In my travels and with conversations with so many women, too many people are not on a daily skincare regimen. Now though I’ve been on one since around my preteens, I won’t judge you (not to your face at least…j/k…lol), but we have got to get there folks!
First things first, you have to identify your skin type. You can be doing your skin a world of hurt if you’re treating it for the wrong skin type or if you live in a climate where there’s a significant difference in weather each season, not changing your routine to accomodate for the changes. There’s an awesome questionaire developed by a dermatologist that I’ve spoken about many times before that will help determine your skin type. Check out www.skintypesolutions.com.
So you found your skin type? Good. Now here’s the next step: establishing and maintaining a skincare regimen.
A basic regimen will include the following:
* Cleanser
* Daytime moisturizer
* Sun protection (if not included in your moisturizer, but remember sunscreen needs to be reapplied throughout the day to be effective)
* Treatment for any skin issue(s)
* Night time moisturizer (should contain a good mix of antioxidants which help fight free radicals—the player haters found in the environment that break down the skin’s vitality and elasticity).
You are to repeat your skincare regimen twice a day, every single day. No slacking, no excuses. In fact every time you skip out on your day or night routine, a unicorn dies.
So how do you figure out which products go into your regimen? You become a label reader. Look for products that are specifically for your skin type…and remember skin type can change throughout the year. For instance, I’m very oily in the summer but slightly drier in the winter. I made it pretty easy to figure out which ingredients do what in Skincare Buzzwords You Should Know.
For a quick cheat sheet, here’s a few common skincare ailments and popular products that treat them:
Rosacea: Clinique Redness Solutions Kit, Murad Redness Therapy Correcting Moisturizer SPF 15, Dermadoctor Calm Cool & Corrected
Acne: Murad Live Clear Acne Complex Starter Kit, Proactiv 3-Step Acne Kit, Philosophy On A Clear Day Retinol Clarifying Lotion, Peter Thomas Roth AHA/BHA Acne Clearing Gel, Peter Thomas Roth Acne Spot and Area Treatment
Hyperpigmentation/Uneven Skintone: Alpha Hydrox Spotlight Skin Lightening Treatment, Brazilian Peel, Murad Sun Undone Radiant Skin Renewal Kit, Reviva Labs Brown Spot Night Gel w Glycolic & Kojic Acid
Uneven skin texture: Reviva Labs 10% Glycolic Acid Night Cream, Reviva Labs Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin C Ester & DMAE Cream, Brazilian Peel, Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer
Fine lines/wrinkles: Estee Lauder Perfectionist [CP+] Targeted Deep Wrinkle Filler, Brazilian Peel, Perricone MD Acyl-Glutathione, Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster
Visible Pores: Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Instant Perfector, Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pads
Shop these products in the widget below:
And my dear friends, something many don’t do when their skin issue is more severe: see a dermatologist. This is especially necessary for those with severe acne or those with older hyperpigmentation spots. Over the counter treatments can only do so much before you need to see a professional. Most insurance plans cover derm visits, so inquire with yours and if you’re sans insurance, look into prepayment plans or dermatologists that offer cash discounts or payment plans. With the right doctor, it will be money well spent.
So do you swear to follow a skincare regimen from here on out without slacking or hemming and hawing? Already on a regimen or have a question? Tell me ALL about it in the comments :)
New blog post: No Skincare Regimen? Start Here.: http://t.co/szG0QvEq
No Skincare Regimen? Start Here. http://t.co/tUmVUeJk by @StyleNBeautyDoc
New Blog Post: No Skincare Regimen? Start Here. http://t.co/doZ5UaMV
RT @StyleNBeautyDoc: New blog post: No Skincare Regimen? Start Here.: http://t.co/szG0QvEq
Hey Danielle
Thanks for this, I am in the market of a new skin care line because I’ve been using Clinique for so long and I feel as if my face is getting used to its not as effective, I have also began developing some discoloration from acne scarring that I want to work on! I love makeup but I have to get this skin RIGHT! LOL. Oh and by the way I decided to get Illamasqua blushers in Rude and Tweak and purchased one of Mac Cremeblend blushes, Restores Dazzle.
Author
Hey Elle!!
