Social media isn’t doing us any favours either. TikTok (and Twitter) have become a “reliable” resource for skincare advice. (Shout-out to your ex-high school girlfriend turned Facebook “skincare consultant”).

Do you really need a 12-step beauty routine? Seriously, NO, absolutely not! But what goes first: Serum or toner? Face oil or moisturizer? And don’t get me started on retinol. Does everyone need it?

It’s so easy to get caught up in the beauty noise. However, here’s the thing, with skincare, simplicity is key. According to New York-based dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner, “fewer products to apply means fewer products that could be forgotten. Keeping it simple helps people to stay on track with a regular routine which ultimately is more beneficial to the skin.”

In fact, overloading your skin with products can have an adverse effect to what you’d hoped for. This is particularly the case if you’re using too many active ingredients such as retinols or hyaluronic acid. Too many actives can cause skin barrier function disruption and lead to acne, perioral dermatitis, eczema, and can also exacerbate rosacea symptoms.

Most faces do far better with fewer products, however, even if you’re committed to keeping your skincare routine simple, there are still a few rules to follow.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Our skin comes in contact with environmental pollutants, dirt, and other factors each day that should gently be removed. Skip the makeup wipes. Opt for a cleansing oil which will dissolve all makeup without stripping your skin, then follow with a gentle, creamy cleanser twice a day.
• Toners should be done after cleansing and before applying anything else. Think of it as a supplement delivering an extra shot of nutrients aiding absorption of your next product while balancing your skin at the same time. Be sure to use an alcohol-free toner. If your toner smells like nail polish remover, ditch it!
• Moisturizers hydrate and soften the skin keeping it plump and youthful. Day creams are equipped to protect your skin from the environmental aggressors, while night creams focus on repairing damage. You can tiptoe into the retinol game by using an anti-aging night cream which has a “watered down” dose of retinoids that tend to be gentler on the skin. This star ingredient penetrates deep into the dermis to stimulate collagen production right at the source.
• Apply sunscreen. This is hands down the most crucial skincare product. The sun is responsible for 90% of the skin’s ageing. So yes, SPF 30 to 50 is the best anti-ageing product money can buy.

You could add an exfoliator twice a week to remove the build-up of dead skin cells. Also, as we get older serums can be powerful allies. Filled with concentrated doses of active ingredients these elixirs can mitigate a number of issues from dark spots to wrinkles.

Radiant skin day after day is all about sticking to a simple skincare routine. Cleanse, tone, moisturize and apply sunscreen … totally doable, right?

Source: femina.in, simple.co.uk, self.com, womanshealthmag.com, foxnews.com, amazon.com, nytimes.com, beautylifehub.com, fashionisers.com, realsimple.com, huffingtonpost.com, today.com, popsugar.com, cosmopolitan.com, honeyjarret.com

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.