It’s the middle of January and it’s safe to assume that the majority of us have already slipped up with a few New Year’s Resolutions. Ah, don’t beat yourself up over it, January is a tough month! There are some things worth trying to stick to though and for us it’s a good skincare routine.
A new skincare regime doesn’t need to be expensive or particularly time-consuming. Any skin care routine is better than nothing. Shop within your budget and try out different products over time to see what works for you. You might find that a cheaper cleanser or toner works great for your skin but find that splashing out on eye cream makes a big difference for you. Everyone’s skin is different so don’t be afraid to experiment with what works best for you.
The sheer quantity of skincare products is frankly overwhelming. We’ve narrowed it down to the basics in four simple steps. The hard bit is up to you - keeping up with your routine! It might seem like a lot of hassle to start with, but it will become second nature in no time and you’ll see the benefits almost immediately.
Step One: Washing your face (or cleansing if you want to be fancy!)
Our skin is exposed to all sorts of grime, dust, oils and pollutants throughout the day, and this can lead to blocked pores and uneven skin type. Simply washing your face twice a day clears away all the dead cells and grime that can lead to blocked pores and lacklustre looking skin.
Ultimately you don’t need anything fancy to wash your face. Warm water, mild soap and a soft, clean flannel will do the trick. Try to use soap or gel designed for the face as general shower gels can be too harsh for delicate skin and dry it out.
Cleansing is an alternative way to clean your skin using a specialised product that is designed to deep clean your pores. You apply cleanser with a clean flannel or cotton pads and gently wipe it away. You will be amazed how much dirt comes off your face even when you thought it was already clean! You can even get facial cleansing wipes, like the Simple Matte and Clear wipes, to make the process even easier.
Step Two: Apply Toner
Toner is a liquid that you usually apply with a cotton pad. It helps to remove any last traces of dirt and restore the skin’s PH without drying it out. Toner helps to even out skin tone and prepare the skin to absorb any moisturising products that you apply.
A toner such as the Skin Blossom is a great product to begin your new skincare routine with. It’s a general toner that focuses on removing antioxidants and contains Witch Hazel to tone and tighten pores. As time goes on and you start to understand your skin better you may consider more specialised toners that target different things.
Step Three: Apply Eye Cream
The skin around your eyes is slightly thinner and therefore more prone to dehydration which leads to fine lines and wrinkles. Whilst some laughter lines around the eyes are a good sign, it suggests that you smile a lot, however, they can make you appear older than you are. You may also notice, especially after a late night, that you get bags under your eyes, or they look a bit droopy.
Eye creams are developed to specifically target the delicate eye area and help to hydrate and tighten the skin. This can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and bags, giving the skin a brighter and tighter appearance.
If you find that eye bags and droopy eyelids are what concerns you most then a tightening eye cream such as the Weleda Pomegranate Firming Eye Cream might be your best option. If it’s those crow’s feet you want to target then the Peter Thomas Roth Vital-E Microbiome Age Defence Eye Cream focuses on reducing those lines and is especially good if your eyes are exposed to a lot of blue light (you spend a lot of time in front of a screen).
Step Four: Apply Moisturiser
You should apply moisturiser to your face and neck in the morning and at night to hydrate the skin and create a barrier to protect against pollutants. You can use just one moisturiser or specific day and night creams. Night creams are generally slightly thicker and offer more hydration as you sleep but you might feel they are slightly too greasy for daily use.
Applying a small amount of moisturiser with clean hands in gentle circular motions also offer the benefit of giving your face a little massage and improving blood flow. A pack containing both a day and night creams, such as the Olay Total Effects Anti-Ageing Day and Night cream set will allow you to see the difference between the effects the different creams have. Alternatively, if you want to begin with just one cream and work out what suits your skin best then a general cream like the Sukin Anti-Ageing cream is a light and hydrating cream that’s perfect for everyday use.
Choosing a moisturiser with SPF 15 or above is always a great choice for added skin protection from the sun but remember that you’ll still need to apply sun cream on sunny days.
As always Health Pharm supplies a vast range of all skincare products that you can find here. Now go and treat yourself to some new products and make 2022 a year of great skin.