Yep, sometimes you can use the same products for so long that they don’t seem as effective. Murad, Perricone MD, Peter Thomas Roth, and Ole Henriksen are a few brands I like. I also like the Bare Minerals Deep Foam Cleanser. I don’t use a brand’s full line of products, so I usually get the best from each line for whatever my skin needs. And it’s good you’re working on the acne scarring early—it’s tougher to fight once it gets “old”.
And YAY for new blush! Do you love them?
I will do some research on the products you named, I have dry combination skin that goes CRAZY in this up and down weather here in MS. And YES! I LOVE MY BLUSH! Thanks for encouraging me to step out of my neutral color box!
Don’t have a skincare regimen and don’t even know where to start? Here’s a hint…start here: http://t.co/szG0QvEq. http://t.co/GCoYo0MX
RT @StyleNBeautyDoc: Don’t have a skincare regimen and don’t even know where to start? Here’s a hint…start here: http://t.co/szG0QvEq. http://t.co/GCoYo0MX
Hey, loving the article! I wear SPF 50 after my derm recommended it to me however, how can I reapply it when I’m wearing a full face of make-up each day?
Author
Hey Hafsa!
That’s definitely a dilemma–who wants to mess up all that fabulous makeup? I use Peter Thomas Roth Mineral Sunscreen to reapply because it doesn’t interfere with my makeup. It’s light and doesn’t move a single thing and because I have oily skin, the oily skin version even helps to keep me matte.
The only thing about sunscreen is that it doesn’t photo well with flash. If you’re having your picture taken (like for a wedding or professional shoot), skip it—but then apply it right after :)
RT @StyleNBeautyDoc: Don’t have a skincare regimen and don’t even know where to start? Here’s a hint…start here: http://t.co/szG0QvEq. http://t.co/GCoYo0MX
OMGG OMGG OMGGG!! Danielle we have the same exact skin type!!!! lol. Can you plz tell me all of the products that you use or at least the ones you use in your daily regimen :) it would be greatly appreciated.
Author
Hey girl!!!
So you know I’m a nut and rotate products quite often, so I have a category here called “What I’m Using on My Skin Right Now”…lol. You can see it here: https://www.thestyleandbeautydoctor.com/category/beauty-health-makeup-hair/skin/what-im-using-on-my-skin-right-now/. The constant over the years though has been Perricone Face Finishing Moisturizer. Have been using it for the last 8 yrs or so and I can sometimes use it spring, summer, winter, and fall. Ok only when the winter isn’t so cold and the summer isn’t so humid…lol.
Hope this helps!
I’ve always had some kind of regimen. I switch things up pretty regularly, based on availability and what I’m currently into.
I have oily skin with the occasional pimple/blackhead, but on my dark skin, any zit does cause hyperpigmentation, even if I don’t touch it. So fast foward a few months and I might have several dark spots (usually on the forehead).
So what has been a great addition to my regimen (thanks to being out of grad school), is regular visits to a cosmetic derm practice. So while I usually got compliments on my skin, I always had a spot or two that lingered for months pissing me off. But I finally managed to get in front of them and don’t currently have any waiting in the queue to ruin my complexion. I just noticed that the last hold out was finally gone. Yay!!
I think that esp. for darker skin, having a preventative regimen is really important b/c we can’t have layers of skin peeled off at once, and treatments always have to be balanced against the risk of hyperpigmentation or other scarring if you are prone to it.
I alternate between a gentle creamy cleanser (Mario Badescu), a glycolic cleanser (also Mario Badesco), and a plain old Biore cleanser that has salicylic acid, that I use once or twice a week. It’s been a good combo for me. I also use Mario Badescu moisturizer and sun screen, b/c the sun screen is SPF 30 and has the same texture as moisturizer and doesn’t make me look ashy like most regular facial sun screens that I’ve encountered.
I spot treat with Retin-A and Hydroquinone when I get a pimple or blackhead.
But the advice about the dermatologist is on point, b/c severe acne and the resulting scarring need more help that what you can just buy in a bottle or jar.
And once I do breakout, I do just have to be patient b/c any spot that results will take several weeks to fade away WITH this stuff and several months WITHOUT IT.
Author
So glad you co-sign on seeing a derm, Andrea! A lot of people still think there’s a magic potion out there that will work wonders and that’s just not always true…lol. Especially for severe acne and other texture issues.
So spot on about having a preventative regimen for women of color. LOVED reading your comment ;)