Who doesn’t want flawless skin, right? And we’re all willing to put in the work to achieve it too. The problem lies in countless skincare treatments, each with promising benefits and results. What’s one to do?
Well, this is no surprise, considering that the global skincare market will hit 183 billion dollars by the year 2025. With creams, lotions, serums, oils, and more filling the shelves of stores worldwide, it can be confusing to choose the best.
For a buyer, it becomes confusing to choose from a plethora of night creams, day cream, serum, SPF, and the list goes on.
Knowing the answers to these questions is important since it could mean the difference between gorgeous, healthy skin and an irritated mess. We answer all these questions in this quick guide to your AM to PM Skincare routine for flawless skin.
Must Try
The Ideal AM Skincare Routine
When people say they ‘woke up like this,’ they’re most probably lying – there was definitely a full-fledged AM skincare routine behind that glowing face! Find out what you need to get rid of morning puffiness and be ready to face the day ahead.
Step 1: Cleanse
The very first step in any skincare routine is cleansing. Cleansing gets rid of the dirt, sweat, and oils that accumulate on your skin while you sleep. It also cleans out the pores, leaving the skin refreshed and rejuvenated. Clean skin helps other products get absorbed better.
Choose a gentle sulfate-free cleanser if you have dry skin. Those with oily skin can go for a leather-free pH balancing gel cleanser. You can use your clean hands, a soft washcloth, or a brush. Rinse and pat dry with a soft towel.
Step 2: Tone
Many people tend to skip their toner, but it is an important part of your skincare routine. Make sure that your toner doesn’t contain alcohol as they are harmful to your skin. Toners help tighten pores and acts as a primer for the skin to receive the nutrients of the products you’re going to apply next.
Dry skin can also get additional moisture from a toner, especially if it contains hyaluronic acid. Acne-prone skin will do well with ingredients like AHAs, BHs, or salicylic acid. Ingredients like witch hazel and geranium help control excess oil. Once you apply the toner, wait for at least five minutes for it to act before applying anything else.
Step 3: Moisturize
Moisturizer is something everyone should be using, regardless of the skin type. A moisturizer helps retain the moisture the skin loses through the night or during cleansing. It ensures that your skin feels smooth, supple, and reduces the appearance of fine lines.
Opt for a lightweight moisturizer that won’t feel heavy on the skin. Make sure that you moisturize even if you have oily skin as the oil glands will overcompensate by producing more when you don’t. A moisturizer with clay will help curb excess oil production. After applying, wait for five minutes for the cream to get absorbed into the skin completely.
Step 4: Protect
This is the last but one of the most important steps in your AM skincare routine – sunscreen. With all the awareness about sun damage and how it can harm your skin, you cannot afford to skip sunscreen. Go with an SPF of 15-30 for optimum protection.
Sunscreen is one product that needs to be reapplied every few hours. As with moisturizer, choose a light formulation. Sunscreen’s job is to stay put as an external layer that protects the skin. If you have oily skin, go for a sunscreen with zinc oxide that’ll give a matte look and prevent breakouts.
The Ideal PM Skincare Routine
Just like you need to wind down and relax at the end of your day, so does your skin. Your PM skincare routine should help the skin recover from the stress of the day. Our body’s natural regeneration occurs while we sleep, and the right products can make this process much more effective.
Step 1: Cleanse
Cleansing before bed is just as essential as cleansing on waking up, and now you have an additional purpose here – getting rid of makeup. We know that sleeping with makeup can cause irreparable damage to the skin, which is why this step is so important.
Trivia
Use a gentle makeup remover or micellar water to get rid of makeup. This also gets rid of quite a bit of dirt and impurities. Then use a gentle cleansing face wash to remove any product residue and have your face feeling fresh and clean and ready for the remaining products.
Step 2: Apply a Serum
So this is where you use a serum! A serum is a concentrated formulation of active ingredients like antioxidants. They are much more potent than other creams and lotions, and they penetrate down to the deep layers of the skin. Use a face roller to make the serum application more effective.
Serums can be used for additional hydration as well as to tackle specific skin issues. They are ideal for reducing signs of aging, like fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots, as well as other common problems like acne. Choose serums with antioxidants like Vitamin C and Vitamin A as well as hyaluronic acid for hydration. AHA and BHA help reduce pore size, which is particularly helpful for oily skin.
Step 3: Apply Eye Cream
There are many people who think eye cream is only for those over a certain age, eye cream is an integral part of your PM skincare routine. The area around the eyes is delicate and needs special care; regular moisturizers don’t cut out in this case.
The formulation of eye creams is thin, so they need to be applied before moisturizers or creams. Choose a hydrating eye cream with ingredients like rosehip oil and peptides that plump the under-eye area, smoothen lines, and reduce dark circles. Wait a couple of minutes before applying anything else.
Step 4: Moisturize
The moisturizer you apply at night will have a different formulation and ingredient list compared to your day moisturizer. The basic purpose of both is to provide hydration, but they do a lot more.
Night creams are generally thicker than day creams, and they contain more potent ingredients that tackle skin issues like visible signs of aging. Night creams contain hyaluronic acid, protein, retinoid, and other ingredients that encourage the skin’s natural repairing process. Choose one with essential oils to pamper your skin thoroughly.
Remember that no skincare routine will give results overnight, so stick with the routine at least for a few weeks to notice any difference. Along with these, exfoliate a couple of times a week. Eat right, drink lots of water, and get sufficient sleep – and your skin will thank you for it!
