The Easiest (and Best) Skincare Routine

If you’re new to skincare routines, the task of simply choosing a routine can be daunting. How many steps are enough? How much should I spend on products? While some may stand by the idea of ‘more is more’ when it comes to taking care of their skin, this often leaves too much room for forgetting steps and making mistakes.

Did you know that it’s actually possible to achieve the same results in a much shorter time frame? Being able to achieve this is especially appealing if you’re trying to leave enough time for a good night's sleep after a busy day - which, let’s face it, is one of the best things you can do for your skin.

So here are a few failsafe steps to start caring for your skin.

Your Good Morning Skincare Routine

Starting the day with a beauty routine will leave you with perfect skin every morning. But more often than not, we end up forgetting to take care of our face the way it deserves. If you don’t have much time in the morning, here’s your ten-minute express beauty routine so that your face can regain its natural glow in just three steps.

Step 1: Begin with a Cleanser

Facial cleansing in the morning is essential to remove all the impurities that were expelled during cell regeneration overnight. If you don't cleanse, these dead cells can clog pores and lead to acne on your face. To do this, use a cleanser with a soft texture and warm water, not hot, as experts say since it can dry out the skin. In addition, if you have redness, cool water - not cold - will help blood vessels constrict and that peculiar reddish skin tone will disappear.

Step 2: Continue with an Antioxidant Serum

A facial serum is a product that, as the pharmacist, Marta Masi eloquently tells us, "...is characterized by a high concentration of active ingredients, which are rapidly absorbed and penetrated, which can reach deeper layers, so that we achieve short-term results."

In general, serums have a light and fresh texture. Some have a more watery, fluid consistency, others are more gel-like or have an emulsion feel. It is a beauty product that must be applied to clean skin and before the usual creams. It is important that you stay with this fundamental idea: the serum is not a substitute for moisturizer, it is a supplement.

"Vitamin C is one of the most powerful antioxidants used in antioxidant serums. One of the advantages it has is that it binds very easily with free radicals and is capable of stabilizing and regenerating them again," explains Leonor Prieto, Scientific Director of Skinceuticals. Furthermore, being an alpha hydroxy acid, it has exfoliating and renewing qualities. It also has depigmenting and normalizing melanin, so it provides a beautifully natural appearance with homogeneous skin tone, all while reducing blemishes.

Step 3: Moisturize Your Skin with a Quality Sunscreen

Experts say dehydrated skin looks dull and more prone to wrinkles than healthy skin. We couldn’t agree more, and the sun's rays can aggravate these symptoms. Therefore, hydrating the skin should be an essential step in your daily beauty routine.

You can even use a moisturizer that contains sunscreen for added benefits. Sun protection and deep hydration will protect your skin from the stresses it suffers throughout the day and assists in repairing it so that it can recover its natural shine.

Your Beautiful Evening Skincare Routine

Throughout the day, our skin comes into contact with environmental pollutants, dirt, and other nasty stuff. It’s important to gently wash away all these impurities and let our skin recover overnight. After a long and tiring day of being amazing, you need this routine to be quick and painless - we get it. So, this three-step routine will prepare your face for a night of beautiful rejuvenation in just ten minutes.

Step 1: Cleanse Again

Washing our skin morning and night makes sure we avoid clogged pores, dullness, and acne. Finding the right cleanser for your skin is essential, and the same rules apply as in our morning cleanse. You can use the same cleanser for both (saving money!) or you can switch it up.

Within the last few years, the Korean beauty trends picked up globally have popularized the double-cleanse method. Selecting an oil-based cleanser to start with will work to remove oil-based makeup, sunscreen, and impurities from the skin. The second part of this double-cleanse method is with a water-based cleanser to gently remove any oil residue and water-based impurities (such as sweat) from the day.

Remember, there’s no point in applying expensive creams and serums on top of clogged pores - your skin won’t be able to absorb as much unless you clean those pores. A clean base makes sure your skin is prepped and ready for the next steps!

Step 2: Heal Your Skin with a Repairing Serum

Hydration is the key to flawless, radiant skin. Layering hydrating products helps them better penetrate the skin, making them more effective. Preceding your moisturizer with serum can give your skin a much-needed boost overnight.

Before choosing a serum, you should think about what your skin really needs. If you’re concerned with fine lines and anti-aging, serums containing vitamin A (aka retinol) are your best choice. Beauty blogger Lindsay Silberman has a long list of anti-aging serums you can check out here. If you have dry skin, a hyaluronic acid serum is a good choice. It helps to restore moisture which keeps your skin looking plump and healthy.

Step 3: Hydrate With a Deep Moisturizer

No night-time regime is complete without a moisturizer to seal in all the nutrients you just added in Step 2. “Essentially, moisturizers assist in preventing water loss through the outer layers of skin,” dermatologist Dr. Carlos Charles explains. “They can also complement the naturally found protective oils and other building blocks within the skin, such as ceramides.”

Again, you can save money and space in your bathroom cabinet by using the same moisturizer for day and night. However, a dedicated night cream focuses on repairing any damage with ingredients like retinol to speed up cellular turnover and counteract dark spots. These creams tend to have a richer, thicker texture than day creams and work to replenish moisture levels (of course) which naturally dip in the evening.

Simple Skin Routines to Live By

If you want beautiful, healthy skin (who doesn’t?!), there’s no need to buy a thousand expensive products that empty your bank account. Just make sure you use cosmetics that suit your skin type: young acne-prone skin will not have the same needs as mature and dry skin. Using the right skincare products routinely, eating a healthy diet rich in vitamins & nutrients, and getting a good night's sleep for our skin to regenerate are the keys to having dreamy skin.