Owning the most expensive skincare products and applying them on your face now and then wouldn’t make a stitch of difference. Skin thrives with routines and consistency.

If you already have multiple shelves lined with skincare products, all you need is a routine. Write the routine down and follow it religiously. I promise that your skin will benefit from it. One thing to keep in mind when it comes to skincare is to ensure that the products you are using are proven to be dermatologically beneficial. The key to finding such products is research. However, not everyone has time to do in-depth research on skincare just to build a daily routine.

This brief guide has been created to help all such people. If you’re also just beginning your skincare journey, read on to learn the steps of a perfect daily skincare routine.

The 6 Steps of a Perfect Skincare Routine

In order to achieve and maintain flawless skin, you should follow these steps every day:

1. Cleanse

By the end of the day, your skin harbors oil, dirt, dust, dead skin, and bacteria. If you sleep with that on your face, it’s only going to block your pores and give you acne, blackheads, whiteheads, and other skin problems. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser every morning and night. For a cleanser to work, make sure you pick the right one based on your skin type. Have acne? Use a salicylic acid cleanser. Have hyperpigmentation? Use a cleanser with kojic acid or one with brightening properties. And never, ever, use a cleanser that dries your skin and strips it of its natural oils.

2. Tone

Use a toner right after cleansing, when your face is still slightly damp. Toner with exfoliating properties will further remove all the dead skin cells from your face. Toner also hydrates and balances the skin’s PH. You can use a spray toner, a toner that requires swiping from a cotton pad, or one that you can gently tap on your face using your hands.

3. Apply Serum

The serums are usually viscous and used to treat various skin problems. For instance, if you are battling hyperpigmentation, use a vitamin C serum every day. If you are struggling with dryness, pick a serum with hyaluronic acid. Niacinamide, AHA/BHA acids, and vitamin A can also be incorporated in this step. Just make sure to alternate serums that clash with each other such as Vitamin A, and AHA/BHA acids.

4. Use Eye Cream

Eye cream is just a fancy way for products that keep the skin under your eyes hydrated. You can use your regular moisturizer here, or you can apply a thin layer of Vaseline before tapping your serums in the delicate region.

5. Moisturize

After you have treated your face with abovementioned beneficial products, seal in all the goodness with a moisturizer. This will make sure they stay trapped in and work their magic. Use a moisturizer with occlusives for the best results. And yes, people with oily skin also need to slather their faces with moisturizer. It would not make your skin produce extra oil. If anything, it will prevent it.

6. Apply Sunscreen

This step is for day-time and is extremely important for your skin health. You need to protect your skin from the sun. Sun exposure can worsen hyperpigmentation, give you premature wrinkles, and puts you at the risk of skin cancer. Applying sunscreen is also essential because acids and serums make your skin photosensitive.

Invest in a good quality broad-spectrum sunscreen for best coverage. And remember, come rain, shine, snow, or storm, you need to apply sunscreen. Even indoors!  The SPF can vary depending on where you live. However, it shouldn’t be less than 15. In general, SPF-30 is ideal, but if you live anywhere near the equator or under the ozone hole, choose a high-SPF sunscreen.

Sunscreen is the last step of skincare in the daytime and the first step of makeup.

Some Useful Skincare-Related Tips to Remember

Skincare is a world of science, which is still in its formative years. New research findings regarding skincare surface almost every other day. While it is essential to keep your skincare knowledge up-to-date, there are some basic rules and guidelines you should always remember:

• If you are new to the entire skincare routine fiasco, begin with a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. And the addition of SPF in the daytime.
• You must find out your skin type first; so you can choose products best suited for it.
• As a general rule of thumb, products are applied from the thinnest to the thickest.
• Do not introduce multiple new products to your skin at the same time. That way, if your skin reacts to a product, you’d never know which one that is. It is also important because skin takes time to toughen up to some acids. Therefore, apply one new product at a time, wait, and see how your skin reacts to it, and figure out the right quantity and frequency of usage.
• Do your research on double cleansing and give it a try. It makes your skin extra clean, ensuring all the dust, dirt, and makeup is properly removed from your face.
• Age is a big factor when it comes to taking care of your skin. Therefore, consider your age, in addition to your skin type, while choosing skincare products. Ideally, you should start your anti-aging treatment in your mid-20s to late-20s. That said, it’s never too late to jump onto the skincare train.

That’s the recipe for a perfect daily skincare routine. It’s no rocket science. All you need is a little knowledge and commitment.

Following all the steps may seem like a hassle in the beginning, but you can make the process enjoyable and relaxing. Prepare yourself a cup of warm, relaxing tea and light up a candle while slathering your face with woody and floral-smelling products. Give yourself the small pampering session every day you deserve.