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Beginners Guide: How to Build a Skin Care Routine
Great skin is not simply something you inherit from your parents — your daily habits, lifestyle choices and of course, the products you use have a big impact on what you see in the mirror. Depending on which product reviews you read or bloggers you follow, there are a plethora of opinions on everything from how to double cleanse, the sequence for using products, to how to get even skin tone. There is a lot of info out there. Ultimately, your skincare routine should be based on the current state of your skin and what you want to accomplish. Make sure to keep these tips in mind to help you sort through all the noise.
Your basic skincare routine consists of three main steps
The goal of any skin-care routine is to make improvements to your complexion and to achieve your skin health/appearance goals. We’re not looking for perfection here folks.
As your skin’s needs shift with age and lifestyle choices, so will your products. Your choice of products is about creating a skincare routine that allows you to look & be your best self. These three basic steps should be included in your daily ritual to fortify your skin and ground your day.
1. Give it time
The science behind natural skin-care products has come a long way but there’s still no such thing as an instant fix — you need time to reap the benefits. If you want to see great results, then you’ll need to be patient & consistent with your skin care routine. You simply can’t expect your products to work miracles overnight.
Generally, aim to use a natural skin care product over six weeks, twice daily, to notice a difference. You will start seeing changes after 3 weeks too but 6 weeks to 2 months is recommended for significant results.
Tip: With any skin-care product, apply it in order of consistency — from thinnest to thickest. For example, cleanser, toner (if you use it), serum, and then moisturizer.
2. Incorporating new products
Whether a new product is en route, you have a few items sitting in your shopping cart, or maybe you have a condition you’d like to tackle, there are a few things to note before you add something to your routine.
Do an audit
For example, you might want to quench dehydration during the fall/winter season, or maybe add some acne-fighting products to deal with a breakout. Perhaps what you’re currently using isn’t doing the trick, or maybe you don’t yet have the product you need. A routine skin audit might also be needed when your skincare goals are different than, say, a year ago when you bought the product.
You don’t have to assess your situation alone. You can always email us and we will recommend natural skincare products specifically tailored for you and your goals.
- Determine the right products for your skin type and skin condition
- Do a patch test to determine any allergies
Introduce one product at a time by waiting a month between introducing anything else. This way, you’ll be able to see what each product is doing for your skin.
Before you use a product all over your face or body, make sure to patch test it first to identify if your skin is compatible. Apply a small amount of the product to a patch of skin that’s not your face (we recommend the skin right behind your ear). While you won’t be able to tell if your skin is reaping all the product’s benefits quite yet, you will be able to spot negative reactions. Any reactions will likely occur within a day but could take up to two or three, so we recommend waiting a few days before full-face application. You’ll want to look out for anything uncomfortable or weird like redness, bumps, or itchiness. If any of these occur, discontinue use.
3. It’s a marathon, not a sprint
Some products have immediate results, but in general, be patient for long-term benefits to settle in. With a moisturizer that works for you, you’ll immediately experience more hydrated, supple skin. To see the full benefits of an eye cream or serum, you’ll likely have to wait 4-6 weeks to see the full benefits.
If you’ve waited that long and still aren’t seeing any of the promised benefits, you can stop using it after a month. Try giving the product to a friend or finishing it off until you secure a better replacement.
Special tools
No matter how great and effective natural products are, if you don't use them consistently, you can’t expect to get the results you were hoping for. So, if you find it hard sticking to a skincare routine, why not explore using skincare tools to make it more fun. Here are skincare tools designed to soothe and sculpt your face that you can easily use at home:
Roll your way to a youthful glow with an ice roller. Benefits:
- Naturally tones and tightens
- Reduces wrinkles and puffiness
- Increases radiance
- Calms inflammation
- Soothes acne
- Assists lymphatic drainage
No doubt you have heard of Gua sha, pronounced "gwah-sha," it’s an ancient practice that's meant to improve circulation, relax your muscles, and improve blood flow. Benefits:
- Sculpts and smoothes the skin
- Reduces wrinkles and fine lines
- Lifts and firms the skin
- Relaxes muscles in the face
- Aids with lymphatic drainage
- Improves blood circulation
Made with bamboo fibers, this headband is the quintessential hair band. Multifunctional and perfect for makeup or face mask application, bathing, having an at-home facial, and it keeps the hair out of your face while cleansing. It wicks moisture and is super soft and comfortable. Adjustable Velcro closure. One size fits most.
Summary
Taking “me time” to care for ourselves should no longer be considered an indulgence, or even a luxury. Rather, for so many reasons, it's a necessity — now more than ever. Skin care can often feel overwhelming therefore the most important skin-care advice would be to keep it simple. Start with your basics and expand as you see fit. Remember we’re always here for you.
