Optimise the results of cosmetic injectables: Create your best skincare routine
We all know the routine: cleanse, tone, moisturise. However, many of us do not consistently follow these steps, or know when to add in active ingredients. So, I thought I’d break it down into simple tips to help you build your regime, including which skincare products you need at various ages. Optimal at-home skincare will give you the best start to your facial rejuvenation journey.
Basic Skincare Routine
As a rule of thumb, your skincare routine should include the following: cleanser, alcohol-free toner, moisturizer, eye cream, and SPF.
Morning Routine
1. Cleanser: Start with a gentle cleanser, or even just water, to provide a fresh canvas for your products without stripping the skin of its natural oils. Avoid cleansing wipes after your twenties as they are too abrasive.
2. Toner: An alcohol-free toner will remove any remaining traces of cleanser, close the pores, and balance the skin’s pH.
3. Serum: In your thirties, you may start noticing fine lines, dullness, and dryness due to environmental factors and genetics. Hormone levels decrease and collagen and elastin production slows. Consider adding an antioxidant serum, such as vitamin C or hyaluronic acid. Vitamin C neutralises free radical damage (from pollution and UV rays) and smooths and brightens the skin. Hyaluronic acid plumps and hydrates the skin’s surface layers.
4. Moisturiser: The primary purpose of a moisturiser is to hydrate, lock in your serums, and create a barrier over your skin. This doesn’t need to be expensive.
5. SPF: Sunlight and smoking are significant external factors in skin aging, so wear SPF all year round. Use a specific sunscreen before makeup, since makeup with SPF typically isn’t applied in the necessary quantity to be effective. A hydrating formula could replace your morning moisturiser.
Evening Routine
1. Cleanser: Use a gentle cleanser to thoroughly remove makeup and impurities from the day.
2. Toner: Apply your alcohol-free toner to prepare your skin for the next steps.
3. Retinol: A vitamin A derivative, retinol increases cell turnover and slows the aging process. Use it only at night as it makes your skin sensitive to sunlight. Start with a low percentage, applying once or twice per week, to avoid skin irritation.
4. Moisturiser: From age forty onwards, look for a richer night cream that nourishes the skin and supports cell repair.
Weekly Routine
Once a week, use a chemical exfoliant such as an AHA or BHA acid to remove dead skin cells and brighten the complexion.
Just remember to keep your routine as simple and sustainable as possible. If you’re confused about the order of application, start with the lightest fluid first and work your way up to heavier creams. The road to healthy skin is a marathon, not a sprint. Good luck with your new daily self care regime.
