The Beauty of Simplicity: Mastering the Basics of Skincare Routines
Debunking the myths and complexity of skincare can be a struggle, with so many products, ingredients, and trends clogging up our feeds daily. However, skincare doesn't need to be complicated! There is beauty in simplicity, and with a few key steps in your morning and night routines, you can maintain healthy, radiant skin.
The Importance of a Skincare Routine for Healthy Skin
Your skin is constantly exposed to stressors like sunlight, pollution, and fluctuating hormones. A simplified, dedicated skincare routine can help protect and repair your skin, preventing issues such as acne, redness, and premature aging. By cleansing, hydrating, and protecting your skin through morning and night routines, you can ensure that your skin keeps its youthful glow for longer.
Morning vs. Night: The Difference and Why Both Matter
Your morning and evening skincare routines serve different purposes. Morning routines are focused on protection and preparing your skin for the day. Evening routines are tailored to repair and rejuvenate your skin, cleaning away the day’s damage. Including both daily routines ensures that your skin gets comprehensive care, maximizing its health.
Ideal Morning Skincare Routine: Steps, Products, and Tips
To start your day with fresh, protected skin, follow these simple steps:
Cleanser: Most people can actually skip a cleanser in the morning and just splash their faces with water. If this doesn’t feel quite enough to you, make sure to use a gentle cleanser that doesn’t strip your skin - a cleanser that is too harsh can actually cause your skin to try and recover by producing more oil throughout the day.
Toning: Most likely a myth. You can skip this step or have a read of our deep dive on toner.
Serum: Opt for an antioxidant serum, such as a vitamin C serum. These are readily available anywhere you go and will protect your skin from environmental damage. La Roche Posay's Vitamin C Serum is a lightweight, fast-absorbing formula that helps brighten skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It contains 10% pure Vitamin C to provide antioxidant protection while helping to boost collagen production. This serum also offers hydration, leaving skin feeling smooth and plump.
Moisturizer: Apply a lightweight, non-comedogenic morning moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated throughout the day. Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer is a great choice for those seeking intense hydration and calming benefits. This lightweight yet rich moisturizer helps to protect and nourish dry skin with its blend of oat kernel extract and glycerin, which deeply hydrates the skin while soothing irritation.
SPF: Essential for protecting your skin from sun damage, apply a broad-spectrum SPF of at least 30 every day, rain or shine. Supergoop! Glowscreen is the perfect product for those who want to keep their skin looking healthy and glowing year-round. This lightweight sunscreen provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection with a blend of zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and antioxidant-rich oils that help protect your skin from sun damage.
Ideal Night Skincare Routine: Steps, Products, and Tips
Evenings are the perfect time to give your skin the TLC it needs. Follow these steps for a restorative night routine:
Cleanser: Use a makeup remover like Bioderma to gently melt away makeup, sweat, and dirt. Follow with a cleanser of your choosing (guide here) to make sure you’ve really gotten rid of the remnants of the day.
Toning: Again, you can likely ditch the toner.
Treatment: Apply any targeted treatments or exfoliants, such as retinol or AHA/BHA products, to help rejuvenate your skin. La Roche Posay Glycolic B5 Dark Spot Corrector is an effective, fast-acting skin brightener and dark spot corrector. Formulated with 15% glycolic acid, this lightweight lotion helps to reduce the appearance of age spots, sun spots and post-acne discoloration.
Serum: Apply a hydrating, reparative serum such as Aveeno, Calm + Restore Triple Oat Serum. This is a lightweight, fast-absorbing serum that helps to soothe skin and reduce redness. It is formulated with Prebiotic Oat, which nourishes and supports the microbiome of the skin for a healthier looking complexion.
Moisturizer: Opt for a nourishing nighttime moisturizer, which will help to lock in those wonderful actives you just applied. Olay Regenerist Retinol24 is a moisturizer that harnesses the power of retinol to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. It is formulated with fast-acting ingredients such as Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Niacinamide, and Hyaluronic Acid to help moisturize the skin and reduce signs of aging.
