You Just Bought New Skincare! Now What?

So, you're finally ready to start your skincare journey, but where do you start?! While the wide array of products can feel overwhelming, the path to radiant, healthy skin is easier than you think. This post will show you how to use your skincare products effectively and present a straightforward routine for both morning and night.

Understanding Your Skin Type

Before beginning, it's essential to identify your skin type: oily, dry, combination, or sensitive. Knowing your skin's needs helps you select the right products and tailor your routine accordingly. Talking with your esthetician and having a skin analysis done can help you understand where you lie on the spectrum!

Using the wrong products for your skin type can stop you from getting the results you want, or can make your concerns worse.

Morning Routine: Start Your Day Right

1. Cleanser

Start your morning routine with a gentle cleanser that suits your skin type. A good cleanser removes sweat and oils that have built up overnight, preparing your skin for the next steps. For oily skin, try a salicylic acid cleanser, which can help control excess oil. For drier skin, a calming cream based cleanser will be your best option. Sometimes, depending on your skin type, a simple splash of water can be more beneficial than cleansing your skin too often! (but sssshhhh... that's our little secret)

2. Toner (Optional)

If you choose to use toner, apply it after cleansing to remove any leftover impurities and balance your skin's pH. Opt for an alcohol-free toner with soothing ingredients like rosewater, especially if you have sensitive skin. Nowadays, cleansers are formulated to be pH balanced, so toners aren't always necessary. Facial mists can provide extra hydration and brightening ingredients depending on their formulation. I love a good hydrating mist before applying a hyaluronic acid serum to further push the ingredient into the skin.

3. Serum

Serums are concentrated formulas designed to target specific skin concerns. For instance, if your goal is hydration, look for serums containing hyaluronic acid, which can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. For those wanting to boost radiance, vitamin C serums are effective and can improve skin brightness by as much as 32% in four weeks. This is where our routines can get a little tricky! What serums do you put on and when? Well, a good rule of thumb is to apply products in order of their viscosity (or thickness). Lighter consistency and water-like serums go on first, and heavier products go on next. Also, do not use exfoliating serums during the day, save those for night time!

4. Eye Cream (Optional)

Gently apply eye cream to the orbital bone to help reduce dark circles and puffiness. Ingredients like caffeine can reduce swelling and help improve your overall eye area.

5. Moisturizer

Before applying, let those serums soak in! Get dressed, brush your teeth, fight with your partner... whatever you need to do. Choose for a moisturizer that works for your skin type!

6. Sunscreen

Lastly, don’t skip sunscreen! A broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 will protect your skin from harmful UV rays and prevent signs of aging. Remember, about 90% of visible skin aging is caused by the sun, making sunscreen one of the most critical steps in your routine. I'll never let you hear the end of it if you don't... and believe me, I can be reeeeeeally annoying.

Evening Routine: Reset and Repair

As the day ends, it's time to cleanse your skin of dirt and oil accumulated throughout the day. Your evening routine should focus on repairing and refreshing your skin.

1. Oil Cleanser

A double cleanse at night can be really beneficial. Especially if you are a makeup wearer, or suffer with acne. It may seem counter intuitive, but an oil cleanser can help with acne and oil production depending on the formulation. Remember, not all oils are created equal and some can be comedogenic. Put the damn coconut oil down.

2. Cleanser

Follow up with your regular cleanser. This two-step cleansing process can help to prevent clogged pores. For individuals using makeup, this method can reduce breakouts and help product penetration. Most of the time I see clients who don't love their results with their current products because they simply aren't cleansing properly.

3. Exfoliant (2-3 times a week)

Incorporate an exfoliant 2-3 times a week to slough off dead skin cells. Consider chemical exfoliants like AHAs or BHAs, especially if you have sensitive skin, which gently refine your skin without harsh scrubbing. An enzyme exfoliant is also a great alternative. Like all actives, you need to work your skin up to it! We want to think progressive, not aggressive.

4. Toner (Optional)

If you’re using a toner nightly, now’s the time to apply it. It preps your skin to absorb the next products better.

5. Serum or Treatment

Choose a targeted serum or treatment for specific concerns. Again, we want to apply these in the order of their viscosity. Night time is where we want to apply our exfoliative and resurfacing serums, but we want to be careful with how often we are using them. We also don't want to use multiple exfoliating serums at once. We can harm the barrier and cause more harm than good!

6. Eye Cream (Optional)

Apply your eye cream gently to support the delicate skin around your eyes.

7. Moisturizer/Night Cream

At night, consider using a richer night cream that focuses on hydration and repair.

How Often Should You Change Up Your Routine?

Making changes to your skincare routine requires patience. Take time to observe how your skin reacts to new products. I always recommend starting slow, incorporate your basics first (cleanser, moisturizer, spf), then add targeted ingredients and see how your skin reacts. Our skin's cell renewal process is around 28 days for adults. It can take a couple of cycles for us to see a difference in our skin. Patience and consistency is key! Depending on your skin, you may need to change products out during the seasons. If you become drier in the winter months, you may need to switch to a heavier moisturizer or a creamy cleanser.

Do I HAVE To Use All Of This Stuff?

No!... depending on your skin's concerns you may only need a few basic products! If we are focusing solely on barrier function and overall health of your skin, you may only need a few simple products. But if you are looking to see changes and correct concerns like acne, dark spots and fine lines and wrinkles, you will need to incorporate those targeted ingredients into your routine. Also, depending on your lifestyle, you may only be willing to use the basics, and that's okay! I don't want to send you home with products that you won't have success with.

Did you know that I also can create a custom cheat sheet for you? When you buy products from me, I want you have success! I also know that it can be easy for forget what products to use and when, especially when it comes to exfoliating and certain targeted ingredients.

The first step, is scheduling a consultation. From there, we can do a skin analysis, talk about your concerns and get you started with a solid routine that is results driven. Let me help you with your goals!

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