Easy Skin Care Routine

Is your skin in need of some TLC? Having a good basic skin cleansing regime is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to keep your skin looking younger and fresher. It’s all too easy to get lazy about skin care and I have certainly been guilty of cutting corners with it, particularly at night when I’m tired. Neglecting to cleanse, tone and moisturise your skin now and then won’t hurt but not for days or weeks on end.

Cleanse

The first thing to do night and morning is to cleanse your skin. Which product to use depends on the type of skin you have. If your skin is dry a cream cleanser will be better, if it is oily then a foaming face wash is good and if it is combination (usually oily in the centre and dry elsewhere) then a face wash is also good but a fairly gentle one so that it doesn’t make the dry parts drier. If your skin is normal then you can choose what you like to cleanse with best. If you have sensitive skin, choose a cleanser that is specifically for that – an unperfumed cleanser is less likely to irritate your skin.

Tone

Many people miss out toning their skin altogether. Certainly if you use micellar water it covers both cleansing and toning but personally I like to use a toner at night after I have cleansed my skin as it helps to close the pores, get off any residual cleanser left on your skin and refreshes it. As with cleanser, choose a toner that suits your skin type – it should say on the container which type of skin it is for.

Moisturise

Don’t forget to moisturise your skin! There are levels of moisturiser you can buy depending on your skin type, and even if you have oily skin you should still use a light moisturiser. If your skin is dry or very dry, a much richer cream is best as it will penetrate deeper into the skin and help to soften any lines and wrinkles, although other factors come into play too regarding wrinkles, such as lack of sleep, smoking and sun exposure.

The above skincare regime is the most basic one everyone should be doing on a daily basis. However, there are other products you can use to keep your skin looking its very best.

Sunscreen

I feel this should really be included in the basic skincare regime. After you have done all the above, applying a sunscreen of Factor 15 and above is advisable even in the winter because of the UVA & UVB rays from the sun that are always there. They have a damaging and ageing effect on the skin.

Oils & Serums

These aren’t essential but are lovely to use, particularly in the winter when your skin may be drier than usual. They should go on before moisturiser.

Masks, Scrubs and Polishes

Scrubs and Polishes are used to exfoliate the skin. Masks draw out impurities and tighten, tone and brighten the skin. No need to use these every day – once a week is fine. Again choose one that will suit your skin type.

I do hope you are inspired to make an effort with your skin every day from now on. All the products shown above are from Neal’s Yard. Neal’s Yard use natural and organic ingredients which are free from harmful chemicals and I highly recommend their products when it comes to looking after your skin.