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Step Up Your Skincare Without the Seven Steps
With all the influencers singing the praises of complicated, pricey, and time-consuming 7-step skincare routines, it can be tricky (and intimidating) to figure out what you really need and can realistically commit to on a daily basis. This is where we come in… to make sense of all the marketing clutter and often “questionable” advice online.
Whatever your age or life stage, a morning-and-night skincare routine – that you’re consistent with – is a must, not just for the health of your complexion but for your self-assured ability to face the world and field the inevitable curveballs that everyday life throws at us. It turns out that great skin – at any age – is the kind of confidence that money (and discipline) can buy. Wisely.
So, what does a skincare routine for beginners look like?
At its simplest, a skincare routine—morning and night—should include three steps: a gentle cleanser, a treatment, and a moisturiser. A fourth step is sunscreen, which you apply in the morning or throughout the day as needed. Depending on your skin goals, you can add eye cream, serums, retinol, exfoliators, masks, and oils.
Let’s Talk Cleansers
Cleansing your face should be the foundation of an effective skincare routine. This step clears away the impurities and excess oil that can clog your pores and lead to dull-looking, congested skin. Many make the mistake of cleansing too often or using a harsh cleanser, which works against you, not for you, breaking down your skin’s protective barrier. So, gently does it! And twice a day, when you wake up and before you go to bed, is sufficient.
Our Online Skin Shop has extensive cleansers for every skin type and concern. From cleansers that gently exfoliate to cleansers that deeply hydrate, from cleansers that manage and treat pigmentation to cleansers that clear up breakouts and manage acne, whatever your complexion challenges, you’ve got options. The only option you don’t have is not to cleanse or go to sleep with your makeup still on.
Let’s Talk “Treating”
Any skincare routine aims to target problem areas in addition to keeping your complexion in great shape. Treating means using a serum or other product containing “actives” between cleansing and moisturising. Packed full of beneficial skincare ingredients such as vitamin C, retinol, AHAs, and other #skingoals achievers, the “treating” step is really important and, over time, makes a huge difference to how your skin feels, looks, and ages.
It's important to note that the product you “treat” your skin to in the morning may differ from the one you “treat” your skin to at night. Some serums both treat and protect and can be used in the morning (underneath a moisturiser and sunscreen) and at night, while nighttime actives do their best work while you get your beauty sleep.
Say “Good morning!” to Vitamin C. Considered the gold standard anti-oxidant, Vitamin C is proven to reverse the skin damage all skin types experience from sun exposure and pollution and reduce dark spots while treating hyperpigmentation in darker skin tones. Two of our favourite serums in this category? The Lamelle Correctives Vita-C Lipid Serum and the Neostrata Enlighten 15% Vitamin C + PHA Serum.
Say “Good night!” to anti-ageing serums containing Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Retinoids or Peptides. Not only do anti-ageing serums target wrinkles, fine lines and skin texture, but (depending on which one you pick) these night-time multi-taskers plump, brighten, boost collagen, increase cell turnover, and treat pigmentation, too. Three of our go-to overnight products for seriously beautiful beauty sleep? NeoStrata Skin Active Tri-Therapy Lifting Serum, SkinCeuticals Cell Cycle Catalyst and Lamelle RFM Re-Firm Serum.
Let’s Talk Moisturisers
Facial moisturisers keep your skin soft and hydrated and are an essential step (all year round) of your morning and night skincare routine. They offer your skin’s barrier with much-needed (and appreciated) strengthening support. Look for ingredients like ceramides or hyaluronic acid when figuring out which moisturiser to add to your cart, as these ingredients are the building blocks of moisture retention, and the more moisture, the better!
If you have oily or acne-prone skin, opt for a lighter morning moisturiser that will absorb quickly and sit seamlessly under makeup; the Neostrata PHA Daily Moisturiser gets this memo! If your skin is dry, try a thicker formula specifically designed for dry, sensitive skin; the Lamelle Serra Restore Cream is a great option. Whatever our skin type or concern, we’re confident that our range of day creams has something for everyone.
TIP: You can opt for two moisturisers – a day cream and a night cream – but some moisturisers are suitable for morning and night use. An example? The Lamelle Dermaheal Cellular Repair Cream.
Do You NEED an Eye Cream?
Well, yes and no. If you’re a newbie to skincare, focus on getting the basics into your bathroom cabinet—add the must-haves to your cart before splurging on the nice-to-haves. But… if you already have your cleanser, serums, moisturisers, and SPF, then you won’t regret adding an eye cream.
Eye creams are different from face creams, formulated specifically for the delicate eye area, which ages faster than the rest of your face. If you're becoming increasingly concerned about fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, under-eye bags, a lack of firmness, and puffiness in your eye area, then take a closer look at the SkinCeuticals A.G.E Eye Complex, Neostrata Skin Active Intensive Eye Therapy or Lamelle Dermaheal Eye Regeneration Plus Cream.