Try this basic skincare routine
Post contains affiliate linksIn a world filled with just about every product you could think of for your face and body (there’s probably something specifically for your little toe these days) it’s sometimes hard to narrow down what we actually need for just a simple basic skincare routine whether you’re a beginner or more advanced skincare user.
Basic skincare - keeping it simple
Yes of course there are routines that can have us layering products on our skin for what feels like an eternity, when all you want to do is just go to bed. Within reason the extra products are still beneficial for your skin and they target different things but sometimes you can just keep it quite basic!
We’ve all been there when you come home from a night out, your pillow is staring at you and you debate committing the cardinal sin of going to bed with your make - up on (please don’t ever do this - I’ll be upset for you).
I’ve been there - plenty of times, the nuggets on the way home get us real sleepy and ready for a big snooze. Deep down we know we should at least do the basic skincare steps - at the very least right?
The 3 step skincare routine:
I won’t sit here and say I don’t have 101 products in my skincare collection because I do. But I also know how to keep my basic skincare routine exactly that on the days when I don’t have the time or when I’m feeling a bit on the lazy side. There are 3 steps we should always follow no matter what - cleanse, moisturize, SPF.
#1 Cleansing
Apply, lather - whatever the instructions are for the type of cleanser you’re using and then rinse off with a face sponge (sometimes your hands don’t do a great job if the cleanser is oil based) Tip on this - don’t over cleanse it can strip your skin.
When people talk about cleansing, they sometimes think it’s only for when you’re wearing make-up, in my opinion it’s not just for those days. Whilst we sleep we shed dead skin cells, we breathe into our pillows (which we don’t exactly change everyday), our hair gets in the way, the list goes on.
We need to wash this off in the morning, it’s part of the same process as washing off eye goop (what is the actual name for that?!) plus if you’re like me, that splash of water helps wake you up + a coffee obviously. Doing this actually lets you get the maximum benefits from the products you apply after.
Use a cleanser that is for your skin type, if you have dry skin for example, a hydrating cleanser works best. In the last few years, I fan girl massively over cleansing balms, they are great for a single and a double cleanse (that thick foundation hey). Double cleansing is life but I only do that in the evenings, I’ve used quite a few different ones so far and I have genuinely liked them all! I’m currently using e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting cleansing balm.
e.l.f.
Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm
#2 Pat dry and apply your moisturizer
4 dots - forehead, each cheek and chin and that way it covers all inches of your face. Take it all the way down your neck as well. Moisturizers don’t have to be anything complicated, I find anyway.
Personally I don’t think you need to spend £60 odd for a face cream (although I have done in the past) when a £10 moisturizer equally works just as well.
Sure the more expensive one has pretty packaging and it’s cute n all but all moisturizers do exactly that..moisturize! They hydrate the surface layers of your skin, they prevent your skin from drying out post-wash - I legit hate that tight feeling on the face!
The main benefit here is that they seal the skin, locking in moisture while also protecting the skin from environmental factors - essentially you just need it to prevent dryness and to hydrate your skin. I’m currently using e.l.f cosmetics Holy Hydration Face Cream fragrance free which contains hyaluronic acid and peptides (we love to see it) and it’s just $15/£12!
e.l.f.
Holy Hydration! Face Cream
#3 SPF SPF SPF!
A group of girls on the train a few weeks ago were trying to guess my age (they were trying to get me to go to a boozy brunch - post 30 I need about 2 months notice) they guessed 26 and when I revealed I’m 33 they asked what my secret was and I said…SPF! Well it’s one of my secrets.
They knew what I was banging on about but they were under the impression you don’t need to worry much about that until you’re ‘older’. It’s a misconception, there is no age for SPF, we should be wearing it every single day, all year round! (Yes! wear SPF even when it’s not sunny..the sun is still out!) apply generously all over the face and take it all the way down to your collarbone.
SPF - one of my favourite products to use and one that should never leave your basic skincare routine! Many moons ago I used to use SPF just on holidays, then I tried the body SPF’s (I swear face specific ones weren’t really a thing back in the day) and I used to get these little white ‘spots’ on my forehead and I realised something in that was not agreeing with my skin.
So I left it and I would only really have SPF on my face if it was in my makeup (not the same thing people) until my love for skincare grew even more and I did more research. All of a sudden, BOOM, there were so many SPF creams just for the face - where do you start?! Well sometimes, it’s about budget too right?
I started with a relatively inexpensive SPF and whilst they do work for some, it was too thick for me, I looked like a shiny disco ball. Over time I made decisions that there are some skincare products that I will splurge on because simply - some are better quality. Some offer mineral rather than chemical based ingredients, some don’t leave a white cast like others do - you get my gist.
For the last few years, I have and will continue to invest in key products that target certain skin concerns products that will protect my skin. SPF is one I have splurged on. I have been using Thank You Farmer Water Sun Cream SPF 50 for 3 years now and I absolutely love it. I have also just started using Ultra Violette Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 50 - (Full video review can be watched here) I like to switch between the two. It’s a personal choice but I won’t use less than SPF 50 on my skin.
Ultra Violette
Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 50
Basic skincare conclusion
There are other products that we can add to our skincare routines to target skin concerns such as hyperpigmentation or fine lines but at the very least the above 3 basic skincare steps will keep your skin clean, moisturized and protected!
You might also like:
