Tips for a good beauty Routine

So you want to begin a proper beauty routine, but you have some concerns: How many skincare products must you use? Which ones are best for your skin type? In what order should you use these products? And what exactly do the products do? We spoke with top dermatologists to help you figure out where to start and what to keep in mind as you create the best skin care routine for you. In this article, you will learn about daily beauty routine. According to Ashley Magovern, M.D., dermatologist and owner and founder of Manhattan Dermatology in Manhattan Beach, California, to get the most out of a daily skincare regimen, no matter what your skin type, you should start with three simple steps.

You’re probably aware that cleansing entails washing your face and moisturising entails hydrating your skin, but what does “treating” entail? In addition to keeping your skin in good condition, the goal of any good skincare routine is to target problem areas. According to Dr. Magovern, treating entails incorporating serums or creams containing beneficial skincare ingredients such as vitamin C, retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, and others, depending on your skin type and the results you want to see. “It’s critical to include a middle step between the cleansing and moisturising components,” Dr. Magovern says. “It can make a significant difference in the health, appearance, and ageing of your skin over time.”

What is a good beauty routine?

Good things come to those who wait, and skincare routines are no exception. Even the best skincare products require time to work, so don’t expect immediate results. If you stick to a consistent, daily beauty routine, you can expect to see some results within six to twelve weeks — but it can often take at least three to four months to know if your new routine is truly effective.

The best dermatologist-approved daily skincare routine for morning and night, including the basic steps that should be in every at-home regimen for oily, dry, combination, or acne-prone skin (we’ve also included the top-tested product picks from the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab for each step).

1. Degreaser

Face cleansing is the first step in any skincare routine because it removes impurities and excess oil, which can clog pores and dull skin. But proceed with caution. “Too many people cleanse too much, too frequently, or with too harsh a cleanser, which actually breaks down your skin’s protective barrier,” Dr. Magovern says. If you have dry or sensitive skin, wash your face only at night and rinse it with water in the morning for your daily beauty routine .

The best formulas will cleanse your skin gently without stripping it of its natural oils. “A good sulfate- and soap-free cleanser for the face will be pH-balanced and gentle to maintain skin’s barrier without stripping,” says Whitney Bowe, M.D., author of The Beauty of Dirty Skin. For daily cleansing, here’s how to find the best facial cleanser for your skin type:

Oily skin: Use a foaming or gel cleanser to remove excess dirt and oil from your skin; ingredients such as niacinamide and salicylic acid can help regulate and remove excess oil.

Acne-prone skin should use a gentle foaming cleanser containing acne-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or sulphur.

If you have dry skin, look for a cream or balm formula that contains hydrating ingredients such as ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and botanical oils.

Sensitive skin: Try micellar water, an ultra-gentle cleanser that contains micelles, which trap impurities and lift them away without drying your skin.

2. Toner

Toners are water-based skin care liquids that are applied to dry skin after cleansing it with fingers, a cotton ball, or a cloth, and before applying other leave-on skincare treatments such as serums and moisturisers. A good toner can help keep your skin clean and free of gunk while also providing an extra dose of active ingredients. daily beauty routine

You don’t need a toner, but swiping one on can help refresh skin, remove residual debris, and balance pH, according to Dr. Magovern. Today’s toners are far more advanced than the drying alcohol- and astringent-based formulas of yesteryear, packed with skin-boosting benefits that can leave you glowing. Based on your skin type, the following ingredients should be avoided:

If you have acne-prone skin, look for a toner that contains hydroxy acids, such as salicylic acid and lactic acid, which promote cell turnover.

For dry or sensitive skin, look for a hydrating toner (or its sister, an essence) that is free of alcohol and contains soothing ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid.

Look for gentle exfoliants, hydration boosters, and antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and green tea for combination skin, as these can combat free radicals and prevent skin damage.

Look for astringents that tighten pores, such as alcohols or witch hazel, if you have oily skin.

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3. Serum

A serum tailored to your skin concerns can treat as well as protect, delivering concentrated amounts of powerful ingredients that can address a variety of complexion issues, from wrinkles to dark spots — and if you have multiple concerns, you can use multiple serum formulas. However, you should read the labels carefully because some serums are best used in the morning while others are best used at night.

