Having pore-less, smooth skin is not entirely dependent on DNA, but takes commitment and discipline to a healthy lifestyle and a proper skincare routine. From natural face oils to the right ingredient for exfoliation, the skin is an organ, a human’s largest one that needs careful attention and maintenance. It is understandable to feel overwhelmed by all the anti-aging serums, natural face oils, organic moisturizers, and paraben-free sunscreens lined up on the shelves of a cosmetics store. To fully comprehend how each product type works, the skincare routine must be broken down into its core steps and rebuilt according to the skin type of a person.
The importance of a skincare routine
The skin is the body’s first line of defense against pollutants from the environment. Keeping the skin healthy and rejuvenated through a skincare routine ensures that nothing out of the ordinary could get past the barrier of protection. Moreover, having great youthful-looking skin is a lifelong process to achieve, and as people age, gravity and hormones work against healthy skin appearance. Staying committed to a skincare routine ensures that potential skin problems and signs of aging are prevented and delayed.
The face is the first thing someone sees when he or she looks in the mirror. Having radiant skin also boosts one’s self-esteem and confidence, whereas the sight of acne or fine lines and wrinkles could cause anxiety and alarm. A proper skincare routine helps in keeping the skin look its best.
The skincare routine deconstructed
Many might have heard of the 10-step skincare routine famous in Korea. Their porcelain-like skin could attest to the effectiveness of the practice, although not everyone has the time and energy to go through steps 1 to 10 each morning and night.
At the core of any skincare routine is the following three steps:
1. Cleanse – the process of washing one’s face and getting rid of the sebum, pollutants, makeup, and other microorganisms that are on the skin. Cleansing should be done first thing after waking up and before going to bed.
2. Tone – once the face is cleaned, the pH levels of the skin gets disturbed. It is the task of a toner to restore the balance and prepare the skin to embrace any nourishment that will be applied next.
3. Moisturize – this is the process that preserves the skin condition through hydration and moisturisation by using products such as natural face oils. Without the third step, the skin is more prone to aging.
For those who have more time to add a few more products, the remaining seven steps are as follows:
- Oil cleanse – an oil cleanse typically comes before the foaming cleanser mentioned above because oil is more effective in removing grime and dirt from the face. Makeup removing products like micellar water also belongs in this step.
- Exfoliate – exfoliation is a process that should only be done two to three times a week to ensure that dead skin is removed from the face, and all products are being applied on healthy new skin.
- Essence and emulsion – to get that glowing and glassy skin, essences and emulsions are used. These are the second and third layers of moisturising that are more lightweight and, therefore, can reach deeper levels of the skin.
- Serum – this is a highly concentrated product that targets specific skincare concerns like fine lines and wrinkles or acne and dark spots.
- Sheet mask – once the face is prepped with all the right ingredients, a sheet mask helps to contain the process and let everything get absorbed by the skin.
- Creams – this step addresses the areas that are extra sensitive or hard to reach, like below the eyes.
- Sunscreen – the last step of the skincare daytime routine is sunscreen, which adds the right amount of protection from harmful UV-rays.
It takes time and discipline to settle into the right skincare routine, and it takes a bit more time to see the visible results. However, one should not be too quick to throw in the towel because the nourishment usually happens below the skin before the signs of healthy skin can be seen.
