Building A Daily Skincare Routine

If you're blessed with great skin, you've probably been told it’s thanks to genes. However, great skin doesn't just come from your DNA, your daily skincare routine and habits also contribute!

Deciding on the right skincare routine for your specific skin and lifestyle can be difficult. It may take some trial and error as well. Consulting with estheticians and dermatologists, along with reading product reviews and online guides can make building your daily skincare routine a little overwhelming!

We are faced with so many opinions and choices, some of them can even seem contradictory. Some that just won’t work for your unique needs. Looking after your skin is a personal process. Every individual will need to find the best course of action for them.

When starting with any skin care routine, there are three key areas you will be focusing on:

• Cleansing
• Toning
• Moisturising
   

These are the starting foundation for your advanced daily skincare routine. Give them the most thought as they are the platform that all other skincare is layered upon, or they should at least be the bare minimum if you chose to keep your skin more natural and free from other products or ingredients.

When you are starting out, you're not looking for perfection in anything you do. It will take some time and daily practice to find the best products and set a routine that works for you. These three steps will give you the best results when used on a continuous basis.

In order to get started with the big three, you can consider our Timeless Trio Set which includes a cleanser, hyaluronic serum, and moisturiser all in one. It is the perfect skincare set for dry, sensitive skin, or anyone seeking deep hydration or age support.It’s designed to nourish, plump, and protect your skin while providing a radiant glow. Great all round products!

Most skincare specialists suggest sticking with a product or set routine for at least six weeks before you make the decision if it working for you or not. This gives your skin time to adjust to the new products, and gives you time to notice both subtle and drastic differences in your complexion.

The best skincare routine order is layering your products from the lightest to the heaviest onto your skin. This allows moisturisers and serums time to soak in, while heavier foundations or lotions are able to provide external protection to your skin.

Cleansing:

While this might seem to be the most basic of daily skincare practices, washing your face can go a long way in removing surface contaminants, dirt, and environmental pollutants. Most skincare specialists will recommend cleansing your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser. You should do this in the morning, and at night before bed to help reduce the chance of clogged pores and acne breakouts.

Finding the right cleanser will depend on your skin type. Some cleansers do better for people with oily skin such as the CLEAR CELL Salicylic Gel Cleanser while other cleansers are more suited for dry skin likeORMEDIC® Balancing Facial Cleanser. Whatever your skin type, a cleanser will remove surface dirt and other contaminants without stripping your skin of essential and natural oils.

When searching for the right cleanser, you may notice some brands boast they are non-comedogenic. This term may be rather unfamiliar to some, especially if they are new to selecting cleansers.

For a quick explanation, non-comedogenic cleansers are non-occluding liquids that won’t block pores or cause acne to flare up. This also helps prevent irritation in the hair follicle which can lead to white heads, black heads, or ingrown hairs.

Toning

Toners have been around since the early days of commercial skincare products, and were extremely popular throughout the 1980’s in the form of alcohol-based products. The biggest downside to these toners was that they could seriously dry out your skin, which could even be too harsh for oily skin in some cases!

We've made leaps and bounds in toners today, when it comes to the quality of ingredients and the thickness of the liquids. A lot of modern toners are similar to topical supplements for your skin which help deliver nutrients and hydration where it’s needed.

Some dermatologists would agree that toning liquids can be optional in your skincare routine. However, adding them in can help your other skincare products absorb into your skin, while also delivering targeted nutrients your skin can benefit from.

Common toners today may include some of the following ingredients:

• Alpha Hydroxy Acids
• Beta Hydroxy Acids
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin C
• Rose Water
• Green Tea extracts
  And more!
   

When applying toner like our CLEAR CELL Clarifying Salicylic Tonic. The most efficient way to get it on your skin is by using your fingertips. Using a cotton pad or other traditional application method is possible, but you will end up losing a fair amount of product on the applicator pad. Instead, use your fingers to apply the product to your face and smooth it in thoroughly. It's better for the environment too.

Moisturising

In basic use, a moisturiser is made to add extra hydration to the skin, while also helping to soften and prevent water loss from the upper layers of your skin. You can find a moisturiser that is made for your specific skin type, there is many moisturisers like our VITAL C Hydrating Water Burst that will work for most skin types.

As we age, our skin’s ability to retain moisture decreases over time. This can be made worse by excessive face washing and stripping the oils and natural hydrators from the surface of your skin. Some of the best moisturisers are day and night creams suitable for use in the AM or PM. This provides plenty of hydration to your skin through the inclusion of various antioxidants and retinols.

You can also select kits that include multiple products such as our VITAL Trio that includes products that work in harmony together for your specific skin.

Added retinoids can help improve skin elasticity, while brightening ingredients such as vitamin C, niacinamide, and kojic acid can help improve dark spots under your eyes while also improving the overall complexion of your face.

        Keep up to date with everything Image Skincare Ireland over on Instagram!