Before I begin, I owe my readers a huge apology. I’ve been so inconsistent with posting on my blog and I’m really sorry because I know that there are people who benefit from the posts. I’m going to do better. Jumping right in to the topic of today’s post, I think after years and years of trial and error and research and skin consultations, I’ve finally settled on a wholistic and basic skincare routine. These are the steps I believe every skincare routine should have, essential products that are basic enough for everyone to use in order to achieve healthy looking skin. These essential steps/products are the foundation of any other skin concerns you may have. Everything else you add to address specific problems (acne, hyperpigmentation, dryness etc) should be in addition to these four basic steps.
1) Cleanse
Cleansing is the first step of a basic skincare routine. I generally opt for gentle cleansers that won’t leave my skin feeling stripped and parched afterwards. A test I usually do after washing my face before applying anything, I wiggle my mouth around, pulling left, right up and down. If my skin feels really tight, the cleanser is too harsh for me. My favourite cleansers come from Dermalogica (this is no surprise). They really get them right. I’ve been using the Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel for years and I’m still happy. The 250ml retails for R720.00 but they have two other sizes (one smaller and one bigger).
2) Hydrate
A big mistake I made for a long time was not focusing on repairing my skin barrier. Because my primary problems have always been acne and hyperpigmentation, I spent a lot of time and resources on exfoliants, acids and peels. I didn’t understand why my skin was so slow to show improvement. Incorporating a hydrating serum, particularly one which focuses on barrier repair, was one of my best decisions. I’ve been using La Roche-Posay Hylaru B5 Serum as my hydrating serum and I’m really happy. My skin feels so good and it look healthy and hydrated all the time. The texture is improving and I’m noticing that the better my skin barrier, the more effective my exfoliating products. I’ve used Dermalogica’s Barrier Repair before and I was underwhelmed, I much prefer the La Roche-Posay. It retails for R650.00 and is available at Clicks, Dischem and online (Dermastore).
3) Moisturise
After you’ve hydrated, you need something to lock all that goodness and water into the skin. This is where step 3 comes in, moisturising for your life. You really only need one moisturiser, but because of my skin needs, I use two. In the morning I use the Neutrogena Hydro Boost water gel, which I really like. It’s affordable, lightweight and makes my skin feel supple. It retails for R160.00 at Clicks and Dischem. I’ll do an in-depth blog post comparing it to the Clinique Moisture surge gel, which I used for a long time before realising that the Neutrogena basically does the same thing for a much lower price point. In the evening, I use the Environ Vitamin A Ultra Night cream. I’ve been using the Environ moisturisers for a while so I’m on the highest level in this range, it took me about 2 years to progress. My skin drinks it right up and I always wake up with dewy, soft skin. It retails for about R460-R500, depending on where you buy it. Again, there definitely isn’t a need for two separate moisturisers, one works just fine.
4) Defend
Last but most importantly, sunscreen. You can have the secrets to eternal beauty etched in your brain but if you are not wearing sunscreen, those secrets will not help you. Sunscreen is probably the most important step in any skincare routine for people of all ages, races and skin types. The sun can be really harsh and without the right defences, no amount of anti-ageing or anti-hyperpigmentation products will work effectively. My two favourite sunscreens are the Eucerin SPF 50 Oil Control (retails for R280.00 at Clicks and Dischem) and the Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 (retails for R395 on Shop Beauty on Tapp).
I don’t use them at the same time, I switch between the two depending on my skin needs. For day-to-day, going to the office etc, I’ll use the BGS. For beach activities or long runs outside (anything that requires reapplication) I’ll use the Eucerin. There’s no need to have two sunscreens, just pick on that you like and commit to using it every.single.day. Wear sunscreen even when its overcast or raining, even when you’re indoors, even when you’re wearing a hat. I use about two fingers worth of sunscreen daily. It doesn’t clog my pores or lead me to break out and if you’re using a decent sunscreen, it won’t leave a white cast.
In summary, there are 4 steps/products that you need to build a basic yet effective skincare routine. This picture above can be saved for future references. Good luck on your skincare journey and remember that there’s no once-off magic product/routine that will give you perfect skin. The goal is always healthy skin and it takes time. Be patient and love the skin you’re in while you invest in the skin you want! xx
