Taking care of your skin is essential because it is the largest organ in your body. If you neglect it, it can lead to irreversible damage from sun exposure and environmental pollutants. It is never too late to start, yet the younger you start, the better your skin will be. Remember, when you start, it is vital to keep things simple. Keeping things simple always reminds a name, “The Ordinary”. If you, as a beginner, don’t know what the Ordinary is, it is a skincare brand, renowned for its simplicity as well as affordable price range. Without further ado, let’s get to learn about Skincare Routine For Beginners.
Your Skin Type: A Brief Understanding
The first step of starting a Skincare Routine For Beginners is understanding your skin type. Everyone’s skin is unique, and different skin types have distinct characteristics and needs. You can literally choose the appropriate products and treatments to address particular issues along with achieve a healthy complexion by determining your skin type.
There are five primary skin types: dry, oily, combination, sensitive, and normal. Let’s get into the details.
Dry Skin: Usually after cleaning, dry skin feels aridness. It may appear flaky, rough, or dull. This skin type requires hydrating products to restore and maintain its natural moisture balance.
Oily Skin: Oily skin generates excessive sebum. Thus it leads to an oily appearance, particularly on the chin, nose, and forehead (the T-zone). Oily skin is prone to enlarged pores and acne breakouts, so it benefits from products that control oil and balance the skin.
Combination Skin: Combination skin has both dry and oily patches. The T-zone tends to be oilier, whereas the cheekbones may be dry. Managing mixed skin entails striking a balance between products that target both oily and dry regions.
Sensitive Skin: Sensitive skin can get easily irritated and prone to stinging, itching, or redness when open to certain products or environmental factors. It requires gentle, hypoallergenic skincare products that soothe and protect the skin’s delicate barrier.
Normal Skin: Lucky individuals with normal skin have a balanced sebum production and adequate hydration, resulting in smooth and even-textured skin. While less demanding, regular maintenance and protection are still necessary for maintaining its health.
Understanding your skin type enables you to select appropriate cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and treatments that cater to your skin’s unique requirements. By customizing your skincare routine, you can optimize results, promote a balanced complexion, and address any specific concerns effectively.
Skincare Routine for Beginners and the Ordinary Products
Building an effective and personalized skincare routine with The Ordinary products involves understanding your skin type, identifying specific concerns, and selecting the right ingredients for optimal results. Here is a step-by-step guideline.
Step 1: Cleansing
Cleansing is the very first step for skincare routine for the beginners. Let me share why cleansing is so important. It effectively removes dirt, makeup, impurities, and excess oil, preventing clogged pores as well as lowering the risk of acne breakouts. By removing pollutants or impurities that cause dull skin, regular washing produces a fresh, bright complexion. It boosts the effectiveness of other skincare products, helping them to penetrate deeper for better results. Cleansing properly helps to reduce excessive shine, balance oil production, dryness, and so on. To cleanse your skin, use a light face wash that will not remove it of its natural oils.
I would highly suggest The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser, as the texture of this cleanser is delightful. The balm-like evenness melts into a smooth oil upon contact with the skin, making it easy to massage. Not only that, it helps dissolving makeup and impurities. The after feeling of using this cleanser is soothing and never leaves any excess behind. This cleanser is for all type of skin and I appreciate how gentle and lenient it is.
Tips for Cleansing:
Cleanse Twice a Day: Cleanse your face in the morning and evening to maintain a bright complexion plus reduce accumulated pollutants.
Use Lukewarm Water: Don’t use hot water, as it can hamper the skin of its natural oils. Also, it may cause dryness. Always use lukewarm water.
Be Gentle: Massage the Ordinary cleanser into your skin using a gentle, circular motions. If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, avoid scrubbing to those place.
Remove Makeup Thoroughly: If you wear makeup often, make sure you remove it entirely before cleansing. This step allows the cleanser to work effectively.
Pat Dry: After cleansing, pat your skin dry with a clean towel instead of rubbing.
