Looking for Clear, Glowing Skin? All you need is a skincare routine
You don't have to be perfect to look beautiful, all you need is consistency, care and a little science of skincare. Great skin is not just god gifted, what matters most is your daily habits. You might come across bewildering opinions and heap of options out there but caring for your skin is quite personal and no one knows your skin better than you.
So let's start with identifying your skin type;
Your skin type is not permanent, it can be confusing at times. This is why it is pivotal that you pay attention to your skin’s external and internal triggers as stress, diet, environmental factors, hormonal changes and several other factors can alter your skin type. Your skin type is a major factor in your skin care routine.
Dry skin
Your skin feels tight and uncomfortable. It is often sensitive because the skin barrier may be compromised and it can appear dull. Dry skin has its own set of woes but also specific ways of successfully managing them. It has a tendency towards redness, scaly patches and feeling of tightness. The pore size is very small but there are visible lines and the skin can be rough, itchy, flaky and irritable. This worsens in winter months in cold and windy weather conditions. Use gentle soaps and cleansers, avoid unnecessary exfoliation. Opt for rich-textured moisturizers or ointments and use as often as necessary to keep your skin feeling soft and supple,
Here we go with Morning Skincare routine for dry skin;
- Cleanse
- Eye Cream
- Hydrating antioxidant serum
- Moisturiser
- Sunscreen
Evening Skincare Routine
- Cleanse
- Eye cream
- Moisturiser
Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin, then you know how easily it can be irritated, inflamed and even break out. To keep your skin healthy, you need to identify what triggers your skin sensitivity and then avoid things like harsh soaps, toners, astringents and even some natural ingredients like plant and flower extracts, sodium lauryl sulfate or salicylic acid AHAs. Instead, opt for mineral-based sunscreen that protects your skin but is still gentle enough not to cause irritation.
Morning skincare routine for sensitive skin
- Cleanse
- Eye cream
- Hydrating serum if dryness is a problem
- Moisturiser
- Sunscreen
Evening skincare
- Cleanse
- Eye Cream
- Moisturizer if needed.
- Avoid exfoliation product as these can aggravate sensitive skin
Combination Skin
Skin is often drier on the cheeks and oilier on the T Zone , the area across the forehead and nose normal/combination skin. The combination skin is not too oily, not too dry. There may however be a slightly oily T zone affecting the forehead, nose and chin.
Morning Skincare routine for Combination skin
- Cleanse
- Eye cream
- Antioxidant serum
- SPF or sunscreen
- Moisturizer
Evening Skincare routine for combination skin
- Double cleanse
- Eye cream moisturizer if needed
- Applying face mask or exfoliating once a week will be beneficial
Oily skin
After a few hours of washing your face the skin looks and feels shiny. Oily skin types often have visible pores, shiny or thick skin and a predisposition to blackheads and other blemishes . it can change under the influence of weather and hormones.
Morning Skincare routine for oily skin
- Cleanse
- Eye cream
- Antioxidant serum (if aging is a concern)
- Moisturizer with SPF or sunscreen
Evening Skincare routine for oily skin
- Double cleanse
- Eye cream
- Night cream if your skin is dry and tight
- Consider exfoliation once or twice a week
Normal Skin
You're one of the lucky ones , your skin doesn't feel tight or dry after washing it even if you don't wear moisturizer with normal skin just wear moisturizer and sunscreen with SPF 50.
A quick glance at some crucial points to consider before setting up your skin care routine;
- Looking after your skin is more complicated than just cleansing and moisturizing and it's important to develop a daily routine that is tailored for your skin’s needs.
- It can be adopted to suit your individual skin’s needs whether that’s anti-aging or treating specific skin conditions such as melasma or a combination of skin concerns.
- Most importantly, start a routine and stick with it for at least 3 months because one cell cycle is about 30-40 days long and you would need to complete 2-3 cell cycles to determine the effectiveness of your product so have patience and stick with your routine.
Step by Step Daily Skin Care Routine
AM Routine
Step 1: Cleanse your skin to remove actives from the night before. It is important that your skin feels hydrated and not tight after this step
Step 2: Apply a moisturizer without any low pH -actives
Step 3 : SPF 50 with skin pH neutral antioxidants is essential to protect against pollutants.
PM Routine
Start your routine at least 2 hours before bed so you have time for actives to penetrate before your face hits the pillow and product comes off on your sheets.
