Raise your hand if you’ve seen a video of someone’s skin routine and immediately purchased the products hoping for the same skin. Well, I guarantee you, there’s a sea of raised hands right now across all my readers.
Skincare is no longer in the hands of experts such as dermatologists and aestheticians. Now, with a rise in the number of beauty influencers, everyone’s an expert! Or so they claim.
While a majority of content creators do their due diligence, some of them may lead you astray with their recommendations. So it’s really important to know what are the products you should have and what are not a priority.
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Know your skin type
Before we delve into what kind of products we should have, it’s important that you’re sure of what kind of skin type you have.
So how do you find that out?
The ‘wait-and-watch’ method is pretty easy and accurate when trying to figure out skin type. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, then pat dry. Wait for 30 minutes without using any other product.
If your skin is shiny throughout, you have oily skin. If it feels tight or flaky/scaly, you have dry skin. If the shine is only in the T zone (forehead and nose) but flaky in other areas, you have combination skin. If your skin feels comfortable and fresh, you have normal skin.
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Building an everyday skincare routine
Cleanser: This is possibly the most important product in your arsenal. Cleansers help remove dirt, oil, germs and makeup from the day. It’s best to use the cleanser once in the morning (to remove overnight sebum) and once at night (to clean up the day’s dirt). Ideally, it should be a gentle cleanser but you can use an exfoliating cleanser once in two days to get rid of the dead skin.
Toner: After cleansing your face, use a toner to remove dead skin and reduce the size of your pores. This helps reduce the incidence of acne and other skin disruptions.
Moisturizer: It hydrates your skin and protects you from dust, bacteria and dirt and is the crown jewel in your skincare routine
Serums: Which serum will be beneficial to you depends entirely on your skin type and your area of concern. Serums with ingredients such as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid will help those who have sensitive skin and breakout-prone skin respectively.
As a dermatologist, I have seen the shift in skin care trends especially in Millenials and Gen Z, with many purchasing retinoids, vitamin C and other serums. The ones who don’t do enough research and use any product that promises them clear skin, end up having more breakouts.
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Products that should be avoided
Products that are not labelled or that don’t have their ingredients listed should be avoided at all costs. Keep in mind the type of makeup remover you’re using—the alcohol-based ones can be harsh on your skin. Better to opt for cleansing milk with a soft cotton ball. Similarly, avoid an alcohol-based toner unless you have very oily skin (consult your dermatologist to be absolutely sure).
Products having ingredients that contain PEGs (Polyethylene glycols), methyl and propyl parabens, aluminium, formaldehyde, phthalates and/or oxybenzone can lead to skin sensitivity, allergies and, in some cases, affect your overall health.
Best practices
Picking the right products is just the start, there are also certain hygiene practices to follow. For instance, if your cream comes in a jar, don’t dip your fingers in without washing your hands or use a cotton pad to get it out. You may unwittingly transfer bacteria to the jar if you dip into it with unclean fingers.
Don’t rub and pull your skin while applying products. It reduces the elasticity of your skin. Always gently pat your products in.
Not removing makeup before one goes to bed is something almost all women are guilty of, but we really should be more careful. Not doing so can clog pores and prevent your skin from breathing at night, both of which cause breakouts.
Men, especially those who are exposed to the elements in their day-to-day, should never skip washing their face, to clear the day’s grime, dust and dirt before sleeping.
Using the same brand chronically for years is also not beneficial. Products of the same skin line, such as Johnson and Johnson, will stop being as efficient as you age. In fact, factors such as age, climate, and job should all be considered when adopting a skincare routine.
Consumerism is at an all-time high and these social media platforms are programmed to entice you to buy the next big thing. If you do have that kind of money to spare, meet your dermatologist and learn exactly what you need. Your dewy, fresh skin will thank you (and so will your bank balance).
Dr Deepali Bhardwaj is a dermatologist, anti-allergy specialist, laser surgeon and internationally trained aesthetician. She tweets @dermatdoc. Views are personal.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)