How To Achieve The Ultimate Skincare Routine

This guide will help you discover which skincare products are a perfect match for your skin type

Source: Unsplash

For year I have tried many skincare products hoping that they would give me a clear glowing complexion while maintaining my maturing skin. During my teenage years my skin was very oily and acne prone so I would gravitate towards brands that claimed to clear skin, but they made my skin very dry and damaged. I now realize that I was using products that stripped my natural moisture and although my acne would temporarily go away my skin was very damaged. Now that I'm in my late 20's I've finally discovered the ideal daily skincare routine I must follow and what products cater to my skins needs. After staying consistent with my routine, I began to notice a huge change in my complexion. My skin was clear, soft, firm and many of my fine lines had faded. My friends and family were always asking me "what kind of products to you use?" That's when I started researching skincare for other skin types so I could give my friends and family recommendations. In this article I will give a detailed description of my exact skincare routine and will also create a guide of recommendations for other skin types to try out. 

my combination skin leans more towards the dry side so many of my product's aid to hydrating my skin. Every so often I will experience hormonal acne my chin, which I've learned must be treated internally and externally. Since I've struggled with mild acne most of my life, I have a lot of dark spots and scars from old breakouts. like many people I have deep smile lines and faint forehead wrinkles, but my biggest area of concern has always been the dry dark circles under my eyes. Now that I've given you background information on my skin, I will share the products I've been using for months that have improved my skin tremendously.

Every morning I use a hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser following with a light toner (on cotton pad) to remove any leftover impurities. Once my skin is clean, I will splash water on my face, neck, and chest making sure that my skin is damp. Using two pumps of my hyaluronic acid serum I massage it into my damp face, neck and chest. I treat my neck and chest the same way I treat my face because the skin is delicate and needs to be properly cared for too. After the product has been absorbed into my skin, I will gently apply my eye cream serum to my under eye and then my daily moisturizer that contains SPF 30. This routine helps maintain the moisture in my skin, reduces fine lines, fades dark spots and protects my skins barrier.

It's important to remember that you will need to use different products in the morning and night. My evening and morning routines are similar except some products are subtracted and I add other products. Still using the cream-to-foam cleanser, I will wash away all the oil and dirt from the day. I will also use the same toner on a cotton pad to remove any remaining impurities, making sure to have a clean surface for my other products. Then I will massage my custom Curology formula all over my face to help unclog my pores, prevent breakouts and repair any damaged skin. next for my under eyes I will apply small dots of retinol eye cream to help correct my dark circles and hydrate. Finally, to seal all the products into my skin I will apply my moisturizer to my face, neck and chest. I like to do this routine two hours before bed so that I can allow my skin to absorb all the products.

AM Products: CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser, Vichy Pureté Thermale Toner: Hydrating Face Toner, CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum, Cetaphil Deep Hydrating Refreshing Eye Serum, and CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30

PM Products: CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser, Vichy Pureté Thermale Toner: Hydrating Face Toner, Custom Curology Formula, RoC Retinol Correction Eye Cream, and CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion 

Now that I've shared my combination skin routine, I will introduce customized personal guides for people with oily, dry and/or normal skin. Each Guide will have product recommendations for each step so that you can start your ultimate skincare routine asap!

Normal Skin Routine

Technically there isn't a "normal" skin type but there are people who don't experience any skin concerns. While you may not have any specific issues with your skin it's still very important to care for your skin so that it will stay healthy and protected. If this is your skin type I recommend using a gentle cleanser that will hydrate your skin because it's always necessary to keep your skin hydrated. I believe everyone should use at least one serum on their skin every day, so for normal skin types I would use a vitamin C serum to help brighten the skin. Gel moisturizers are the best for normal skin because it will lightly moisturize your skin without making it greasy. For the last step of your morning routine, you want to use a SPF 30 product on your face, neck and chest.

