Our social media feeds have been taken over by an array of must-have products that have made us all drool, including the coveted Glow Recipe Watermelon Drops, the game-changing Dyson Air Wrap, and the flawless Kosas Concealer – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! With so many amazing products available – all promising to change your life with a single tap of a card, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to start when it comes to building your own skincare routine. But don’t fret! I’ve got you covered. In this post, we’ll go through the basic steps of skincare and break down what each product does to make it simple and easy to find the perfect routine that works for you. So let’s dive in and get glowing!

Step 1: Cleanse

The first step in any skincare routine is to cleanse your skin. Cleansing removes any dirt, oil, makeup, and impurities from the surface of your skin and leaves it clean and a good base for the next steps in your routine. It’s important to choose a cleanser that works for your skin type, whether it’s oily, dry, or combination skin – or in my case sensitive skin!

Step 2: Tone

The next step in a skincare routine is toning. A step which is often skipped, but is actually vital in preparing the skin for the next products to penetrate deeper into the skin. Toners help to balance the pH levels of your skin after cleansing, and they can also be used to deliver targeted benefits, such as hydration or exfoliation.

Step 3: Treat

Step three is to introduce treatment products, so think your serums and eye creams. Serums are concentrated formulas which are developed to target specific skin concerns. Determine your skin concerns, or areas in which you might want to improve, and begin to find products which target those skin concerns. For example, if your skin is dry and needs hydration consider looking for ingredients such as Hyaluronic acid, Ceramides, Squalane and Glycerin. Using hydrating products like this will help reduce the appearance of fine lines and boost hydration.

The skin around our eyes is thin and delicate, and as we age, it becomes more prone to fine lines, wrinkles, and puffiness. Targeted eye creams help to nourish and hydrate this delicate skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while also reducing puffiness and dark circles.

Step 4: Moisturise

Moisturising is an essential step in your skincare routine. Moisturising helps to lock in all the products that we have just applied to the skin, and keeps your skin hydrated, plump and balanced, preventing dryness and flaking. If you have used retinol or a more harsh serum in your routine, opt for a gently and deeply hydrating moisturiser, so to not counteract or overstimulate the skin.

Step 5: SPF

Lastly, the MOST important step in your skincare routine is to apply SPF. Living in Australia, we experience some of the highest levels of UV radiation in the world because we are close to the equator. This makes sunscreen an essential to every Australian’s skincare routine regardless of the type of day. Sunscreen shields your skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s rays that can cause damage over time. Exposure to these rays can result in severe skin conditions such as melanoma, as well as more superficial imperfections such premature aging and sunspots.

Those are the crucial steps to a skincare routine! If you feel like adding something a little extra into your routine, get around face masks. They are a great way to boost the effectiveness of your skincare routine and target specific skin concerns. They can be used as an additional step in your routine, or as a replacement for one of the steps.

To incorporate face masks into your routine, determine your skin type and any specific concerns you have. Then, choose a mask that addresses those concerns. So, if you have oily skin and acne, you could consider a clay or charcoal mask to help control oil and draw impurities out of your pores.

If you have dry, dull skin, consider choosing a hydrating mask to add moisture back into your skin.a Face masks are often recommended to be used once weekly, depending on your skin type and can be followed by your favourite moisturiser. Remember to not leave the mask on for too long or too frequently, or it could lead to over-drying or irritation.

Don’t forget to patch test any new products that you are introducing into your skincare routine. Especially for people who suffer from skin conditions such as eczema or dermatits, you need to ensure that your skin won’t break out in a rash from new products. Patch tests can be done on the side of the neck, or your chest and tried for 2-3 days to make sure no reactions occur! Trust me, it’s saved me once or twice!

All these steps will have you on your way to achieving healthier and more radiant skin. Remember that a skincare routine is a personal thing, meaning it can take time to find the right products and routine that works for you.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this post, Start Your Skincare Journey: The Essential Steps for a Radiant Routine.

Until next time,

Mel x