A Simple Guide To Skincare for All Skin Types

[Anonymous]

The 5 Essential Skincare Steps (All Info from skincare specialists).

1. Cleanser; I recommend setting up a double cleanse system. Step One: use an oil-based cleanser (I recommend the iUnik Calendula Cleansing Oil) and massage your skin with it gently for up to 40 seconds to remove the makeup and dirt from your face. Step Two: Follow up with a water-based or gel cleanser (I recommend Youth to The People’s Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser Youth To The People Superfood Gentle Antioxidant Refillable Cleanser 8 oz / 237 ml and for a less expensive option, the Simple Micellar Gel Wash) and cleanse gently for up to 30 seconds to unclog and cleanse your pores. Step Three: Pat your face dry with a clean towel. 

2. Exfoliator. Always use a chemical acid exfoliant and never a scrub or physical exfoliant. For blackheads and whiteheads: salicylic acid. I recommend Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid. For sensitive skin / those using acids for the first time: The Ordinary’s Lactic Acid serum. The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% Exfoliating Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL For those with non-sensitive skin: Glycolic acid. For those with non-sensitive skin trying acids for the first time: The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid Toning absolution. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner 8 oz/ 240 mL Step One: Squeeze a few drops onto your hands and gently massage into your skin. VERY IMPORTANT TIPS: 1. Only exfoliate at night. 2. Always use sunscreen the day after you exfoliate. 3. Only exfoliate twice a week at most. If you have sensitive skin, only one a week. 4. Do not use acid exfoliants (particularly glycolic) with a vitamin C treatment or retinol. They will harm your skin and be ineffective when used in combination. 

3. Treatment / serum / essence. For oil control, brightness, and fighting hyperpigmentation, I recommend The Ordinary’s Niacinamide + Zinc serum. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Oil Control Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL serum is good for combo to oily skin types. An excellent hydrating serum/essence for dry skin is the iUnik Black Snail Restore Serum. 

4. Moisturizer. Step One: Figure out your skin type. Step Two: Find the right moisturizer for your skin type. Avoid fragrances, essential oils, and filler ingredients in your skincare products. A good rule of thumb: If it smells AMAZING, don’t use it, especially if you have sensitive skin. Some rich moisturizers I recommend for dry skin types is the e.l.f happy hydration cream or the CeraVe Moisturizing CREAM. Some light moisturizers I recommend for oily skin are the Neutrogena Oil-Free Combination skin moisturizer, iUnik Centella Calming Gel Cream, and Versed Dew Point Moisturizing Gel Cream. For combination skin I recommend using two different moisturizers for each part of your face- light moisturizers for your t-zone, and rich moisturizers for your cheeks and neck. But if you don’t have time for that, I recommend the CeraVe Moisturizing lotion, the Olay Hungarian Water Essence, or the SheaMoisture Skin Rescue Moisturizer (for drier combination skin).  Step One: Add a pump of the moisturizer to your hands, rub it a little in your hands, and apply it evenly to your skin. Make sure you soak up all the moisture. Step Two: Add a little bit more moisturizer to your neck, too. Don’t rub your skin too hard, just massage and pat it in gently.

5. Sunscreen. No excuses, every single day, especially if you used a chemical exfoliant the night before and if you’re going to be outside in the sun. Pick a good sunscreen with a hefty SPF. I’d say about SPF 30 if you love to slather on your sunscreen and if your other products and makeup contain SPF, but if you prefer to apply very little amounts of sunscreen, then use SPF 50. Don’t use the beachy SPF 70 ones, they look shiny and disgusting, feel disgusting, and smell disgusting (remember fragrances can irritate your skin and cause breakouts). I also recommend you use a mineral sunscreen instead of a chemical one. My HOLY GRAIL sunscreen is the Purito Centella Unscented SPF 50 Sunscreen, and Purito Water Gel SPF 50 sunscreen. A good sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white cast is Biossance Sheer Mineral SPF 30 sunscreen. Especially great for those with darker skin tones who struggle with sunscreens that leave white casts.

disclaimer: most of these products can not be found at Sephora, but the ones that you CAN find on Sephora, I tagged. The rest of them can be found in Target, Ulta, and for some of them (The Korean skincare brands iUnik and Purito) you will have to look on more exotic sites like StyleVana and YesStyle. (I found a 15% off code for StyleVana, it’s INF10HYRAM. Enjoy!)

Phew! That was a lot. Hope this helps you all. Happy skincare!

[RGbrown]

@mideshi wrote:

The basic steps to a perfect skincare routine, according to a specialist...[snip]...Do not use acid exfoliants (particularly glycolic) with a vitamin C treatment or retinol. They will harm your skin and be ineffective when used in combination... 

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This is 100% incorrect. You can mix acids, vitamin C, and retinol according to your skin's tolerance. They do not neutralize each other, nor do they harm the skin when used in tandem. In fact, they can amplify each other in a good way.

[LalaMH]

what you recommend in terms of hyperpigmentation on face to neck?

[Anonymous]

It is well known and acknowledged by dermatologists, estheticians, and skincare specialists that using AHAs/BHAs in combination with retinol is a recipe for dry, irritated skin. 

[WinglessOne]

@Anonymous 

@RGbrown  is right about this. I’ve personally asked 4 dermatologists (while shopping around for a new derm) about layering AHA and retinol. The consensus: yes, it can be done if your skin will tolerate it, and the best way to do it is the build up tolerance. Introduce AHA to your skin first; once your skin’s comfy with AHA 1-3 times a week, introduce retinol and cut back AHA use to once a week during your retinol intro period. Once your skin’s comfy with retinol, you can try layering it with an AHA on the same morning or night. 

Which leads me to something else: you can exfoliate in the morning. You’ll need to use sunscreen with minimum SPF of 30, which everyone should do daily anyway regardless of what products/ingredients are used on their faces. But there’s no harm in using a leave-on AHA or BHA exfoliant in the morning vs. night. 

I asked derms about all of this because I was already using an AHA exfoliant and wanted to start an OTC retinol serum, but not if that meant quitting AHA. Of course, not all derms are on the same page about everything: there are still derms out there who believe vitamin C and niacinamide can’t be combined (which has been proven false). So it’s telling that the 4 different derms I asked were in agreement on AHA + retinol. 

[RGbrown]

@mideshi**

That's not what you said; there's a big difference between "irritated and dry" in this post and "harm your skin and be ineffective" in your OP.

Yes, I absolutely agree there is a potential for dry, flaky, irritated skin if folks don't build up to it properly, which is exactly why I said "following your skin's tolerance". Heck, just one active ingredient alone can cause dryness and irritation, but that's no reason to steer someone away from the one, nor is it a reason to steer someone away from combining ingredients. Done properly, mixing actives can lead to great results.

[Anonymous]

I consider irritated skin as harmed. Also, building tolerance is fine, but my advice is mostly for beginners in skincare who have most likely never been exposed to acid exfoliants or anything else (and therefore haven’t built any tolerance at all). I would never recommend a beginner try using both AHAs/BHAs and retinol in one sitting. I stand by my previous statement that for some people, layering AHAs and BHAs in one night is not a good idea and it is possible that they will be ineffective for some people when used together.