Is there one serum that everyone can use in the morning? An antioxidant serum that prevents the formation of free radicals and slows the ageing process. Vitamin C is the gold standard in antioxidant serum. “Everyone, regardless of age, should use vitamin C,” Dr. Magovern says. “It helps reverse a lot of the sun and pollution damage to our skin.” According to Jennifer David, D.O., a dermatologist in Philadelphia and founder of Skin & Scripts Virtual Dermatology, hyperpigmentation is a common issue for darker skin tones, and using a vitamin C serum in the morning can also help mitigate dark spots.

In addition to antioxidant serums, anti-aging serums with the following ingredients can help with wrinkles, fine lines, and other issues:

• Hyaluronic acid serums are used to draw moisture into the skin, combating dryness and dullness, and plumping the skin.
• Niacinamide is a vitamin B3 derivative that brightens and evens skin tone, stimulates collagen production, and reduces inflammation.
• Retinoids stimulate cell turnover, resulting in increased collagen production, wrinkle reduction, and hyperpigmentation reduction (best used at night!).
• Peptides, which are made of amino acids, are the building blocks of collagen and can increase its production to smooth lines and firm the skin.

4. Cream for the Eyes

Eye creams differ from face creams in that they are designed specifically for the delicate eye area, which ages faster than the rest of your face and thus falls into the “treat” category as well. If you’re concerned about fine lines, wrinkles, a lack of firmness, dark circles, or undereye bags, investing in an eye treatment product is a must.

For dark circles, look for niacinamide or vitamin C; for puffiness, look for a caffeine-containing formula, says Marnie Nussbaum, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City and clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College. Look for wrinkle and sagging creams that contain peptides and retinol. Finally, “vitamin K and hyaluronic acid can help with dark undereye circles and hydration,” says Deanne Mraz Robinson, M.D., a dermatologist in Westport, CT, and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. To treat multiple eye issues, look for a combination of these ingredients that is tailored to your specific needs.

When applying a formula targeted to your eye-area concerns in the morning and at night, use your ring finger (your weakest) to avoid tugging on delicate skin and causing damage and How To Deal With Greasy Hair.

5. Skin moisturiser

Face moisturisers follow, which keep your skin soft and hydrated while also helping to strengthen its barrier. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, use a lighter moisturiser during the day, such as a lotion or gel that absorbs quickly and does not pill under makeup. If your skin is dry, use a thicker formula, such as a cream. In any case, dermatologists recommend moisturisers for all skin types all year long because hydration is essential for keeping skin youthful and healthy. “Look for ingredients like ceramides or hyaluronic acid, as these are the building blocks of skin moisture retention,” Dr. David says.

Here’s how to choose a moisturiser formula for your skin type:

• Dry skin requires a rich cream that is rich in emollients, humectants, ceramides, and occlusives.
• Oily or acne-prone skin: Look for non-comedogenic or oil-free lotions or gel-based formulas.
• Sensitive skin: Look for hypoallergenic formulas that are free of potential irritants such as fragrance and alcohol.

6. Use sunscreen

Sunscreen is the most important step in any skincare routine, according to dermatologists, regardless of skin type or age. “You might as well not do any of the other steps if you don’t wear sunscreen,” Dr. Magovern says. “The sun is the leading cause of premature skin ageing.” And the harm isn’t just cosmetic, regardless of skin colour: “People of colour can and do get skin cancer,” explains Dr. David. “Plus, treating hyperpigmentation without using a daily SPF is like taking two steps forward and one step back.”

30 minutes before you go outside, apply a nickel-sized dollop of broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher face sunscreen as the final step in your morning skincare routine, including your neck and the backs of your hands. If you want to reduce the number of steps in your routine, you can use a daily moisturizer with SPF instead of applying a moisturizer and SPF separately.

Sunscreen formulas are classified into two types:

• Chemical sunscreens contain chemicals such as avobenzone and homovalvate, which absorb UV light that comes into contact with the skin.
• Physical sunscreens (also known as mineral sunscreens) contain mineral ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that reflect UV light away from the skin.

Some sunscreen formulations contain both chemical and physical ingredients. Dermatologists generally recommend mineral and pure zinc-oxide sunscreens for sensitive skin (though many chemical sunscreens did not cause irritation in GH Beauty Lab tests); for oily skin, look for non-comedogenic, oil-free gel formulas. Avoid sunscreens that contain alcohol if you have dry skin. People with darker skin tones may prefer chemical sunscreens to avoid the white cast of some physical formulas, though brands have begun to produce mineral formulations that are not chalky.