HOW TO START A GOOD SKINCARE ROUTINE

I have a few thoughts about 2020. Given the prevailing one is not to overthink, I’ll try and keep my opening prattle to a minimum and say that, in the last couple of years, as the craziness of ‘clean’ beauty has infiltrated the industry, and new brands and even releases from existing brands are coming at us in a frenzy, people I talk to who aren’t total beauty obsessives seem a bit overwhelmed. As though it has been hammered home to them that it is A Good Thing to look after their faces, but really, where to start? So in keeping with the idea of simplifying a bit this year, I thought I’d make my first post of 2020 some advice on how to build a solid skincare routine. 

 My husband and I are fond of quoting a certain Australian reality TV participant who during his ‘journey’ (why is it always a journey, and why do I find myself using this nauseating word so often, unironically?) often employed the phrase “it’s a tricky one”. Yes, usually applied to something that was in no way tricky. Being (a) a beauty writer and (b) someone who has done something to her skin every single morning and night for around the last twenty years, how hard can it be to advise on a skincare routine? And yet, I am finding it is indeed a tricky one. Part of my problem is that, when it comes to my own skin, I do like to do the most. And in turn, I want to encourage you to do the most, because the most is so fun and so satisfying. But then I also want this to be a little beacon of ‘ok, yes, I can manage that’ among all the confusion out there. A lovely peaceful, informative little island for you, if you’re thinking ‘I just want to bloody well take care of my skin’, but don’t know how to begin. Plus, I have recently pared back the number of products I am using as my latest experimental step in trying to get control of my acne, so it all seems a rather fitting time to outline a routine which is not by any means the very least you could be doing, but sort of the least you can do while also doing something useful. This is hardly groundbreaking stuff, but the aim with this routine is to keep your skin calm and happy, and also improve it.

My very own real life box of current skincare from my bathroom shelf. It is worth noting that I am not using everything in here, yet am also using things which are not in here. So neat, so streamlined, so perfected, I hear you say. To which I respond, "I know”.

IN THE MORNING

1.     Clean your face
Would you go to work without a shower? Probably not. Why? It just seems a bit mucky when you’ve been lying around in your own sweat all night, doesn’t it? Apply the same rule to your face. Plus, you need to get rid of the (likelier thicker, goopier) products you put on last night so that the things you are going to apply this morning can work properly. Start afresh. And don’t use anything that foams.

2.     Exfoliate, hydrate, maybe both
I struggled the most with whether to include this step, but landed on yes because while it’s not quite as straightforward as the others, it’s definitely going to make a difference. You can’t do this one as automatically as the others, though, which is why I prevaricated. You have to pay some attention to your skin here, and decide what it needs. This sounds harder than it is, I promise.

 Sometimes, it will require exfoliating, even if it’s very dry. Generally you can tell this if it doesn’t feel smooth to touch or it looks a bit dull or just overall a bit shit. You need to help it slough off the gross old dead skin and get to the good stuff. Always use a chemical exfoliant, i.e. an acid – do banish any thoughts of granular things that can tear and generally wreak havoc. Twice a week would be fine for most. Start light. Lactic acid is the gentlest. 

At times, in fact, probably most of the time, all skins get dehydrated, and whether your issue is acne (haaay), lines, dryness, whatever, adding hydration can only help. A spray, a serum, whatever you like. Get some extra levels of water back into your skin.

 3.     Moisturise
Depending on the type you choose, this adds both water and oil back into the skin, and protects it for the rest of the day. Makes it feel nice, too.

4.     Use SPF
Yep, every single day. Unless you are not leaving the house, and at said house you do not plan to go onto a balcony or a garden or sit by a window. Otherwise, find one that you like and put it on. Make this like brushing your teeth and don’t think about it, or you can end up talking yourself out of it like an idiot. (She says with love, having done exactly that this morning. Ugh.)

AT NIGHT

1.     Clean your face. Probably twice.
Get the SPF off. Get the makeup off. Get the city off. Just get it off. First off, you need to go in with something oily – if we recall Year 9 chemistry, and really, when do we not, like attracts like, so an oil will get all the gunk on your face moving. Take it all off with a facewasher dunked in warm water, using both sides. Be gentle. Then apply something non-oily (but still no foam), to get rid of what was under the gunk. Take off with the facewasher. Admire both what is befouling the now disgusting face washer and your lovely clean face. 

2.     Use Vitamin A
If you are over 25, get on it. In short, this ingredient speeds up skin turnover. Helps with acne and wrinkles, if you want or need help with either. Just makes skin look better if you don’t. The third smartest thing you can do for your face, long term, after wearing sunscreen and washing it properly.

3.     Moisturise
Lock in the good stuff, just like this morning.

 Et voila. The not-quite-basic basics. Have at it.