Building a Skincare Routine

Most people who are invested in beauty and makeup are aware that looking good starts with a consistent skincare routine. It is easier to achieve a flawless makeup look if you are applying your makeup on top of skin that is already in good condition. Of course, when your skin looks great on its own, you could opt to skip makeup altogether. You open yourself up to new style possibilities when you are already happy with your starting point. Makeup becomes more of a way to express yourself than a tool to cover up your perceived flaws. Here are some helpful steps for building a skincare routine that will help you achieve your beauty goals.

Plan Properly

This isn't the most glamorous step of developing a skincare routine, but it is one of the most important. It is very easy to feel energized by the idea of using five or even 10 products every night to achieve great skin. However, you need to be realistic about how much time you'll be willing to spend on your skincare after it's no longer new and exciting. It's perfectly OK if you don't think you'd be able to do more than cleanse and moisturize on a daily basis. That saves you money on products you won't end up using, and it helps you focus on finding the right products with as little frustration as possible.

Identify Goals

The next step is to figure out what your skin type is and what you would like to accomplish. Do you have dry, normal or oily skin? Do you want to clear up breakouts or prevent aging? Do you just want to maintain the current health and appearance of your skin? Once you've answered these questions, you can start shopping for new products.

Choosing Products

If you want a quick and basic routine, picking out products will be easy. You can get away with using a gentle cleanser and following up with a moisturizer containing SPF. Sun protection is important, as damage from the sun is one of the main causes of visible aging. Even if you want a minimal routine, you should still wear some form of sun protection every day.

For a more advanced routine, start by adding a toner or serum underneath your nighttime moisturizer. Products containing glycolic acid remove the very top layers of skin cells, which has the dual benefit of clearing out your pores and eliminating the early signs of aging. For more intense anti-aging, use a retinol product every two or three days. Products like these can make the skin more sensitive, so they are best used at night.

Additional Steps

Once you've honed in on your main nighttime treatment product, you might want to add a mild daytime treatment as well. An antioxidant or vitamin C serum will brighten the skin and work with your SPF to prevent future skin damage. Using a mud mask once or twice a week will dramatically clear your pores, and an occasional sheet mask is great for moisture and hydration. Eye creams are not strictly necessary, but they can feel pampering if your under-eye skin is especially dry or fragile. Otherwise, just tap your regular facial moisturizer around your eye area.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by all of the options available, try a ready-made skincare system from a brand like Nu Skin. The products have been developed to work together effectively with positive results.

Women who wear makeup every day should use a separate makeup remover or oil cleanser to loosen the makeup before going in with a cleanser. This will ensure that your skin is as clean as possible before you layer on your skincare products.

Your new skincare routine should be enjoyable. It shouldn't be something you force yourself to endure every day. If it is, feel free to change or even eliminate some of the products you're using. Experiment with different scents and textures until you find products that you look forward to putting on your face. A good skincare routine should make you feel just as good as it makes you look.