I have always assumed that my successful, independent, knowledgeable friends have their skincare program organised and a set routine safely in place. In much the same way that they seem to have every other aspect of their lives organized. So, imagine my surprise when I found out that most did not seem to know what were the most Indispensable products women need in their skincare procedure!
Skincare Or Nightmare!
But, to my surprise, the answer is they have not got everything in place! At a recent gathering of friends, talk turned to self-care and then skincare routine, the biggest concern seemed to be, “I have no idea what to use on my face.” A comparable look was exchanged amongst us before one friend said: “I cleanse my face, but after that, I don’t really know what I should apply next!” They needed to know what the ‘Indispensable Products Women Need In Their Skincare Procedure.’
Despite being around the thirty years age bracket, most had a vague skincare routine. Still, they were uncertain if it worked for them, others chopped and changed at the first sign of trouble. “I have a routine, but as soon as I get a spot, I’ll switch and turn to the next new craze,” admitted one friend. So, it seems, when it comes to taking care of our precious skin, there is a lot of confusion going on!
So, without being too harsh on people, skincare is an unnecessarily baffling area. The advice out there, and there’s no shortage of it – is often conflicting and overwhelming. To exfoliate or not to exfoliate? Should I be using a cleanser? A drop of serum? Face oil every evening? What about daily sheet masks? An infinite amount of confusion!
These are the million-dollar questions we continuously ask ourselves. With brands bringing out new ‘miracle’ ingredients or ‘necessary’ extra steps on an almost daily basis, it’s especially tricky to know which ones are deserving of a place in your stockpile of ‘glamour-producing’ products and those that don’t make the cut.
To clear things up, we have decided to run through the items every woman must not ignore and should have in her skincare routine and the reasons why.
Indispensable Products Women Need In Their Skincare Procedure
The Indispensables:
These are the absolute essentials for even the most basic skincare routine.
Cleansing The Face:
Cleansing is a prerequisite for an effective skincare routine. If you cleanse, double cleanse or even decide too triple cleanse – cleansing not only removes microbes, pollution, and makeup from the skin. It allows for better infiltration of skincare products that are applied afterward.
You should be cleaning your skin twice a day, but if you feel that more is needed on occasions, that is your choice but not a necessity. We do need to be sensible about cleansing as over-washing can lead to dryness, sensitivity, and irritation.
As for the choice of cleaner, I like to opt for a gentle option that can effectively remove eye makeup, such as ‘micellar water‘ or cleansing oil.
If you then feel you need something more thorough, follow with an exfoliating cleanser. Either using an AHA like glycolic acid or lactic acid to assist the skin in sloughing old skin cells and so brighten the complexion.
Micellar water – is gentle but also hugely effective at removing dirt, makeup. Also, if you have an oily skin tone, it helps clear your pores out while toning the skin. Another plus is that it’s free of alcohol and may help promote skin hydration while reducing irritation and inflammation, keeping your skin soft, supple, and smooth.
If you suffer from sensitive skin, you should consider seeking out an enzyme cleanser with papaya or pineapple extract.
They work a little differently from other exfoliants, giving you another weapon against rough, dull areas. When the undesirable skin is removed, it minimizes the appearance of pores and gives off a radiant, natural glow.
Most importantly, though, enzyme exfoliants tend to be gentler. The enzyme extracts typically have some anti-inflammatory properties, which can make them particularly useful for people with sensitive skin.
As for controlling oiliness, it is recommended a cleanser with salicylic acid to help decongest the pores. If you decide to use a cleanser that also exfoliates, you can save a little time by doing two jobs in one.
Hydrate:
Next up, it’s imperative to keep your skin hydrated regardless of whether your skin feels dry or oily. Using a simple moisturizer containing ceramide and essential fatty acids forms a lightweight, protective barrier on the skin’s surface to prevent moisture loss. Plus, when you apply follow-up products, this will help them to work more effectively on hydrated skin.
Of course, you know your skin texture, and it’s essential to find a texture and thickness to suit you. I would be inclined to moisturise with something which has a serum-gel feel and is light on the skin if my skin tended to be oily.
I do like to use Estée Lauder Nutritious Micro-Algae as my skin has a more combination feel to it or even if it were dry. So it’s always worth having a play around to find what you (and your skin) like best. One ingredient that’s worth looking out for to boost hydration levels is hyaluronic acid.
Protect Your Skin In The Morning – Sunscreen with SPF:
Sunscreen is an absolute must-have. There is such a variety of sunscreen available on the market now to suit all skin types. When you are diligent with your skincare [such as exfoliating acids, retinol, and vitamin C], this can increase photo sensitivity.
Photosensitivity is when the skin is susceptible to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun and other light sources. Most people are vulnerable to developing sunburn during prolonged exposure to sunlight.
