Skincare Simplified: The Basics You Should Know

Skincare. It’s an intimidating topic, especially now that there are thousands of products on the market targeted towards concerns you didn’t even know you should have. It’s even more intimidating when you’re seeking help with products and the experts are asking you questions you don’t know how to answer. If you’re reading this, I’m sure you’re looking for some miracle remedy to make your skin look as clear and as radiant as Jennifer Lopez’s (who doesn’t want that JLo glow?). I hate to be the one to break it to you, but there is no one product that will do it all... but there is hope!

I’m here to help you identify your skin type and suggest the skincare routine that would work best for you. Everyone should feel confident enough to conquer those intimidating questions and rule out products that aren’t meant for you.

SKIN TYPES

So, where do we begin? Everyone’s skin type is different and it can become confusing to learn which skin type we are. Often, a person won’t fall under just one category because different parts of our face have different moisture levels (usually the centre of the face or ‘T-zone’ will be more oily than the cheeks). This is usually referred to as a combination skin type. Although this is good to know, it is better to be able to identify which parts of the face fall under the different categories in order to treat each individual area properly. Use the following guide to identify how your skin feels and looks in different areas, and see where those concerns fall within the four most common skin types:

Oily:

• Skin is shiny
• Large pores
• Prone to blackheads
• Makeup products don’t last throughout the day

Dry:

• Skin feels tight
• Flakes or patchy texture
• Dullness
• Prone to redness
• Makeup products stick to dry patches and look uneven

Normal to Combination:

• Oily in some areas and dry in others
• Certain products work well for some areas and make other areas’ concerns worse
• Overall, little skin concerns

Sensitive:

• Irritation to certain products: burning, itching, tingling sensations
• Can be combined with any other skin type

SKINCARE ROUTINES

Now that you know your skin type, here are some suggestions for skincare routines that will help get your skin feeling and looking its best. These routines are based off of suggestions from UK dermatologist, Dr. Mahto, in her book The Skincare Bible. I have elaborated a bit on what types of products to use to make it that much easier for you to begin your own skincare routines. I know that products can get super expensive, so what I can suggest to cut down costs are to stick with just a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Those will be the most important products from the lineup that you will be using.

If you want to up your game and try products like serums, eye creams, and any other additional products while still staying on a budget, browse the cheaper brands and look at the first few ingredients in them. If the ingredients are words you can pronounce, or they come from a plant extract, then I would say to go ahead and try it. Stay away from ingredients like mineral oils, silicones (which usually include anything ending in -cone, -conol, or -siloxane), and propylene glycol as they can usually harm the skin more than they can help it. Attending training sessions from the clean skincare brand Korres has made me more aware of choosing products that will help treat my concerns without causing more.

Oily Skin:

Exfoliate once or twice a week.

Morning Routine

• Cleanse the skin using a foaming cleanser
• Serum with ingredients such as niacinamide (for light hydration) or salicylic acid (for controlling oil production)
• Eye cream for puffiness, dark circles, or fine lines
• Moisturizer with SPF (make sure it’s targeted towards oily skin)

Evening Routine

• Double cleanse with an oil cleanser then a foaming cleanser
• Eye cream
• Target or spot treatment if acne is a concern
• Night cream if skin is feeling dry (do not use any products with SPF at night as it can clog pores further)

Dry Skin and Sensitive Skin:

Exfoliate once every other week for dry skin; avoid exfoliation or find a very gentle exfoliant for sensitive skin types.

Morning Routine

• Cleanse with a non-foaming cleanser or a cleansing milk (if sensitivity is an issue)
• Serum with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid (for hydration) or vitamin E (for softening skin)
• Eye cream for puffiness, dark circles, or fine lines
• Moisturizer for dry skin
• Sunscreen

Evening Routine

• Cleanse with same cleanser as your morning routine
• Eye cream
• Moisturizer (if needed, use a richer formula for more hydration in the evening)

Normal to Combination Skin:

Exfoliate once a week.

Morning Routine

• Cleanse with a cleanser suitable to how your skin feels when you wake up (see other skin types for suggestions)
• Antioxidant serum (to protect against urban pollution that causes ageing)
• Eye cream for puffiness, dark circles, or fine lines
• Moisturizer (with SPF if more oily, without if more dry)
• Sunscreen (if SPF is not in your moisturizer)

Evening Routine

• Cleanse or double cleanse if your skin is more oily
• Eye cream
• Moisturizer (again, do not use SPF products at night as it can clog your pores)

If you’re interested in more skincare content and have questions about skin concerns, products, fads, and natural skincare, let’s chat! Email your questions to info@commonmag.ca.