My skin care routine                               

Following on from the previous post, I mentioned some of the everyday environmental stresses that our skin is subjected to. In addition there is makeup that many apply daily to their face. Makeup in particular clogs pores and can irritate the skin depending on how sensitive we are to the products. These effects can disturb the natural skin process. It’s therefore important to ensure that makeup is removed effectively before going to bed. Under no circumstances should you be wearing makeup to bed, no matter how tired you are.

Another consideration is skin type. There are five skin types: normal, combination, oily, dry and sensitive skin. The drier and more sensitive skin is, the more likely it is to contend with ongoing issues such as redness, flaking and itchiness. On top of that we are exposed to so many skin care products as well as dealing with environmental factors which take a toll on our skin. As a result, our skin becomes sensitized. Unfortunately certain ingredients in topical products can cause sensitization, meaning that these ingredients can break down the skin’s protective layer and trigger the skin to react in a negative way. Examples are fragrances, essential oils and preservatives. More on that later…

So how many steps are required in a skincare routine? As previously mentioned, it depends on your skin type, lifestyle and environmental factors. The number of steps can be kept to a minimum but the types of products used will change accordingly. If no makeup is used, then an example of a minimal routine is light cleansing followed by a splashing of cool water to tone the skin then finish with moisturisation. If your skin is feeling very dry, simply cleanse with warm water then splash with cool water to tone followed by moisturisation. Removing the cleanser from your skincare routine will help to restore the skin’s natural oils. When applying the moisturiser, it’s an opportunity to stimulate circulation by gently massaging the moisturiser into the skin in a circular motion. When applying around the eyes, gently pat into the area.

If makeup is used, the first step is to remove it with makeup wipes, cleansing oil or cream cleanser. I usually place some of the night moisturiser that I use on a cotton pad and use it to remove my makeup. For waterproof makeup, the use of an oil like jojoba oil or coconut oil is effective. Then follow with light cleansing to remove any residue and then tone with some cool water followed by moisturisation. 

I’ll talk more about moisturisation in my next post.