Remember, cleansing is the base of an effective skincare routine. By accepting a consistent and appropriate cleansing regimen, you can promote healthy, and glowing skin.
Step 2: Exfoliation
Exfoliation is a popular skincare practice that inclues removing dead skin cells from the skin’s surface. This process promotes a smoother, brighter complexion by revealing fresh, new skin underneath.
Exfoliation can be achieved through physical scrubs or chemical exfoliants containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs). Regular exfoliation helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, unclog pores, wrinkles, sometimes even out skin tone. However, it’s essential to exfoliate in moderation, as excessive exfoliation can lead to irritation and sensitivity.
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution contains glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), known for its ability to effectively exfoliate the skin’s surface. This toning solution is suitable for all skin types.
Tips for Exfoliation:
- Start with once or twice a week and increase frequency based on your skin’s tolerance.
- Always follow up with sun protection during the day, as exfoliation can increase skin sensitivity to the sun.
Step 3: Moisturizing
Moisturizers are skincare products that help to hydrate and nourish the skin. However, not all moisturizers are created equal, and selecting the right one for your skin type is crucial to achieve the desired results.
Skin types can be broadly classified into oily, dry, combination, and sensitive, and each type requires a different type of moisturizer.
For oily skin, lightweight, oil-free moisturizers that do not clog pores are recommended. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or dimethicone that hydrate the skin without making it greasy.
Dry skin, on the other hand, requires a heavier, more emollient moisturizer that can lock in moisture and prevent water loss. Look for ingredients like ceramides, shea butter, or petrolatum that can provide long-lasting hydration. The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA can be the perfect solution for dry skin.
Combination skin can be tricky to manage, as it requires a moisturizer that can hydrate dry areas without making oily areas greasy. So, The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics is good to go.
Sensitive skin requires a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer that does not contain any potential irritants like alcohol or essential oils. I suggest you to use The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane that helps lock in moisture without causing irritation.
Other Factors:
It is also important to consider other factors like the season, climate, and age when selecting a moisturizer. For example, during the winter months, a heavier moisturizer may be required to combat dryness caused by cold weather and indoor heating.
Step 4: Using Sunscreen
It is important to wear sunscreen every day, even on cloudy days, as UV rays can still penetrate through clouds and cause damage to the skin. Sunscreen should be applied as the last step in a skincare routine, after moisturizer. It should be reapplied every two hours if spending time outdoors or sweating.
The skincare brand, The Ordinary, offers two options for sun protection.
The first option is the Mineral UV Filters SPF 30, which is a mineral-based sunscreen. It provides broad-spectrum protection against both UVA as well as UVB rays. This means that it protects the skin from both aging and burning caused by the sun’s rays. The sunscreen is formulated to not leave a white cast on the skin, which is a common issue with mineral sunscreens. It is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
The second option is the Invisible UV Filters SPF 35 with Antioxidants, which is a silicone-based formula that provides invisible protection against UV rays. This means that it does not leave any visible residue on the skin. The sunscreen also contains antioxidants, which help to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals. This formula is suitable for all skin types, including oily skin.
Weekly Treatments with The Ordinary
As a beginner, you should practice caring for your skin weekly as it helps a lot for achieving your desired skin. However, here I’m mentioning two very basic care-treatments with Ordinary products.
- The AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution is a face mask that provides a deeper exfoliation. A deeper exfoliation can help to remove dead skin cells and improve the overall texture of the skin.
- The Salicylic Acid 2% Masque is a mask that can be used to control excess oil and minimize pores, which can be particularly helpful for those with oily or acne-prone skin.
- The Ordinary’s Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion is one of the options for those who are new to using retinol. As it is a relatively gentle formula, this can help to improve the overall appearance of the skin without causing too much irritation.
In Fine:
To build an effective skin care routine is to know Skincare Routine For Beginners. it is important to understand your skin’s needs. It is suggested to use targeted products with high-quality ingredients from The Ordinary, which offers a wide range of options for different skin types and concerns, promoting healthier and more radiant skin through consistency and patience.