A Rookie’s Guide to a Skincare Routine

Skincare enthusiasts have a rock solid skincare routine. They probably have counters filled with skincare products and the latest skincare devices that target a gazillion skin issues. They would also go to their trusted estheticians and up their skincare game.

Then, there are the average Joe’s (and Jane’s) who washes their face with a bar of soap. (Which is a no-no!)

Please, don’t use harsh bar soaps for washing your facial skin! They strip the skin which leaves it dry and tight and prone to irritation.

Most people might have already developed a rocking skincare routine. But there are those who might still be groping in the dark in search of help. Well, good news, this one’s for you.

Skincare routines need not be complicated so don’t get overwhelmed. You need to know the basics and learn to listen to your skin. Having a solid skincare routine doesn’t have to carve hours from your time. A simple 5-minute routine is usually enough.

A good skincare routine should cover a good facial cleanser; an exfoliator; a serum fit for your skin’s needs; an effective moisturizer; and basic sun protection. So read on and learn these very easy guide to a skincare routine designed for rookies.

You read that right. Ditch the products that tell you it gives you the best skin by infusing it with an extract of a tropical plant that you haven’t heard of before. 

Facial cleansers are meant to cleanse your face and you most likely do it in a minute or less. After rubbing and massaging it on your face, you rinse it with water. 

Boom! The flowery extract that they sell you is down the drain.

Stick to products with the simplest formulation fit for your skin. If you are acne-prone or have oily skin, go for foaming cleansers that are gel or water-based. 

For dry skin, opt for creamier facial cleansers. Go for products that aren’t too drying for your skin and does a good job in removing grime or makeup residue.

Exfoliation is a great way to keep skin in tip-top shape. It is a must especially for people who have problems with texture and clogged pores. 

Exfoliation also helps give you a wrinkle-less feel that makes you crave for more scrubbing!

We love the fact that we can scrub and make our skin squeaky clean. A treat for people with OCD, really. We have to scrub and scrub and get those dead skin off until we feel a bit sore. 

We over-exfoliate or use products that are doing the same thing, so we end up having extra sensitive skin.

So, what’s the safe frequency for exfoliating? Our on-staff esthetician, Ashley Bell, says “If you have dry skin, exfoliating 1 to 2 times per week should be enough. You don’t want to overdo it as it can make your skin extra dry than it already is.”

“For people who have oily skin, exfoliating two to three times per week should help keep pores free from excess sebum. It is a good way to keep pores free from gunk that might develop into acne later on. You have to space out your exfoliation to give your skin time to heal. Remember, DON’T OVER-EXFOLIATE GIRLFRIENDS!”

Aside from the physical exfoliation, you also need to check the products you are using. If you are using retinol or AHA's and BHA's, tone down on exfoliation. You may want do it less frequently to prevent damaging your skin. 

Most people might skip this step but we are telling you, you are missing out! Serums are packed with potent ingredients meant to target your skin problems. Think of serums as superfood for your skin. You can choose a serum fit for your skin’s needs.

Serums enriched with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E are good for people with dry skin. These ingredients are meant to retain moisture, improve skin’s elasticity and help fight off premature aging.

If you are acne-prone, go for serums packed with Vitamin C to help boost skin’s repair process and help increase production of collagen. You may also like investing in tea tree oil serums for its anti-acne properties.

Lightweight serums are meant to be applied before moisturizers as these have smaller particles that are easily absorbed by the skin. Serums with thicker formulations are best applied over moisturizers to help lock in moisture.

Check out Trophy Skin’s lightweight Argan Serum. It is infused with argan stem cells that help reverse the signs of aging. It also contains hyaluronic acid that helps plump the skin and increases hydration. The serum also contains green tea extract, which is helpful in preventing dull skin and is a great antioxidant.

If serums are considered food for the skin, moisturizers are water for the skin. It is a good practice to apply moisturizers daily, no matter what your skin type is. Yes, that is true. Even those with oily skin need to moisturize.

Sometimes, the skin tends to oil up when it is dehydrated. That’s because your brain is thinking your skin needs hydration that is why it works to release oil or sebum to compensate for the dryness. The result? A glistening skin due to excess sebum.

We recommend applying moisturizers daily to balance your skin and keep it well hydrated. For oily skin, choose a lightweight moisturizer that is water-based or gel-based. Choose formulations that do not clog the pores so that it won’t contribute to acne formation.

For dry skin, go for creamier textures or go for moisturizers specially formulated for dry skin. These may be a bit heavier to help nourish parched skin.

You might know by now that the sun is the number one cause of premature aging⁽¹⁾. The ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun cause damage to the skin that can either cause it to burn or discolor. 

Yes, you need the sun to convert Vitamin D for your body but too much exposure can contribute to that line on your forehead or those wrinkles around your eyes, not to mention some age spots and some form of skin cancer.

There is no exemption. Sun protection must be used on a daily basis. Not just on your face, but also on areas that are exposed to the sun. 

If you notice some age spots that are getting more prominent especially on your left hand, that my dear, is a sign of sun damage already.

You can wear protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses but your best bet is a good-quality sunscreen with at least SPF 15 to 30. These Sun Protection Factor (SPF) measures how well a product protects the skin from UVB rays (the ones that cause sunburns and cancer formations). 

Higher SPF’s do not exactly mean that it can block UV rays better than the SPF 15 and 30’s so you can stick to the regular sunscreens.

You may also go for broad-spectrum sunscreens so you can also have protection from UVA rays. There are many products available on the market. You just have to find the one that works best for your skin.

You can add more skincare steps if you want

What we’ve shared so far is very basic and a good way to start taking better care of your skin. Now, as you transition from being a rookie to a skincare superstar, you may want to add more to your processes. 

You can try the 10-step Korean Skincare (but honestly, that is too EXTRA!!!).

We recommend experimenting with sheet masks or clay masks. Again, these will have to depend on what your skin needs. For hydration, go for the sheet masks with extra serums and moisturizing ingredients. For acne-prone or oily skin, mud masks or clay masks are your best option.

You can even venture into light therapy that targets specific skin issues. Blue light therapy works well with acne-prone skin. Red light therapy, on the other hand, helps reverse sun damage and is a great way to have a lit-from-within glow. Red light therapy is a popular anti-aging fix without surgery.

Again, developing a skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated. You just need to be mindful of what your skin needs. 

If you are acne-prone, you don’t have to use products that have raving reviews but are formulated for dry skin (guess what, it’s too heavy for your skin you will break out!). And if you have dry skin, don’t be too obsessed with scrubbing your skin.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Your skin will thank you!