Basic Skincare Routine for Beginners that Your Skin will Love!

Hi bestie! This post will teach you a basic skincare routine for beginners that your skin will love. Hope you like it x.

People are always skeptical about starting a skincare routine because they either think it’s too complex or time consuming. But personally, I think that the concept of skincare being a complicated task that only vain women indulge in is a myth! You really don’t have to use all the products in the world like your favourite influencer and no you don’t have to practice the 10-step korean skincare routine you saw on Tiktok.

I believe skincare involves you being very intentional about what you put on your skin. That being said, today I’ll be sharing with you the basic skincare routine for beginners to help you start your skincare journey. But first we need to answer a very important question you have probably thought about before.

Is a skincare routine necessary? 

Yes! Skincare is not just for you to look good. The skin is the body’s largest organ and should be well taken care of to keep it healthy. 

Sunscreens for instance are made to protect the skin from harmful UV rays that can cause cancer and premature aging. So you can agree with me that skincare isn’t just for vanity, its about your health!

First things first; determine your skin type!

The very first step to starting a skincare routine is to determine your skin type as this will help you choose the right products to meet your skin’s needs. According to dematologists, there are five major skin types:

• Normal: A well balanced skin that is neither too oily nor too dry.
• Oily: Skin that produces too much sebum giving it a greasy/shiny appearance.
• Dry: Skin that produces less sebum than normal giving it a dull and flaky/rough appearance.
• Combination skin: Skin that has a combination of oily and dry/normal areas.
• Sensitive skin: Skin that is prone to irritation and inflammation.

If you don’t know your skin type, read this article to find out in a few minutes.

Basic skincare routine for beginners

You’ve probably seen different serums, toners and creams in the market doing so many things for the skin. But before you delve into all of that, you need to establish a solid foundation which is the three-step basic skincare routine for beginners. This will include:

• Cleanser
• Moisturizer
• Sunscreen

Cleanser

A cleanser is a product that helps you get rid of oil, makeup, dirt and dead skin cells, keeping your skin pores clean. Cleansing is the first step of a basic skincare routine for beginners and is typically done twice a day (morning and night).

Moisturizer

A moisturizer is a product that hydrates and brings moisture to the skin. In a beginner skincare routine, a moisturizer comes after cleansing and is also typically applied twice daily.

Sunscreen

For a basic skincare routine for beginners, the last step is sunscreen application for protection against the harmful UV rays released by the sun. It is applied everyday (morning) and reapplied as needed during the day. Read about sunscreens, their importance and the proper way to apply it here!

Tips

• Dry skin: Go for hydrating cleansers with humectants and a thick, oil-based moisturizer.
• Oily skin: Look out for non-comedogenic cleansers with oil control ingredients like niacinamide. Moisturizer should be light and water-based. Avoid products with alcohol
• Combination skin: Go for all in one skincare products that will cater to the needs of both the dry and oily parts of your skin. Think balance.
• Sensitive skin: Go for products with milder ingredients and with little or no fragrance. Always do a patch test before using a new product.

How can I enhance my skincare routine?

After you have gotten comfortable with consistently practicing the basics of skincare, you might want to address any skin concerns you have like acne, hyperpigmentation, aging, etc. This will determine the active ingredient you decide to add to your skincare routine in the form of toners, serums, face mists, creams, etc.

While adding these products to your routine, remember that less is more and sticking to the actives you actually need will serve your skin better. When you use too many products at the same time, you won’t be able to figure out the products that are working. Also, there’d be higher chances of adverse reactions and skin barrier damage which may worsen whatever skincare concern you were trying to work on. If, however you’re satisfied with the way your skin is doing with the basic three-step skincare routine, then there’s really no need to add anything else.

How long will it take for my skincare routine to work?

Skincare like every other thing in life requires consistency and discipline to see results. You won’t see any tangible result after using a product just once. Typically after about six weeks, your skin should look and feel healthier. Otherwise, the products you’re using are not for you and you should try something else. Also remember perfect skin is an illusion. Healthy skin is the goal.

I hope this guide to creating a basic skincare routine for beginners helps you and inspires you to invest in taking care of your skin.