By: Emma Campbell
Skincare has become one of the biggest trends over the past couple of years. Having a good skincare routine is very important for so many different reasons. Firstly, it helps your skin to stay in good condition. Secondly, it helps you rid your face of dead skin cells that build-up on your skin throughout the day. Lastly, a good skincare routine can prevent acne and treat wrinkles, neither of which is wanted on our faces. Each phase of life brings different problems when it comes to your skin, but dermatologists have found that taking preventative measures with your skin is the key to looking young longer.
However, if you’re like me, the world of skincare is very mysterious and confusing even with all of the information we have access to. We are constantly being marketed what moisturizers, serums, and acne treatments to use. Besides, skincare varies so much in price, leaving us with questions like, does expensive moisturizer work better? CeraVe or Cetaphil? Are skinfluencers on TikTok to be trusted? In this article, I am going to take you through step-by-step of what you need to have the ideal skincare routine for your skin type.
- Dry Skin
-
Dry skin is one of the basic skin types. It is specifically brought on in cold and/or dry climates, like we live in here in Canada. Dry skin can also be a symptom of age, as many people lose moisture in their skin as they age or dry skin could be a symptom of a more serious skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis. 60-70% of the population is currently living with some state of dry skin. However, rectifying this problem could be as easy as changing the temperature that you shower at.
Some tips for caring for DRY SKIN:
– Moisturize your skin daily
– Take shorter showers, try to limit to 10 minutes of water exposure
– Do NOT use soap! Instead try shower gels or cleansing creams
– Dress appropriately for cold weather, especially wind, which can be very drying to the skin (masks help with this!)
- Normal Skin
-
Normal skin is the most preferable of all skin types. Normal skin is well-balanced skin. Normal skin has fine pores, few imperfections, no severe sensitivity, and a good complexion. People with normal skin may still become oily in their t-zone area (forehead, chin, and nose), but have very balanced moisture overall. Normal skin is unfortunately the rarest skin type of all.
Some tips for caring for NORMAL SKIN:
– Wash your skin with a gentle cleanser every day
– Wear sunscreen and sun protection (including hat and sunglasses) every day(SPF 30 or greater)
– Stay hydrated, try to drink 1 ounce of water daily
– Moisturize and tone every day
- Oily Skin
-
Oily skin is one of the basic skin types. Oily skin is the result of the overproduction of sebum from sebaceous glands. Sebum is the liquid made by glands underneath the skin’s surface. It consists of fats in the skin. People with oily skin typically have larger pores. These larger pores get clogged, which leads to the production of acne typically in adolescent years. However, people with oily skin tend to have thicker skin and fewer wrinkles later in life.
Some tips for caring for OILY SKIN:
– Cleanse, moisturize, and tone skin every day
– Use an astringent skin lotion every other day
– Exfoliate skin once per week
– Apply a face mask once per week
- Combination Skin
-
Combination skin varies by definition as it is the skin type that encompasses all skin types that cannot clearly be defined. Very basically, combination skin is skin that is oily in some areas, while dry in other areas. The t-zone area typically varies from slightly, to very oily while the cheeks and chin tend to be fairly dry. Combination skin likely comes from genetics and is difficult to care for as there is no one size fits all solution.
Some tips for caring for COMBINATION SKIN:
– Use oil balancing cleanser daily
– Use a combination of moisturizers or find one that it multi-tasking
– Try blotting pads/sheets for excessively oily areas
– Use a salicylic acid mask weekly
- Toner
-
Toners are used to balance the skin’s pH level. Toner should be used as the first step in your skincare routine. Balancing your skin is essential before moving onto other steps such as serums and moisturizers. Toner is imperative for people who have oily skin by balancing oils and creating a smoother and glowy appearance. Toners range in acidity level. People with oily skin or oily areas are going to want a toner with higher acidity, whereas people with normal skin are going to want a mild form of toner. Typically the mildest toner only contains water and glycerine. People with dry skin should stay away from using toner.
- Serums
-
Serums are liquids made up of very small molecules. These small molecules have a high concentration of active ingredients. Skin can absorb these active ingredients very quickly and deeply into the skin, making them very effective. Most serums are water-based, which is preferable for people with oily skin. If you have oily skin, using serums as a source of moisture rather than a cream moisturizer is recommended. If you have dry skin, use serums before applying moisturizer as they will be able to absorb better into the skin. Serums can be very costly, from any skincare brand. However, skincare brands like “The Ordinary” have come out with serums that are reasonably priced.
- Moisturizers
-
Have you ever wondered how moisturizers work to keep your skin smooth and soft? Moisturizer’s job is to make our skin more, well, moist. Applying moisturizer traps the water underneath the skin by creating a barrier so that it cannot evaporate into the air. Trapping the water allows the top layer of skin (epidermis) to absorb that water, making it the perfect remedy for dry skin. Moisturizers also work to reduce skin sensitivity and improve skin textures. Other moisturizers, specifically tinted ones, can even work to mask and improve imperfections on the skin. Some of the best moisturizers currently on the market are; Kiehl’s Ultra Repair Facial Cream, First Aid Beauty: Ultra Repair Cream, Drunk Elephant Protein Peptide Moisturizer, Tatcha: The Water Cream.
- Masks
-
Using a face mask (the skincare kind, not the COVID kind) can be a fun addition of self-care to your skincare routine. There are many different face masks for all different skin types. Masks should be done on a weekly to twice-weekly basis. It can be fun to mix and match and incorporate masks into your skincare routine.
Charcoal: absorb oils off of the skin’s surface and unclog pores
Clay & Mud: absorb toxins and clear acne-prone skin
Cream: typically for people with dry skin, cream masks are used for hydration
Peel-Off: used to unclog and refine pores
Gel: for dehydrated or sensitive skin