooth skin through exfoliation.
Serum
Next up are serums. These bottles, however little, pack a powerful punch when it comes to hydrating, brightening and evening out the skin. Common serum ingredients, such as vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, are often applied only in the morning (vitamin C) or at night (hyaluronic acid) among other various ingredients. While vitamin C is good for brightening dark spots and dullness, hyaluronic acid is good for pulling water into the skin and keeping it hydrated. After swiping on your toner, simply apply a few drops of your serum around your face and let it soak in. And behold! Brands such as The Ordinary, Neutrogena and Dr. Jart all have exceptional selections of superb serums to add to your skincare regimen.
Spot treatment
A spot treatment serum is like a direct hit to a troublesome pimple or dark spot on the skin. Instead of applying the treatment liberally, you only apply it directly to the affected spot, hence the name. If you find yourself cursing the leftover scars of acne and breakouts passed, reach for a treatment with niacinamide, which works to brighten and lift away dark spots and scars over time. If you find yourself enraged as much as your pesky pimple or breakout is, reach for a concentrated treatment of salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Less is more; apply the treatment at night, and let the product soak in, so as not to be removed when finishing your regimen. Brands such as Clean & Clear, Versed and Differin, among others, have fantastic options for clearing out annoying spots.
Moisturizer
And now for the finale, we come to moisturizer. The cherry on top to a perfect skincare routine is a good moisturizer that suits your skin type. Choosing a moisturizer could look like choosing a gel-based moisturizer if you have oily skin, or choosing a creamier and thicker moisturizer if you have dry skin. Regardless, your moisturizer should be thought of as the seal to your products. After letting everything else soak in, moisturizer acts as a lock for everything else already laid down. It’s the final punch of hydration that leaves your skin looking dewy and plump. Now, you’re either ready for bed, or to face the rest of the day. And the best part is, there are seemingly hundreds of different moisturizers out there with great ingredients at a range of prices. Brands such as fresh, Tata Harper and Ole Henriksen have become staples for their moisturizers with unbeatable ingredients, such as vitamin C or rose extract to name a few, and their amazing abilities to lock in hydration.
Retinol
My first memory of retinol was noticing a tube of the serum on my mom’s bathroom sink. Up until about a year ago, I believed retinol was only for middle-aged to older adults looking to fight wrinkles. However, as I quickly learned from social media, there is so much more retinol is good for and it’s quite beneficial to younger adults, too. To put the product in fancy scientific terms: retinoids, types of vitamin A, speed up your skin’s cell turnover, therefore giving you newer skin in a shorter cycle. Retinol not only smooths out wrinkles over time but also smooths out texture and bumps, brightens, and prevents breakouts by clearing out your pores.
However, don’t go throwing away your retinol when you don’t see results in a few weeks. It may take up to six months to see completely changed skin after consistent use. Retinols are also most commonly applied at night before moisturizer and before or after your serums. Be warned not to mix retinol with vitamin C because of possible irritation. Save the vitamin C serums for the morning, and swap them out for a hyaluronic acid serum at night. Brands such as The Inkey List, Olay and SkinCeuticals all have excellent retinol options.
Sunscreen
Nobody likes skin cancer. And, nobody likes dark spots that dull the skin’s brightness. Ergo, sunscreen comes into the mix. Sunscreen is applied as the absolute final step to your daytime skincare routine post-moisturizer. To keep those acne scars from getting darker, a minimum of SPF 30 is needed to protect the skin’s barrier. Check out EltaMD, Glossier and La Roche-Posay for popular and effective sunscreens to keep your skin ageless, healthy and skin cancer-free.
As 2022 has begun, make it a resolution to put your skin first. When you have healthy, glowing and gorgeous skin, you feel unstoppable and undeniably beautiful and confident. So, give your skin the lotions and love that it needs in 2022 for a better you.