The 4 Step Skincare Routine for Everyone

Is the list of products every influencer is telling you, you need getting long? Starting to feel overwhelmed with all the steps and which product is used to treat what? The interest in skincare has grown greatly since the pandemic began and there’s only been more and more products added into the market. Keep reading for a super simple skincare routine anyone can do in 4 steps or less.

Breaking things down we’re going to start with the first step everyone needs in their routine…CLEANSER! There’s a cleanser for every skin type out there and its major role is to remove oil and debris from the skin to reduce breakouts and allow future products to work as intended. As each skin type has different needs you will need to make sure you pick a cleanser that will help balance your skin.

Next up starts with E and ends with T and exfoliant is the name of the game! Removing dead skin cells brightens your complexion, increases product penetration, and increases the efficacy of your product. The issue with this step is a lot of companies state their product is gentle enough for daily use, but no one really needs to exfoliate EVERY day; doing so can lead to irritation, dry skin, a compromised barrier, and breakouts. The only exception to this rule is if the exfoliant is in a cleanser because it is in such a small concentration as well as being combined with several soothing ingredients; it will less likely lead to the above-mentioned concerns.

Moving on to step number 3, one of the most important steps for your skin’s overall health, moisturizer! Skin cells are healthiest when their water and oil content is balanced and having a good moisturizer to nourish the skin’s barrier will help keep the skin hydrated and supple. Cleansing does remove some of the natural oils on the skin so it’s important to replenish with a moisturizer morning and night.

Last but absolutely not least, very far from it, is sun protection! As you know the sun provides us with vitamin D but along with that comes UVA and UVB rays which are proven to cause skin cancer. Cancer is the biggest but not the only concern to come from excessive sun exposure; it increases cell damage leading to irregular pigmentation (sunspots), wrinkles, fine lines.  This step is non-negotiable if you want to see improvement in your skin and must be done every morning (yes, even if you’re staying inside all day. Look at your flourishing house plants if you don’t believe the sun’s rays can reach you even inside.) and throughout the day for proper protection.

There’s nothing wrong with influencers bringing us awareness to the many products being released every day, I’m a huge sucker for serums, toning mists, and anything to boost the dewiness of my skin. Adding them to an established routine, however, will give better results than a new “product salad” every week. It will also make it easier to weed out which products may be disagreeing with your skin and what might not be working at all.