Choosing
products that suit your skin type is often a gigantic task, the sole reason
being that you cannot get instantaneous results with a product. It takes weeks
to actually get some positive results. So how do you decide which product is
the best for you? Reading product reviews and talking to friends and
colleagues, discussing their skincare regime can give you an insight on which
products are better and which ones you should keep away from. Also, you should
be aware of your skin type. Choosing products made especially for your skin
type is of utmost importance if you wish to get any positive results on your
skin. If a person with oily skin starts using products for dry skin, then the
desired results will never be achieved, as dry skin products have ingredients
like mineral oil, glycerin, etc. to provide nourishment to dry and dehydrated
skin by restoring oils, therefore leading to an even oilier skin than before.
Thus you should know your skin type and use skincare products made for the
same.
Now
let’s talk about the basic skincare routine that everyone should follow. You
may have heard times innumerable on T.V. ads or from beauty gurus on their
vlogs about the basic steps for skincare:
Cleansing
Toning
Moisturizing
Well,
skincare includes a little more than just these basic steps. In fact, for best
results, you should follow a strict morning skincare routine as well as a night
skincare routine.
Your
morning skincare routine should include these steps, that too in an orderly
manner:-
STEP
1: Cleansing
STEP
2: Toning
STEP
3: Serum and Spot Treatment
STEP
4: Moisturizing
STEP
5: Eye Cream or Gel
STEP
6: SPF
It’s
equally important to have a routine where you treat your skin at night too
because removing make-up and splashing water on your face is not enough. After
a day of battling with dust, pollution, and sun, your skin also needs to relax.
Your night skincare routine is a little different from that in the morning, and
should include these steps:-
STEP
1: Cleansing and Exfoliating
STEP
2: Toning
STEP
3: Serum, Peels, and Treatment
STEP
4: Face Oil or Moisturizing
STEP
5: Eye Cream
As
discussed above, finding a suitable product for your skin type can be a huge
task, and in this fast-paced world, sticking to your skincare regime can be
even more difficult. Here we are going to list some of the best skincare
products for different skin types, in the hope that you find your favorite
products for all the different steps included in a proper skincare regime, and
start using them judiciously to get a glowing and healthy skin.
Cleansers–
Use a gentle cleanser on your face first thing in the morning to remove dirt, oil, and impurities that your skin accumulates from your pillow, hair, or bedsheet. Trending these days for normal skin is Garnier SkinActive Soothing Rose Water Cleansing Milk. It gives polished results in just a matter of days. But if you have oily skin, then Tatcha Deep Cleanse is the product to go for. It contains luffa-fruit extracts that help in removing dead skin and unclog pores. L’Occitane Shea 3-in-1 Cleansing Water is one of the best cleansers for dry skin. It has orange blossom and cornflower water that leaves your skin hydrated and moisturized.
Exfoliators–
Post the cleansing ritual comes exfoliating, a step that many of us conveniently skip. Exfoliating is necessary to get rid of the built-up dead cells on the outermost layer of skin. Though regular use of an exfoliating product is not encouraged, still you should use it once a week. Be careful in your selection of exfoliating products, as these products have micro-abrasions that might irritate your skin if used in abundance. For oily or combination skin, L’Oreal Pure Sugar Scrub is an excellent product to remove the dead cells and let the ingredient-acids get to work. For those who have sensitive skin, Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial is a product that many swear-by. Its effective blend brightens the skin without causing any irritation. Those with dry skin should avoid using exfoliators, as it will lead to an even more flaky skin. You should try peel-masks instead.
Toners– The best care that you
can provide for your skin is by toning it regularly. Toning not only helps in
removing any residual dirt and oil, but it also restores the delicate pH
balance of the skin while leaving the skin soft and nourished. Sunday Riley’s Martian
Mattifying MeltingWater-Gel Toner is one of the greatest products for oily
skin. It has ingredients like green tea, cucumber, bentonite clay, etc.
which help in removing extra oil from the top of the skin. Neutrogena’s Alcohol-free
Toner is a gentle toner for dry skin that has delivered great
results. It purifies your skin and reconditions it without stripping away the
natural oils from your face.
Serums–
Face serums are meant to address skin-specific issues, such as wrinkles, fine lines, acne, or dark spots. They have powerful active ingredients such as retinol, vitamin C, niacinamide, etc. to deliver targeted results. Always use a moisturizer and sunscreen after applying serums in the day. The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Booster is one of the best serums for oily skin as it protects the skin from pollution and its Amazonia Camu Camu berry extracts improve radiance and keep the skin fresh. Sunday Riley’s Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment is another great product for oily skin as the lactic acid also helps in reducing dark spots and improving skin texture. For those who have dry skin, you cannot go wrong with Khadi Global Natural Hyaluronic Acid Serum, an amazing product that keeps your skin hydrated and also reduces fine lines and wrinkles, giving you a naturally youthful and healthy appearance.
Facial
Peels– They provide deeper exfoliation, and the use-at-home chemical
peels are mild and easy to use. The Peeling Solution offered by The
Ordinary contains lactic, salicylic, and glycolic acids that help in reducing
blemishes and spots and is suitable for people with oily, normal as well
as combination skin. For people with normal to dry skin, Paula’s
Choice RESIST is a product to look out for. Apart from the concentrated
formula of lactic, glycolic, and malic acids, it has licorice extracts,
peptides and other such ingredients that help maintain the protective barrier
of your skin throughout the day and keeps it smooth and nourished.
Moisturizers– They are one of the
most important skincare products. If you are using a serum in the day time, it
is very important that you apply a moisturizer afterward to help the serum work
efficiently by deep penetration in skin cells. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water
Gel is an excellent gel-based moisturizer that keeps your skin soft and
hydrated without making it oily. Natural Moisturising Factors from The
Ordinary has a non-greasy formula that helps keep dry skin hydrated and
super moisturized.
Face
Oils– Using oils on an already oily skin may sound weird at first, but
it is a well researched and proven fact that oils contain antioxidants and
amino acids that help revitalize your skin. The Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil (U.F.O.)
by Sunday Riley is a medicated oil designed especially for oily skin
that helps clear acne, blemishes, and blackheads. It also has antibacterial
ingredients like licorice, tea tree oil, cumin, etc. that brightens your skin
and gives it an even tone. A non-greasy and lightweight product for dry skin
is L’Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil. Its formula contains
more than 50% almond oil, along with some other oil blends that help keep the
skin supple and soft.
Eye-creams– There are many eye
creams in the market for various targeted treatments such as removal of dark
circles, puffy eyes, and wrinkles around the eyes. The Himalaya Herbals
Under Eye Cream has a safe blend of herbs to treat the dark circles and
protect the delicate under-eye area from harsh sun rays. It also detoxifies and
moisturizes the under-eye area and with regular use, you can also see the
wrinkles and fine lines disappearing.
SPF– Application of
sunscreen daily is very important, as it not only provides protection from
harmful sun rays but also fights against premature aging, pigmentation,
wrinkles, etc. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock is an amazing
sunblock for oily skin in all seasons. Kaya Daily Moisturising
Sunscreen works wonders on dry skin. It protects from the harmful UVA and
UVB rays while keeping your skin nourished and moisturized.
Having said all about the various skin care products and regimens that one should follow, it must also be kept in mind that results will not be delivered overnight. A serious routine of skincare and a healthy lifestyle will show great results over a period of time. We all have different skins and each product works differently for each one of us, so find and curate a routine that best suits you and positive results will follow.