Every season calls for a new skincare routine, and no matter what your daily routine is, you need to be wary of how the sun can affect your complexion. Knowing what products may work best for your skin can do wonders long term for your skin's natural barrier.
Why should I care about skincare?
No matter what time of year it is, it's important to take care of your skin. Whether you have sensitive skin, dry skin, oily skin, acne prone skin, or other skin concerns, there is a skincare routine to suit you.
A proper plan can help prevent wrinkles from forming, reduce pores, stop acne, encourage collagen production, and overall make your skin glow even after the summer holidays have ended.
How do I create a skincare routine?
When putting together a skincare routine, you want to apply products in the correct order, and feed your skin the right ingredients according to your skin type.
Morning skincare routine
1. Cleanse your face
Do you sweat a lot during the day or are bothered by oily skin? Everyday cleansing erases impurities and removes dirt, bacteria, and dead skin cells. This is especially important for makeup removal and encouraging healthy skin.
It’s essential to double-cleanse each night, but it's recommended to use a gentle cleanser such as an oil cleanser. For sensitive skin, non-foaming cleansers or hydrating cleansers are also great.
2. Moisturise your skin
Does your foundation always come out cakey instead of smooth? Dry skin is very common after outdoor exposure - especially on those hot days - so using a good moisturiser daily can bring back moisture. The best moisturisers immediately target rough, flaky skin.
In an ideal world, you want to be moisturising day and night, so pop your favourite moisturiser or moisturising face oil into your morning skincare routine.
3. Apply sunscreen
Sunscreen formulas are recommended daily as they protect skin from UV rays, UVB rays, and ultimately the risks of skin cancer. Chemical sunscreens or mineral sunscreen should be at least 30+ SPF, and ideally include zinc oxide for maximum protection.
Night skincare routine
1. Double cleanse
Cleansing at night as well as in the morning prevents a build-up of dirt and therefore breakouts or enlarged pores!
2. Use a night cream
Your body rejuvenates most when it's asleep, so adding a night cream to your routine will help with maintaining glow and locking in moisture overnight.
3. Use toners
Toning your skin adds to the cleansing ritual, and helps refresh your skin from dirt and impurities. Toners which include a chemical exfoliant are also amazing for targeting pigmentation in darker skin tones, acne scars, dark spots, and smoother skin, and especially helpful if you want to put on foundation afterward!
4. Treat your skin with serums
Although moisturising and cleansing can be the basic daily ritual, a skincare regimen responds best when serums are involved. Paired with a good moisturiser, hyaluronic acid works wonders for dry skin.
Alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids create smoother skin, and Vitamin C serums and lactic acids also work well for darker skin tones, helping a brighter appearance. You can also incorporate retinol to fight fine lines and wrinkles.
5. Incorporate eye creams
Whether you struggle with dark circles or want to minimise the chance of crow's feet, using eye cream before bed can help over time with fine lines and signs of ageing. Any skin type can use them.
6. Face oils
Face oils are great as they sink into the skin overnight. Jojoba oil, B-oils, and Argan oils are some good starters.
What is the best order to apply skincare products?
When it comes to the order of applying skin products, thinner products are always applied before thicker ones as they are absorbed by the skin this way.
- Cleanse the skin first with a delicate cleanser suited to your skin type.
- Tone the skin, which tightens your pores.
- Use an antioxidant serum such as Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, or salicylic acid.
- Dab on your favourite eye cream.
- Put in your spot treatment for any dark spots.
- Moisturise, as this will lock and set in everything you've used so far.
- Sunscreen. This is the icing on the cake and will keep your skin safe all day long!
What is my skin type?
Before buying any skincare product or creating a skincare routine, you need to know your skin type!
Normal skin: Your skin isn't dry, oily, or sensitive.
Dry skin: Your skin can become dry very easily, itchy, flakey, or rough. Extreme cold or hot weather can make you extra dry.
Oily skin: Your skin tends to look shiny or greasy.
Combination skin: Your skin is dry and oily all at once.
Sensitive skin: Your skin may be prone to irritation or redness a lot more easily. You are more likely to react to specific products.
If you aren’t sure what your skin type is, complete the Vela Days Skin Analysis Quiz to better understand your skin type.
How do i know which skincare products suit my type of skin?
When aiming for healthy skin, you want to choose skincare products that not only suit your skin type but have active ingredients to boost the skin's collagen production, protect skin cells, calm irritation, and cut out dead skin cells.
Skincare products for dry skin
For moisturising: An oil-based moisturiser would work best.
For cleansing: Use a gentle cream cleanser with glycerin petrolatum, ceramides, or lanolin.
For exfoliating: Use a very gentle chemical exfoliator.
For toners: Use an alcohol free toner infused with hyaluronic acid.
What products can I use on oily skin?
For moisturising: Use a water-based, oil-free moisturiser.
For cleansing: Use a gel-based cleanser with salicylic acid or glycolic acid.
For exfoliating: Use a stronger chemical exfoliator.
For toners: Use a toner with alpha and beta hydroxy acids.
What products can I use on sensitive skin?
For moisturising: Use a fragrance-free hypoallergenic moisturiser.
For cleansing: Use a cleanser that doesn't contain soap, dye, or fragrance.
For exfoliating: Use a gentle chemical exfoliator such as lactic acid.
For toners: Alcohol free toner with hyaluronic acid that is fragrance-free.
What products should I use on combination skin?
For moisturising: Use a medium-weighted lotion.
For cleansing: Use a gentle, balanced cleanser.
For exfoliating: Use a glycolic acid-based exfoliator.
For toners: Use toners that include astringent ingredients such as Witch hazel.
What products should I use on normal skin?
For cleansing: Use a hydrating gel cleanser.
For exfoliating: Use a combination of acids such as Alpha Hydroxy Acids of Beta Hydroxy Acids.
For toners: Use any alcohol free toner with antioxidants.
To find out more about which skincare products you should be using for your skin type, head over to our Skin Analysis Quiz to help uncover what your skin type is, as well as the products you should be using.
Overall, planning a good skincare routine will help you feel more confident in yourself. However, if you have any health concerns about choosing skincare products for particular skin types such as sensitive skin, consult a board-certified dermatologist to determine what is right for you.
