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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UC London chapter.

What is the secret of a healthy skin routine? 

 

Having healthy skin is all about finding the right balance between understanding what your skin needs and finding the right products. 

 

But what are these products and what is the correct order to apply them in order to get all the benefits? 

 

There is an easy rule to remember when establishing our daily skincare regimen: products need to be applied from the thinnest consistency to the thickest. The reason for this is those thick products will create a sort of protective mask on top of our skin that will keep all the lighter ingredients in. A very common mistake among skincare amateurs is applying the serum as the last step. Don’t do that if you don’t want to waste your products and your money! The liquid wouldn’t penetrate the skin and it would just be sitting on top of the thick cream. Also, since our skin will absorb the thinnest products better, having a good quality toner or serum is definitely a good investment. 

 

Here are my 4 (magical and) easy steps for a healthy skin routine! 

 

Cleansing

First things first! Cleansing is fundamental, in the evening and in the morning. Our skin needs to be free of all the dirt. Be it to remove the invisible dirt given by pollution or just for removing our make-up, cleansing should be done religiously. It is advisable to do it in two steps: using an oil cleanser on dry skin first, then wash it off with lukewarm water and, finally, apply a gel or a foaming cleanser. The oil cleanser nourishes and deeply cleans the skin, whereas the gel cleanser will help you firm up the surface of your skin. My two suggestions are the Deep Cleansing Oil by DHC and the Holika Holika Aloe Cleansing Foam

Toning

Toners can come in spray bottles, be applied with a cotton pad or by patting with our fingers. They can be hydrating, calming, skin clearing and so on. Their main function is balancing the skin’s pH level and they help to improve the texture of our skin. Here are some suggestions: the Glycolic Acid Toning Solution from The Ordinary or the Tee Tree Water by Lush.

Serum

Applying a serum is many skincare lovers’ favourite step. It doesn’t matter if your skin is oily or dry, the lightweight humectants (substances that preserve the moisture) contained in this product will help you stay hydrated and improve the overall look of your skin. They can target different needs and this Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid toner by Florence is definitely my favourite.

Moisturiser

Moisturising is the last essential step to a basic skincare routine. At night, you might want to apply a very nourishing and hydrating moisturiser, which will give your skin all the nutrients it needs. In the morning, switch it for a moisturiser or a BB cream with SPF. Never forget that blocking UV rays is fundamental if you want to avoid getting blackheads or annoying spots. My suggestions are the Hydra Sparkling Nude Look BB Cream by Givenchy or Clear Mega-Hydrating Cream by Shiseido.

Here some extra secrets – just for you! 

 

Eye Creams, Oils and more

 

A complete skincare routine will have more than just four steps. However, not all of them are vital to keeping a healthy-looking skin. Some steps are just a pleasure or a plus that it’s nice to incorporate in our regimen. From face masks to exfoliators, oils and eye creams. The list is really endless and some products can really heal specific problems of our skin if used in a correct and efficient way. 

 

No need to continue to make amateur mistakes when it comes to skin care routine! You have gained all the advice you need from myself as a self-proclaimed expert.  

Maria D'Aniello

UC London '21

BA Comparative Literature at UCL