Have you ever tried a new skin care product that is hyped to the point of being sold out globally? Or tried a product because your favourite influencer coined it as ‘a must-have’ beauty product? Here’s the thing, a one-size-fits-all-approach does not work when it comes to skincare and beauty. It has nothing to do with whether the product was good or not. It just wasn’t good for you. Each of us have different skin types and skin concerns. Some including dry, oily, sensitive, and normal skin. Others including hyperpigmentation, acne, dark spots etc. Therefore, our skincare routines must be as unique as we are.
There are four products that every skincare routine must include: a cleanser, an exfoliant, a moisturiser, and a SPF. It is equally important to understand which products work best for you, your skin type and your skin goals. When I got into skincare in 2020, I was experimenting with new products and techniques for a very long time. I quickly learnt what ingredients weren’t good for me. I realised that it was important for me to be open to adapting my routine. Fast forward to today, I have my core products and I still like to experiment to see if there is better out there for me. Let’s talk about finding the right skin care products for your skin type.
Disclaimer: This post does include some affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I have personally vetted.
Knowing Your Skin Type
Understanding your skin type is the first step in creating your beauty routine. Is your skin oily, dry, normal, sensitive or a combination? The best way to figure out your skin type at home is by doing a skin test.
Wash your face with a cleanser and gently pat it dry. Don’t apply anything to your face and wait for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, take a look at your skin. If your skin is shiny and greasy-looking, you most likely have oily skin. If your skin is shiny in the T-zone area (forehead, nose and chin), but flaky and dry in others, you most likely have combination skin. To tell if your skin is neutral or normal, it should feel hydrated and comfortable. If your skin feels tight and flaky, you most likely have dry skin.
Knowing this will help you choose the right skin care products and treatments that address your specific skin care concerns. It’s also important to know that any skin type can be sensitive. If you have sensitive skin, you may know what your triggers are and what ingredients to avoid. For example, I have combination sensitive skin on my face and dry sensitive skin on my body. I tend to avoid products that are heavily fragranced and have a high percentage of alcohol.
If you don’t know what your triggers are and you have sensitive skin, research ingredients that you should avoid. Also, research ingredients that would work well with your skin type and look for products that are created for those needs.
Consider Your Skin Care Concerns
Knowing your skin care concerns is the second step in tailoring your beauty routine. Do you have specific concerns such as acne, hyperpigmentation, dark spots, rosacea? Once you have determined what your concerns are, search for products that both tackle those concerns and match your skin type.
In addition, consider your lifestyle. Your daily routine and activities can have an impact on your skin and beauty needs. If you are a runner, a hiker or spend a significant amount of time outside, you want to prioritise your SPF protection. Try finding an SPF that is 50 and above to protect you more during your activities.
If you are get hot easily or have clogged pores, opt for getting a pre-wash cleanser to minimise the risk of clogged pores and breakouts. Adapting your beauty routine to fit your lifestyle ensures that you are getting the most out of it and it will most likely help you become more consistent with it.
Set Clear Skin Care Goals
What are you trying to achieve with your skin care routine? Are you aiming for even and glowing skin? Are you trying to reduce hyperpigmentation or dark spots? These are the type of questions that you need to ask yourself.
Get clear with what your goals and what you are trying to achieve. Once you have that sorted, you’ll be able to select skin care products that are created to help you reach those goals and objectives.
Read Reviews & Recommendations
Reading reviews on beauty pages and blogs helped me tremendously to choose products for my skin. I always look for more details about the reviewer’s skin type, their age, and skin care concerns. This gives me more of a rounded answer to make an educated decision on whether I would purchase the product or not. If it was a product that was not easily accessible to me due to unavailability or shipping costs, I would search for alternative products and/or other recommendations from beauty blogs.
I highly recommend doing a three-day patch test before applying the product onto your face. This test will help you identify whether there is a specific ingredient that might result in skin allergies or irritation.
Consult With A Professional
When in doubt, make an appointment with an aesthetician or a skin care professional. They have a thorough understanding of everything skin-related and a wealth of expertise to lead you in the right direction. An advantage of consulting with a professional is they can help you before you use a product that could potentially ruin your skin barrier.
Choosing the right serums for my skin was difficult for me. As a result, I consulted with an aesthetician and they recommended trying a specific serum based on my skin care type, concerns and goals. To this day, I have seen what my skin looks like when I use this product consistently, compared to when I don’t use it.
Final Thoughts
The beauty about skin is that it changes over time. Listen to your skin and pay attention to how it reacts to different products and the environment. You may to need more skin care products that focus on hydration in the winter or SPF protection in the summer. If something is not working, don’t be discouraged. Continue to experiment with new products and treatments until you find something that works again.
Building a skincare and beauty routine is a marathon, and not a sprint. There are some instances where you might need to rebuild from the very beginning and there are others, where you might have to replace one item.
Embrace the journey of discovering what is right for you. It’s worth it. You are worth it. When you find the right skin care products for your skin type, you’ll be on the path of reaching your best skin.
Thank you for reading this post! Share this with a friend who is struggling to build their routine or is looking for a guide to finding the right skin care products. Make sure to hit that subscribe button to join the community and never miss out on a post. Find me on Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok for more powerlifting and wellness content.
Until next time,
Folakemi
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