During the evening routine I would use the same gentle cleanser to wash your face, then apply a light toner on a cotton pad to remove any remaining impurities. For the evening it's important to use a hydrating serum on your face, neck and chest to keep the skin quenched. Finally, to seal all the products into your face, neck and chest, use the same gel moisturizer and then a natural facial oil. This routine will maintain the natural balance of your skin while brightening and protecting its barrier.

AM Products: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser, Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector, Versed Dew Point Moisturizing Gel-Cream, First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Sunscreen SPF 30 

PM Products: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser, Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum, Versed Dew Point Moisturizing Gel-Cream, The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane

Oily Skin Routine

When oily skin is maintained you can use it to your advantage by slowing the aging process and achieving a healthy glow. The main struggles of having oily skin are clogged pores that lead to breakouts and having shiny complexion throughout the day. When oily skin is stripped by a cleanser It will produce more oil which contributes to that shiny appearance, so choose your cleanser carefully. Using foam cleansers will properly remove oil from the skin without stripping the natural moisture and will leave the skin feeling clean. If you hav oil skin than toner will become your best friends! It is crucial to find a mattifying toner that you can use throughout the day whenever you notice too much shine. To avoid clogged pores and breakouts I would highly recommend using a clarifying serum in the morning after you cleanse and tone. More often than  not people with oily skin think they don't have to moisturize but they are dead wrong. Everyone needs to moisturize their skin to protect the skins barrier. For oily skin I recommend using a water-based moisturizer to avoid that greasy feeling. At the end of every morning routine apply a non-greasy or mattifying sunscreen for protection.

In the evening use the same foaming cleanser to wash the oil and impurities from the day. After the skin is cleansed use a toner that will soak up any remaining oil and finish with a water-based moisturizer.

AM Products: CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, La Roche-Posay Serozinc Face Toner for Oily Skin, Versed Just Breathe Clarifying Serum, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, Paula's Choice Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 50

PM Products: CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, La Roche-Posay Serozinc Face Toner for Oily Skin, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

Dry Skin Routine

Having dry skin can be quite the struggle because it usually means your skin is sensitive which can be difficult when trying out new products. Many people with dry skin won't wash their faces with cleansers because they want to avoid that tight feeling due to lack of moisture. As a fellow dry skin person, I'm here to tell you that the right cleanser will not make your skin feel tight. Using a hydrating facial cleanser twice daily will cleanse your skin properly and leave your skin feeling hydrated. Using serums that are humectants, will create maximum moisture in your skin when used correctly. After cleansing your skin splash some water on your face, neck and chest making sure the skin is damp. Massage two pumps of the serum onto your face, neck and chest then let the product air dry so that it is properly absorbed into the skin. Immediately apply a thick moisturizer and sunscreen onto your face, neck and chest to seal the serum and protect your skin.

When we sleep at night, we lose most of the moisture in our skin which is why the evening skincare routine is very important. For those with dry skin you can't afford to lose any more moisture so using the hydrating cleanser at night is ideal. Once the skin is cleansed slowly transition into applying a retinol serum to your face to avoid having a harsh reaction. Many people swear by retinol because of all the benefits it can bring to your skin, but it can be intense for sensitive skin types. Rinse your hands off with water and dry them with a towel to avoid getting leftover retinol on your eyes. Pump two small dots of eye cream on the back of your hand, use your ring finger to collect the product and dab it generously under your eye. Finally apply a thick moisturizer to the face, neck and chest to seal all the products into your skin.

AM Products: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, Vichy Laboratories Mineral 89 Serum, First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration, and Paula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+

PM Products: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Eye Cream, and First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration 

Before starting your skincare journey, it is important to remember that consistency and time are key. Once you've repaired your natural skin barrier the goal is to protect it which is why no matter what your skin type is please wear sunscreen! By following my morning and evening skincare guides you will see positive changes in your skin within weeks.  
 
 
 
                                                                                     

Combining my two passions, beauty, and writing, while living in New York with my cat Sawyer.

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