Every beauty routine is a little bit different. Of course, that’s the way it should be! We all have slightly different skin types and different needs and there’s no one size fits all approach in the beauty world.
And there never has been; you can follow trends and try out new products and techniques whenever you like, but we all have our own opinions about what works and what doesn’t. As such, it’s best to try and experiment a little to come up with a totally personalized beauty routine that’s perfect for you.
However, this can be harder than it sounds to accomplish! If you don’t have a degree in something like cosmetology or dermatology, it’s often tricky to parse what ingredients are in a product and how they can affect your skin. But you shouldn’t need such degrees to know what to put into an at-home, non-professional beauty routine.
And that’s why this post is here. Personalizing your beauty routine can be done quite easily when you know what you’re looking for, what skin issues you’re trying to treat and/or ‘smooth’ out, and if you have any kind of experience with skincare brands before. And seeing as most people have the latter at least, the points below can help you with the other two!
Start By Cleansing
Cleansing is the first step to commit to when making up your own beauty routine. Now this can be as simple as getting some soap and water and rubbing it into your face. However, you can also get specially formulated cleansers to rub in that’ll help you to feel a lot more refreshed and smooth.
When finding the right cleansing method for you, go for simple formulas that contain little to no alcohol. You don’t want to dry out your skin when you’re just trying to clean it! Use a soft flannel or sponge and move it in little circles around your face, neck, and shoulders. Don’t do this too hard, and definitely don’t scrub – these rough actions can lead to redness and irritation that’s hard to cover.
Add a Toner (if need be)
Now it’s time to consider the toner step. Not everyone needs to use one, but if you’re dealing with extra dry and/or oily skin, these can be a saving grace that’ll help rebalance your skin. However, most modern soaps and cleansing products have a much more full pH profile to them, and cleansing toners aren’t always needed as a result.
But if you do have a toner, use it sparingly here. Indeed, most people will simply rub a little bit into their hands and then rub it all over their face. If using your hands makes you uncomfortable, you can use your flannel and/or a cotton pad here instead. Make sure the typically dry areas of your face, such as the corners of your mouth and your ‘T’ zone, are the first places that receive attention from your toner.
Finding the Perfect Moisturizer
Moisturizers are the one step of the beauty routine you should never skip! It’s always best to rub in a moisturizer that works with your skin type, so be sure to find that out first. Then hit the shops and investigate the ingredients in the moisturizing products you see there – they’ll all have their own focus area and it’s essential to grab one that suits you.
Keep in mind that you’ll want a moisturizer that contains antioxidant ingredients, no matter what skin type you’re working with. Rubbing healthy vitamins and minerals into your skin will go a long way to helping your skin glow. If you see things like chamomile on the ingredients list, you’re in good hands!
Try to avoid fragranced moisturizers, despite how many of them are on the market. These can be rather irritating if you have allergies and/or sensitive skin, as the fragrant ingredients can often be reactive. Rub them into your skin and whoosh, your face is red and you need to scratch!
Don’t Forget About Your Hair
And scalp! An oft-forgotten part of a beauty routine is treating your hair and scalp and making sure they look just as good as the rest of you. And even though we can slather our locks in leave-in conditioner and treatments that help to moisturize, there’s no telling whether these practices are beneficial or not.
So maybe it’s time to figure out what’s really going on with your hair? What type is it? What porosity does it have? How easy is it to style, and does it have that desirable weight and movement to it?
Most of all, always be careful overheat; it’s one of the worst conditions you can put your hair and scalp through. One of the best treatments for dandruff, for example, is to turn off the straighteners or hair curlers and let your natural locks shine for a little while. Letting your follicles and skin breathe without putting an extreme heat source on it goes a long way to allowing your natural oils to flow.
Do You Need to Use a Serum?
So you already cleanse and tone every single day, and you’re using a heavy-duty moisturizer that goes a long way to keeping your skin soft and the wrinkles off. Considering all this, why would you need to use a serum? Why would you need to rub more oil into your face, which could easily plug up your pores and make it a lot harder to conduct your beauty rituals?
Well, it’s all dependent on what you’re focusing on when it comes to your skin. A lot of people won’t use serums in their routines simply because they’re trying to maintain a clean face and healthy glow – that’s fine.
But if you’re worried about the effects of aging, or you need to exfoliate more often than other people, or you’ve got acne and are trying to reduce it, using a serum will go a long way. You’ll need to find one that focuses on the specific problem you’re trying to target, however. Once again, there’s no one size fits all answer!
Remember to Protect
Finally, you’re going to need to rub some sunscreen into your skin from time to time as well. If you’re a makeup user, it’s best to use an SPF factor brand, but don’t let your level of protection stop there.
You’re going to need some extra protection from the sun’s rays, and it’s hard to keep your skin young and glowing when you’ve only got some foundation covering your pores. Invest in some good suncream that’ll last at least 4 to 6 hours at a time, and take it with you throughout the day.
When you’re applying it, try to apply it over the top of any makeup or other skin care treatments you’re already put on. Suncream is far more effective when it’s the last thing on the face, as there’s nothing on top that’ll disrupt the formula and make it harder to do its job.
Making up a beauty routine that’s just for you is easier said than done, but it’s doable! Take some time to find out what works for you, what products you really love, and whether or not you can cut out a few things and simplify your routine overall. It’s always worth it to change a routine that doesn’t quite work, and to always listen to your skin first when trying to take care of it!
