Skincare Routines: A Simple Guide to Healthy and Radiant Skin

Skincare is more than looking after your skin, it is for both mind and body. It is that time of the day when a person devotes their time to themselves. It’s a form of self-love that we can give ourselves. To the superficial eye, it’s just chemicals on the face. Well, not every skincare product consists of harmful chemicals. There are a series of products that we should add to look after our skin to keep it healthy and to treat skincare problems like acne, eczema and conditions like cystic acne.

This article explores simple and effective skincare routines to help you achieve radiant skin.

Why a Consistent Skincare Routine Matters

A good skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated. It should be simple and potent, including a morning and night routine. It is important to take care of our skin at least two times per day. A good routine ensures that your skin is protected during the day and rejuvenated at night.

Morning Skincare Routine

Start your day with this simple yet effective regimen:

• Cleanser

It is important to cleanse our faces because the pillows could accumulate dust and dead cells from our faces. If you have dry skin you can opt for a mild facewash, some dermatologists suggest to ditch cleanser for just washing your face with water in the morning. Oily skin readers is advised to use facewash in the morning since their skin requires at least cleansing twice a day

• Serum

Different serums are available in the market but it is highly important to use the one that is right for your skin.
For example, if you are suffering from acne it is advisable to use Niacinamide but if you have sensitive skin¹ the percentage of the serum could vary, so it is best to always consult your dermatologist before you use such serums

• Moisturizer

This is the third step in the routine, you can use a Moisturizer that suits your skin, many brands such as Cerave, Cetaphil and Indian brands like Be Minimalist offer some moisturizers for normal to dry skin which include sensitive and oily skin types. It is better to always use a Moisturizer to keep you glowing.

• Sunscreen

The most important component of the morning routine. Remember if you’re stepping out even if the sky is cloudy, always remember to use Sunscreen. It is highly recommended by all dermatologists around the globe. Sun damage² is the most common reason for ageing and Skin Cancer.³ There are much evidence that people who wore Sunscreen tend to look far younger comparing the ones that didn’t, because the UV Rays tends to damage the skin and can lead to ageing faster.

Weekly Add-ons for a Special Glow

There are many more elaborate routines which can be used for a special day once a week or as your time allows you to do so, one such routine is given below.

Pamper your skin with this extended routine once a week:

• Cleanser
• Toner: Toners are used to balance the pH of the skin and prepare the skin after the cleansing
• Hydrating sheet mask: Hydrates and refreshes your skin.
• Snail Mucin: This is a product that has come to popularity recently. Snail Mucin is often used in South Korea and is widely known for its anti-inflammatory properties and hydrating capacity which leaves the skin with a glass look. There are many brands that sell Snail mucin, so it is important to patch test before using the product to avoid any reaction to the product. Always patch test and consult a dermatologist before using it.
• Serum
• Gua Sha: Gua Sha is a product used to enhance the lymphatic flow from the cheek along the jawline toward the neck. An alternate method is to use the knuckles of the fore and middle fingers for the same method.
• Moisturizer
• Sunscreen

Night Skincare Routine

• Cleanser: Gently cleanse your face to remove makeup, dirt, and pollutants.
• Toner: Prepares your skin for better absorption of products.
• Serums – It is soothing for the skin to use hydrating serums such as Hyaluronic acid during the night.
• Moisturizer: Seal in the hydration and wake up with soft, glowing skin.

For an elaborate night routine, consider adding a soothing face mask or a dermatologist-prescribed retinol.

Dos and Don’ts of Skincare

Dos:

• Sunscreen

Never skip the use of Sunscreen, your skin over the years of usage will definitely thank you for it. It is the holy grail skincare. Sunscreen protects the skin from harmful rays of the Sun such as the UV rays.

• Moisturizer

Skin loses moisture throughout the day. If it is summer or winter, the skin requires moisturization. A moisturizer helps the skin contain the moisture, thus keeping it hydrated. This also helps with the healing of acne and pimples

• Dermatologist consultation

Before you try any serum containing active substances like Alpha Arbutin or Retinol,⁴ it is important that you consult a dermatologist. Every human has a different type of skin. A product that could do wonders for someone could cause purging on another.

• Change Pillowcases Regularly

It is necessary to change your Pillowcase once every 3 days pillowcase is a resting place for bacteria, dead skin cells from face and grease from hair, this could all combine and easily be the cause for skin issues like acne.

• Keep Nails Clean

Do you have long nails? Then you should definitely follow this step. The place beneath the nail is a place that can accumulate dirt, bacteria and sometimes even food particles. Use a nail brush or a toothbrush for this purpose and always clean your nails before cleansing your face and especially before doing a skincare routine. Even if a face is well cleansed, the dirt under the nails could nullify the effect of the Cleanser.

Don’ts

• Don’t use products directly off the market! Don’t buy a product just after listening to an advertisement, it is always better to take precaution than prevention, so always consult a dermatologist before using products like serums.
• Don’t go to sleep with make-up on! No matter how tired, don’t go to sleep with make up on your face, this could lead to clogged pores and later cause acne. Remove the make up using Micellar water using a cotton pad rather than a make-up because make-up wipes are very harsh on the skin.
• Don’t touch your face! Yes , touching your face multiple times during the day could transfer dirt and bacteria on to the face, always make sure your hands are cleans if you are doing so.
• Don’t combine Active serums with Retinol! Many skincare enthusiasts have learned this the hard way. By combining Retinol with active serums like Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA), Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) could lead to Purging, which is a very aggressive form of breakouts.
• Don’t eat an imbalanced diet. We need balance in life and so does in our eating habits that doesn’t mean we have to cut down on our favourite food such as ice creams and potato chips. The tricks is to consider our body as a machine, it needs the right kind of fuel to function. So make sure to combine it with the needs of the body with your wants.

Your Skin Reflects Your Health

Skin is a reflection of our internal system. Always remember to eat healthy. A balanced diet definitely shows on the skin in a few weeks. ‘Eat the rainbow’.. is an expression used to address the different variety of fruits and vegetables in all colours. Blueberries and Green tea have antioxidants that help the skin to glow and have anti-ageing properties. Make sure to include Pre and Probiotics so that the gut can absorb the nutrients in your food better. Last but not least don’t forget to eat your protein.

Conclusion

Skincare is just not about using product, most important it’s diet, if you have healthy diet the skin reflect it. Skin is the true mirror of our body, it is healthy to be mindful to what you use on the outside as well as what you consume on the inside.
Skincare is a form of self care, it helps to bring a little more calmness to the bussing lives and the key is to stay consistent, with consistency comes results. Consult a dermatologist and start a skincare routine, along the way your skin will thank you.

References

1. Journal of Dermatologic Science and Cosmetic Technology Chuanxia Jiang ,Chaowan Guo, Sensitive skin syndrome: Research progress on mechanisms and applications (Internet )
2. Volume 1, Issue 2, June 2024, 100015 Available from : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950306X2400013X
3. Cleveland Clinic. Ultraviolet Radiation and Skin Cancer (internet) 11/16/2022     Available from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10985-ultraviolet-radiation
4. NCBI Siddharth Mukherjee Abhijit Date. Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety (internet) 2006 Dec;1(4):327–348. Doi: 10.2147/ciia.2006.1.4.327.Available from : https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2699641/
5. NIH News in Health, Harrison Wein, Ph.D. Sun and Skin: The Dark Side of Sun Exposure (Internet) Published on July 2014. Available from: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2014/07/sun-skin