A Beginner's Guide to Establishing a Skin Care Routine

Perfecting a baseline skincare routine can be a daunting prospect. With all the products, brands and blogs out there, where does one even begin on their skincare journey? 

Before launching into the realm of beauty blogs on the internet, researching your new baseline skincare routine, we would recommend seeing a skincare expert for their professional advice on how to care for your skin. There could be some underlying skin issues that you are not aware of, and your skincare expert can steer you in the right direction in terms of finding the best products and treatments to suit your skin condition / type. At Equipoise we offer free, no-obligation skin care assessments (valued at $55!) which involves an in depth assessment of your skin and a recommended prescription of products and treatments. 

Not all skin is created equal and with the range and effectiveness of products and treatments literally at our fingertips, it is essential that your skin products are prescribed specifically for your skin.

Whether you are new to putting together a skincare routine, or looking to brush up on the basics, we have your ultimate guide to beginner’s skincare right here. 

1. Choose a cleanser that suits your skin type 

The first step in any skincare routine is cleansing, so choosing the right cleanser for your skin type is very important. Go for a cleanser that has been prescribed to you by a skin care professional. If you are not on that level yet, then the ideal cleanser should balance your skin and be sulphate-free to avoid stripping the skin of its natural oils. Also consider the condition of your skin when choosing your cleanser, whether it’s prone to sensitivity, dryness, or irritation. The aim of a great cleanser is to create a clean and clear canvas for your next step of skincare products to do their job. 

2. Double cleanse to ensure a clean face 

Cleansing your face once in the evening isn’t going to remove all the dirt from your face. Over the course of a day your face can collect pollutants, airborne bacteria and other dirt that can be hard to get off at the end of the day. Not to mention the sunscreen, skincare products and make-up you have applied in the morning that also needs to be removed. These layers take a bit of time and care to remove, therefore, nighttime double cleansing is a must. A thorough cleanse will also let you achieve the best results and allow your serums and moisturisers to work more effectively whilst you sleep.

To break the pollutants and dirt down, we recommend following this four-step cleansing process, using two different cleansers. The first, an oil based cleanser, and the second, a more gentle water based one.

After removing your eye make-up, apply an oil-based cleanser to damp skin and massage with gently circular motions so there isn’t a trace of the day’s make-up when you slide a reusable cotton pad over. Rinse. Once your oil-based cleanser is removed, your skin is ready for a water-based cleanse.

NB: This is a good opportunity to make the most of a bit of face massage to stimulate your facial muscles and lymphatic system. We recommend at least a minute to ensure most of the dirt is lifted off your face. 

Following your first cleanse, apply a water-based cleanser like micellar water to a reusable cotton pad, then use gentle circular motions across your face. Ultraceuticals’ Ultra B² Micellar Solution is a no-rinse micellar solution so there is no need to do a final splash of H20 across your face. 

Facial mist is an excellent way to finish off your cleanse. A scented mist will not only put you in the mood for your next steps in your skincare routine (applying active serums), but will also lock in extra moisture. Apply to a reusable cotton pad or directly to hands and then glide over the skin. 

3. Use serums with active ingredients designed to target your skin concerns 

Serums are the ‘sandwich product’ that are applied after cleansing and before moisturising. The intent is to deliver active ingredients directly into the skin. Being made up of smaller molecules that can penetrate deeply into the skin, serums are particularly suited to this task of delivery. This makes them a great tool for targeting specific skincare concerns, like fine lines, redness, uneven skin texture and pigmentation. 

4. Incorporate face massage into your routine 

Face massage = the natural facelift. 

Facial muscles require exercise just as the rest of your body if you’re to keep it looking younger and firmer. Muscle stimulation through massage, with the combination of a daily skin care, will improve the overall appearance of your skin. 

Face massage is a short daily routine of between 10-20 minutes depending on skin types. Oily and breakout-prone skin requires no more than 10 minutes whereas more dry skin can handle up to 20 minutes of face massage.

5. Use SPF protection 

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It measures the level of UVB protection a sun protection product will give you and ranges from 4 to 50+. 

The lower the factor, the higher your sun damage risk is. The SPF number indicates the length of time that your skin is protected from sunburn, depending on your skin type. 

You should also take into consideration the time of year and your location. The sun can be much hotter without an ozone layer present so make using a high SPF the basis of your everyday routine… and not just in the summer months when you can see it and feel it. You must wear sunscreen every day of the year, come rain or shine. When in the sun, it’s important to reapply sunscreen to exposed areas every 90 to 120 minutes and even more if you’re in and out of the water.

6. Establish a skincare routine and stick to it

Just like anything in life, it’s important to find what works but actually stick to it! We all know that one.

Your skin has varying needs at different times of the day alike to how you fuel your body.

In the morning, you need protection because your skin is exposed to life in general whether it be the sun, heat, pollution, or dirt. 

At night, you need to deeply cleanse and indulge your skin. It needs hydration, nourishment, and repair on a daily basis.

If you would like more guidance on how to establish a skin care routine, please book in a free, no obligation skin consultation with us. Valued at $55, we will give you an in depth assessment of your skin and a recommended prescription of products and treatments. Equipoise is an Auckland skin care clinic specialising in providing real solutions to improving your skin and appearance. We look forward to meeting you!