Most people equate skincare with acne-prone skin. While having a solid skincare routine is great for treating acne, there are also other areas we can target with skincare. Having a skincare routine is important because it will help prevent aging, reduce the look of wrinkles, even skin tone and texture, prevent oiliness or dryness, and yes.. control acne.

Before we get into how to start a routine, we need to establish two things. What is your skin type and what areas do you want to target the most? Your skin is typically either oily, dry, combo (oily T-zone & dry cheeks) or normal. Areas that you may want to target are controlling oiliness, fine lines/wrinkles, under-eye bags, redness, acne scars, etc. Now that you know your skin type, lets talk about where to start.

The first step to a skincare routine is cleansing. Most brands will label which skin type their cleanser is created for. For sensitive skin, avoid cleansers that include a heavy fragrance or that have the word “brightening” as this typically includes ingredients that could irritate your skin. If you struggle with dry skin, a hydrating or gentle cleanser is what you want to look for. For more information on cleansers, be on the lookout for our next blog post!

After cleansing you will want to go in with any serums or treatments that you have. I recommend starting with only one treatment if you are new to skincare while your skin adjusts to the new LOVE you’re showing it. Brands such as The Inkey List, Naturium, and Good Molecules have amazing serums for an affordable price. Let me know in the comments if you’d be interested in affordable treatment recommendations.

Moisturizing is a crucial step to perfecting your new routine. A common mistake people with oily skin make is not applying moisturizer because they think it will make their skin worse. However, applying moisturizer actually tells your skin to produce LESS oil, so whether you have oily or dry skin.. MOISTURIZE!! Pro-tip for anyone who lives in a high-humidity climate, look for moisturizers that have a “lightweight” or “gel” consistency. This will help the moisturizer absorb quickly into the skin and won’t make your skin look oily. If you live in a dryer climate, cream moisturizers may suit you better to help lock in moisture.

Applying sunscreen is THE most important step of your skincare routine. Did you know 90% of your skin’s visible aging is due to sun exposure? Applying an SPF in your skincare routine helps with aging, sunburn, and helps prevent skin cancer. Mineral sunscreens are going to be my recommendation for you as they are all around better than chemical sunscreens in my opinion. Mineral sunscreens do not pollute waterways or contribute to coral bleaching. Mineral sunscreens are also tolerated better by sensitive skin since there are no chemicals being absorbed into the skin. Instead, think of a mineral sunscreen as a physical barrier that blocks out harmful radiation.