With so much advice out there about skincare, we are often asked ‘what is the ideal skincare routine?’.
Whilst clients may seek skin rejuvenation treatments for the wow! factor, daily skincare is the true foundation of maintaining skin health and looking refreshed and rejuvenated!
Here’s some advice about the components of a good daily skincare routine:
Cleansers
Cleansing removes day to day grime, make up and bugs to maximise skin health. Foaming cleansers are better for oily skins, whilst non foaming milks are more suited to dry or sensitive skins. Face wipes do not cleanse skin well, so are really a temporary option, for instance, at the gym. Micellar water has also become popular recently, either for when water is not available, or when removal of makeup or sunscreen is the primary aim before cleansing.
Toners
Healthy skin is usually on the acidic side, so the use of toner can help restore the balance after cleansing. They are also great for blemish prone skins. Alcohol content can cause drying of the skin, so they are perhaps best avoided if you have dry or irritable skin.
Serum
These are usually used to manage specific concerns like fine lines, uneven texture or increased pigment. They usually contain active ingredients like antioxidants, peptides and vitamins depending on your needs.
Moisturisers
Moisturisers hydrate skin. They usually contain humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid to add moisture. Occlusives, like cocoa butter, prevent water loss, but can make the skin look shiny. Emollients place lipids into the skin to reduce dryness. Most products have a combination of these two ingredients, so it is best to select mainly humectants if you have oily skin and emollients for dry skin.
Eye cream
The skin of the eye is thin and hence more prone to signs of ageing. Most facial cream can be used around the eye anyway, so unless your skin is generally oily and you are using products for this, there really is no need to buy specific eye creams if you are on a tight budget.
Exfoliation
This process removes the upper surface of the skin to reveal radiance. Mechanical exfoliators like scrubs, used 1-2 times a week- remove dead skin. Chemical exfoliators, like the alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic acid or lactic acid) break down the glue between dead cells to ease their removal. Beta hydroxy acids, like salicylic acid, can also helpfully penetrate into pores and are also antibacterial, so are great for acne prone skin (but should not be used if you are pregnant or allergic to aspirin).
Sunscreen
This prevents skin cancer and ageing. 90% of skin ageing is from sun exposure, so this step is so important. It is used before makeup and about half a teaspoon is all you need for the face and neck. SPF is about sun burn protection, but UVA protection is also important to protect against skin ageing.
Use of a regular SPF over 35 with UVA protection, all year round, will provide excellent skin protection. Physical sunscreen that reflects the radiation away rather than chemical ones which absorb it, so they tend to need more frequent reapplication.
Oily skin types are better off with matte and gel sunscreen preparations, while drier skins respond well to creams and balms. Sometimes sunscreen can replace moisturiser in the daytime routine, saving a step…and money! Tinted ones can also mean you can go without foundation if your skin health is good too.
Make sure you don’t forget to use these products around the eyes…they too often get left out and are really needed to protect the delicate eye area.
So with the huge number of products out there, it appears sensible to keep skincare routines simple so that it is easy to incorporate into daily busy life. Using regular products to maintain skin health is equally important to prevent skin ageing and manage specific concerns.
If you have any questions we are always here to help! Email us at info@theacademyclinic.co.uk with any skincare queries.
