Skincare Solutions: Getting The Best Results From Your Skincare

Skin care  we all know it is important to have a great routine to help protect our skin, and we invest so much money on lotions, potions, serums and creams to keep it in top shape. While the quality of the products you use is important, it is equally essential to make sure you are using them correctly – at the right time of the day or week, and in the right order – to ensure you are getting the best results possible.

DAILY

Cleansing
Cleansing really is a crucial step in your skincare routine and should be done every day. A light cleanse in the morning will remove any sebum and impurities that have been produced overnight and will prepare your skin to absorb all of the goodies contained in the rest of your skincare routine. We recommend a double cleanse in the evening, especially if you wear makeup. The first cleanse removes any makeup and pollutants that have accumulated on the skin throughout the day, while the second cleanse helps to regulate your skin’s protective lipid barrier and prepares the skin for your evening serums and creams.

Toning
Many people forget about using a toner, as they aren’t entirely sure what they do. Toners have many functions – they minimise pores, which gives the skin a much smoother appearance and reduces the amount of impurities and environmental contaminants that can penetrate into the skin. They also help to rebalance the pH levels of the skin, and many toners are formulated to target specific skin issues – your beauty therapist may recommend a toner with humectants in it to help bind moisture to the skin, or an astringent-based toner to help with acne-prone skin.
Toners are applied to the skin after cleansing, prior to any of your creams or serums.

Moisturising
The third step and final step that EVERYBODY should be using in their daily skincare is a good moisturiser, designed for your skin type. Moisturiser balances the skin’s protective layer, plumps the skin (which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles) and helps to even out skin texture. Many moisturisers are designed to help target specific skin concerns and do things like regulate oil production or increase collagen production. Some people will need to use a day cream and a night cream, while others may find one cream will be okay for both morning and evening. If your day moisturiser does not contain any SPF, you should follow it up with a good sunscreen to protect against UV damage.

WEEKLY

Exfoliating
You should use an exfoliant as part of your routine once or twice per week. There are two main types of exfoliant available for use at home – manual or enzymatic. A manual exfoliant is the one most people are used to; it contains micro particles that will manually scrub away the dead skin cells sitting on the surface. An enzymatic exfoliant contains enzymes (usually derived from natural sources, such as papaya or pineapple) which break down the “glue” (keratin protein) that keeps dead skin cells adhered to the surface of the skin. Exfoliation helps to clear your pores, while making the texture of the skin more even. This leaves you softer, smoother and more radiant, as a build up of dead skin cells can give the appearance of dull, patchy skin.

EXTRAS

Now we’ve covered the skincare basics, lets get a little more specialised – we’re talking masques, serums, and oils. Using a cleanser, toner and moisturiser daily, and exfoliating weekly, will help to keep your skin healthy and balanced, but what if you have particular skin issues that you are wanting to target? Whether it’s skin pigmentation, acne, oily skin, uneven texture or visible signs of aging, there are products that contain key active ingredients designed to remedy these issues. Directions on when and how to apply these varies depending on the active ingredients (for example, Vitamin A should be used in the evening, while Vitamin C should be applied in the morning), but typically these will be applied to the skin after cleansing and toning, and before applying moisturiser.

Our biggest recommendation when choosing skincare is to a visit a beauty professional. They can analyse your skin, talk to you about any main areas of concern you may have, and prescribe you a product regime that will bring out the best in your skin. Phone 03-381-8939 or click HERE to make an appointment with one of our beauty therapists for a facial or a skin consultation, and take the next step in healthy, happy skin.

Tags: Beauty Tips