Step 1: Double cleanse to remove oily sunscreen and makeup
Step 2: Hydrating toner. It hydrates and increases permeability of active ingredients
Step 3: Chemical exfoliation- remove dead skin cells to get glowing skin use 1-2 times a week
Step 4: Active/treatment- anti aging/ hyperpigmentation /acne etc
Step 5: Moisturizer - Create a healing environment for your skin to repair overnight.
Double cleanse
Start with an oil based cleanser to remove makeup and any sunscreen. Follow it up with a gentle face wash to remove any remaining product
Apply a hydrating , non alcohol toner
This will remove additional; dirt , dust ,pollution , bacteria and impurities . It can replenish, soothe and hydrate your skin after cleansing which is required before exfoliation as it can be little irritating
Exfoliate
It removes dull skin cells to give a brighter more even tone , improve permeability of actives which are skincare ingredients with specific functions, unclogs pores and reduces acne breakouts, stimulating collagen production.
Note
Only exfoliate 1-2 times a week and do it at night. Don't exfoliate too much as it can lead to irritation and flaking. The fact is that we should keep some of the top layer of dead skin cells to protect the skin underneath from environmental factors such as pollution , wind , rain and sun.
Active Treatments
Serums are supercharged with active ingredients and a high percentage of water, capable of penetrating the epidermis faster when formulated correctly. So if you want to take your skincare routine to the next level, a serum could be just what you need!
Moisturiser
Emollients are an absolute must-have in our beauty routines if we want to experience the perfect light reflection from our delicate, aging skin. These can help with flakiness and even sensitivity too! Hyaluronic acid, fatty acids and ceramides are brilliant for creating a protective skin barrier against water evaporation—essential for maintaining healthy, soft skin as we age. But don't forget to hydrate—use a moisturizer full of water molecules when using hyaluronic acid.
So now your skin routine is set lets understand how to find the perfect product for you;
What to look for in a cleanser?
Oily and acne-prone skin should look for skincare products with salicylic acid, niacinamide, and benzoyl peroxide. If you have combination skin, it's a good idea to use humectants, anti-inflammatory ingredients, and an oil cleanser or gentle micellar gel wash but just wash in the morning rather than double cleansing in the evening. Dry skin types should opt for humectants, anti-inflammatories and a mild wash - but only wash at night and don't do a double cleanse! Buy Ningen Sunflower De-Tan Cleansing Milk and Ningen Cadamba Cleansing Milk formulated with nourishing ingredients.
How to choose the best serum?
Serums are a great way to nourish and protect your skin from external and internal triggers and work effectively on dryness, hyperpigmentation, and early signs of aging. It is a much needed supplement to nourish your skin as it reaches deep into the dermal layer that is responsible for firmness and elasticity to give your skin fullness and vigor.Your serum should have ingredients such as Vitamin C & E, hyaluronic acid, Licorice and Ginseng . You must include Ningen Vitamin C&E Serum to get best results.
How to pick a toner?
Toner is an essential step in your skin care routine! It hydrates and nourishes the skin, removes excess make-up and dirt and helps to combat free radical damage. Adding a toner to your routine before exfoliating can also be beneficial, as it will help to keep sebum levels balanced with non-comedogenic ingredients. And, if you have dry or combination skin, look for toners containing humectants such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid for that extra boost of hydration! Try Ningen Dandelion Toner enriched with goodness of dandelion, basil, witch hazel aloe vera extracts to give you awesome results.
How to Choose the Best Sunscreen?
Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen which offers protection against UVA and UVB. Your sunscreen should be of minimum SPF 30 if you stay indoors most of the time otherwise SPF 50-60 is a better option. Oily skin types should go for mattifying gels or fluid textures;dry skin types will benefit from rich creams and balms. It is better to wear a separate sunscreen rather than opt for cosmetic products that already contain SPF. Check out Ningen Sunflower Sun Cream SPF-30, Ningen Sunflower Sun Care Cream SPF-50 or Ningen Sunflower Sun Care Cream SPF-60 for complete sun protection.
How to choose the best moisturizer?
Cleansing our skin can strip away some of its natural lipids, leading to trouble with transepidermal water loss and dryness. Our skin cells start to look shriveled which doesn't make for a smooth complexion. A great way to fix this is Moisturizer! It separates the cells with water molecules, so the texture is more plump and even. Plus, emollient ingredients will smooth out any rough edges so light reflects evenly. And not just that - moisturizing skin can also help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Try Ningen Silken Rose Moisturizing Lotion infused with the goodness of silken rose, orange peel, sandalwood, almond oil.
To cap it all, the products which you use in your skincare routine should be free from harsh chemicals and formulated with natural products, dermatologically tested and suitable for your skin type so that it makes your skincare routine a success!