So using a good sunscreen is imperative as it defends against this and the premature aging of fine lines, wrinkles, and control pigmentation of the skin.
For maximum protection, sunscreen should be applied directly onto the skin, underneath any makeup, other moisturizers, or skincare products.
Start by applying the sunscreen smoothly and equally to your face and neck. Then, give it 3-5 minutes to absorb before beginning your makeup routine.
Read – Sun Care For The Face
The Ones To Consider:
What we have outlined so far is the basics; we can then add further products depending on your skin concerns and skin type.
For example, black skin, the issue is usually pigmentation. You might experience anything from acne to dry, dull, or lack of firmness. Targeted serums can be used to deal with these conditions.
Serums are usually lighter (they have a lower molecular weight), which is why they work better under ‘richer’ products like a moisturiser. A good starting point is:
Vitamin C – Best Applied In The Morning:
Start your skincare process with Vitamin-C, and you should apply this before your moisturiser and sunscreen. I recommend using a sunscreen with a high SPF. Loaded with antioxidants, it helps reduce redness and even out your skin tone. Vitamin-C has shown to treat a wide variety of inflammatory skin conditions, and It negates free radicals in pollution – which can accelerate aging and give skin a healthy glow. It’s especially useful for city people.
Retinol – Best Applied In The Evening:
I highly recommend retinol (which you should use at night after cleansing). Introduce this into your skincare once you hit your late 20s and is an effective ingredient that addresses many concerns in one go. For instance, it can help to build up collagen, reduce hyperpigmentation, smooth the appearance of the skin, and balance oil.
Key Guidance And Management Advice:
You Don’t Have To Go All In!
It is my experience that the vast majority of women don’t want nor have the time for a complicated skincare routine. Those multi-step regimes create considerable bewilderment both for the individual and for the skin. Eventually, it gets pushed to the side, so simplicity is best when dealing with all things skincare. The skin is brilliant and balances itself as required, so using a lavish amount of products can be a waste of money and time.
I believe in the premise that less is more. There is always a risk of applying too many active ingredients to your skin. In doing this, it can set off allergies, sensitivity, or irritation. It is much better to find one or two skincare problems and find products to focus on these. It’s very tempting when you see so many ‘wonder’ treatments appear on the market to want to try them all. I think it’s about selecting ingredients carefully that have multipurpose functions.
Expensive Doesn’t Mean Superior:
Make sure you don’t get drawn into believing that the cost of a product is a measure of its effectiveness. Many affordable brands have impressive results and correct skincare issues. If you’re uncertain of which brands offer quality at a reasonable price, it’s always worth looking towards France. French pharmacy brands such as Bioderma, La Roche Posay, and Vichy are an excellent starting point. In contrast, brands like The Ordinary and Facetheory offer proven ingredients at reasonable prices.
Select Your Skincare On Proof, Not Marketing!
My skincare routine changes very little because I know the ‘Indispensable Products Women Need In There Skincare Procedure.’ It’s so easy to start following trends or something that is ‘all the rage.’ I like to be confident that I am using evidence-based ingredients. It’s more important the product can back up its claims with clinical trials rather than using a famous celeb to ‘front’ it or beautiful packaging.
Conclusion:
Have you considered your skincare routine and the ‘Indispensable Products Women Need In There Skincare Procedure.’ What are the problems you have encountered when trying to perfect your daily skincare regime? Have you found the advice offered here to be helpful? Will you be making any changes to how you care for your skin? Please leave any comments or questions below, and I will be happy to discuss them with you.
This is so me!…For the last couple of years I have been trying so many different brands and products, I’m always tempted to try something new that comes on the market just for the sake of it and end up irritating my skin needlessly. This is helpful advice about which ingredients too look out for that may suit and help certain skin types…Also, the very stressful time we’ve all been under recently certainly hasn’t helped our skin condition! I like the look of the Dermalogica Retinol oil 🙂
Hi my skin seems to becoming dry especially around my forehead and cheeks but the t-zone area can be oily! I’m wondering after reading your post about Micellar water and vit c moisturiser could be something that may help especially as it’s alcohol free.
Hello Jo, my skin has changed during the last few months due to hormone changes, I have found the products I have always used do not have the same affect. Since reading your post I think your advice on using Estée Lauder light moisturiser plus Retinol at night will make an improvement
Interesting reading about the benefit of the different products also never thought of using Retinol or applying vit c before moisturising! Maybe that’s where I’ve been going wrong for many years. Let’s hope it’s never to late to start using them.
As a man I never used to use moisturiser or any other products, but over the heatwave with using sun lotion and seeing all the products that are now available for men, I have started moisturising and using eye serum! Maybe will hold back the years.