What to Know About Skincare

Cleansers, exfoliants, moisturizers, SPF, ceramides, BHA’s. What does this all mean? The world of skincare is vast and confusing, especially for beginners. So I am here to help lay out the basics of skincare for you.
To start off, I’d just like to say no matter your age or gender, your skin is definitely something you should care about. The first step to building your skincare routine is figuring out your skin type. Knowing your skin type is important for all and any product you plan to use. If your skin is dry, look to hydrating products. If you have oily skin, look for products directed towards normal to oily skin. If your face is oily in some parts like the “T-zone” (nose and forehead), and dryer in others, like me, your combination skin type is going to need a mix of both. If you find that you do not have overly dry or oily skin you are lucky enough to have “normal” skin. But no matter what skin type you have, a cleanser is a must.
Cleansers should always be the start of your skincare routine, as the name entails, they cleanse all and any impurities from your skin. Any dirt, oil, dead skin cells, and any other unwanted substances. A good cleanser should be able to both clean and benefit your skin barrier. There are water-based cleansers and oil-based cleansers. Oil-based cleansers, like cleansing balms, are extremely helpful in removing any makeup, oils, or sunscreen on your face. I’d recommend the e.l.f holy hydration cleansing balm. It has hyaluronic acid, aiding in hydration, and peptides, which help soften, hydrate, and smooth skin. Make this step one in your routine, following up with a water based cleanser. The CeraVe Salicylic Acid Cleanser is one of my favorite water-based cleansers, being both affordable and effective. Salicylic Acid is a BHA, a chemical exfoliant, getting rid of any dead skin cells, leaving you with smoother, softer skin. I usually go in with this cleanser twice, to ensure I washed off any products I applied that day. After cleansing, moisturizing is the next task.
Applying a hydrating toner is another important step to remember when washing you face, and going in with a moisturizer afterward. The estee lauder perfectly clean multi-action Hydrating Toning Lotion/Refiner a great hydrating toner, that works well for many skin types. Some other toners I’d want to try out soon are the COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner, I’m From Rice Toner, Beauty of Joseon, and Cerave.
The last and most important step in your nightly routine is moisturizer. A thicker/heavy moisturizer is going to be best for dry skin, and lightweight moisturizers work best for oily skin. The CeraVe Ultra Lightweight Pm Moisturizer is a perfect moisturizer for a nightly routine. Heavier moisturizers like the Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme moisturizer is a great option for dry complexions.
As for the mornings, Sunscreen is an absolute must. Protecting your skin from the sun and UV rays helps prevent skin cancer, sun burns, dark spots, and wrinkles. There are many beauty and makeup products that have SPF included, but having a sunscreen in addition to other products is recommended. My favorite sunscreens include the CeraVe Ultra-light moisturizing lotion SPF 30, ISNTREE hyaluronic acid airy sun stick spf 50+, moisturizing lotion is a great option for everyday wear under makeup, while the sunstick I prefer for natural days when I need extra protection from the sun. If you only purchase one product from reading this I would highly recommend purchasing the sunstick. It is so easy to apply since it is in stick form, semi-affordable, and so effective. It left my skin feeling healthy and protected, I spent all of last summer out in the sun and I did not get a single sunburn. I usually burn very easily, so this was a product I found very effective and will be repurchased. Other sunsticks I have been wanting to try are Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick, Natural perfection AHC fresh sunstick, abib quick sun stick, sunsticks make for quick and easy applications throughout the day. But, always remember to wash off all products at the end of the day, hopefully you are able to build your routine with my help here.
Remember There are countless varieties, ingredients, and brands to choose from for any product, so doing research is always a good idea before making a purchase. As simple as watching a quick YouTube video, or reading a review can help make a choice. I hope you found this helpful, in either expanding your knowledge or just starting out your skincare routine.