HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN

With so many products on the market, finding the right skincare routine can be quite overwhelming. We’re here to help!

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The best way to care for your skin is to understand your skin. Knowing your skin type will help you to find the right products to target problem areas.

HOW TO TELL WHAT KIND OF SKIN YOU HAVE
Do you have an oily, combination or normal skin? Figuring this out is key to a good skincare routine. Here’s an easy way to determine your skin type:

1. Wash your skin and pat it dry.
2. Wait an hour and cut a piece of rice paper into five postage stamp-sized squares.
3. Press one onto your forehead, each cheek, nose and chin. If they stick to any of these areas, this is where your skin is oily.

Now, let’s take a look at the different skin types.

• Oily skin type: your skin is oily all over and prone to blackheads and breakouts.
Your beauty BFF: Oil-free face products (face wash, toner, moisturiser) that promise to mattify the skin.

• Combination skin type: your skin is oily on the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and dry or normal across the cheeks.
Your beauty BFF: Gel-based and mild foaming cleansers. Keep your drier areas hydrated with a moisturiser specially formulated for combination skin.

• Dry skin: if your skin is rough or flaky, and often has a ‘tight’ feeling.
Your beauty BFF: Opt for a rich, creamy face wash and moisturiser that won’t dry out your skin further.

• Normal skin: your skin isn’t oily or dry, and you rarely have breakouts.
Your beauty BFF: You can use any products to address your skincare needs, however, you should still be cautious when testing out new products and keep an eye out for any unusual changes.

• Sensitive skin: your skin flushes easily and frequently reacts to skincare products with a stinging or burning sensation.
Your beauty BFF: Gentle, non-abrasive products.

THE BEST BASIC SKINCARE ROUTINE
A good regimen is key to glowing skin! Here’s how you can take care of your skin.

1. Cleanse
Wash your face with a gentle face cleanser designed for your skin type, do this in the mornings and evenings.

Advanced method: Follow the Korean double cleanse routine, which involves washing your face in two steps; first with an oil-based cleanser such as micellar water and secondly with a water-based cleanser. Step one draws out oil-based impurities such as sebum (an oily secretion of the sebaceous glands) and SPF. Step two cleanses water-based debris such as sweat.

2. Tone
A lot of people skip this step because of a lingering idea that toners are too harsh. This may have been true in the past when toners were alcohol-based, but today’s toners are formulated to gently remove excess dirt and minimise pores.

"Toners are most helpful and necessary for people with oily or acne-prone skin, or for people who want extra cleansing after wearing makeup or other heavy skin products such as sunscreen.” – Dr Hadley King

3. Serums
Now that your skin is squeaky clean, you can apply a serum of your choice based on your skincare needs. Serums contain concentrated doses of active ingredients that can assist with a number of skincare concerns, from dark spots to wrinkles.

Here’s a quick guide to serums:
• Hyaluronic acid strengthens the top layer of your skin to prevent moisture loss.
• Vitamin C helps to brighten dull skin and decrease dark spots.
• Retinol and vitamin B3 have anti-ageing effects, as they stimulate the production of the proteins collagen and elastin, which help to prevent lines and skin sagging.
• Niacinamide reduces redness and irritation, making it ideal for people with acne concerns.

4. Moisturise
In the mornings, apply a moisturiser based on your skin type.

“Even though your body has its own natural lubricating system consisting of glands that secrete oil (or sebum) to maintain a protective coating against harsh outside conditions and infections, most of us do need extra hydration after the havoc that sun, weather and harsh chemicals wreak on our skin.” – Sandra Kopp, a board-certified dermatologist

Use a night cream before bedtime to hydrate your skin while you catch your beauty sleep.

5. Protect with SPF
This is, without a doubt, the most important step in every skin care routine. You might think that you’re safe from the sun because you’re not at the beach every day, but we get the majority of our sun exposure from walking to work and sitting in the car. If you struggle to remember to apply a sunscreen over and above your normal skincare routine, try purchasing a moisturiser or foundation that has SPF built in. Aim for a broad spectrum SPF of at least 30.

WINTER SKIN CARE TIPS
• Wash your face in lukewarm water. It’s tempting to wash your face in a hot shower, but you’ll be stripping away oils from the skin.
• Keep wearing sunscreen, even on rainy and overcast days.
• If your skin starts to dry out, change your moisturiser. Keep your water-based moisturiser for summer and use an oil-based solution in winter – it is most likely to help your skin retain moisture in the winter.
• Stay hydrated! If a cold glass of water doesn’t sound too appealing, opt for a little warm water with lemon.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR MAKE-UP BRUSHES CLEAN
If your skin is constantly breaking out, it might mean it’s time to clean your make-up brushes! Make-up brushes can carry loads of germs and it is important to wash them at least once a month. Here’s an easy home remedy!

Step 1: Mix two parts dish soap with one part of olive oil in a small bowl.

Step 2: Wet your brushes and sponges one by one under the bathroom tap and swirl them in the mixture.

Step 3: Rub the bristles between your fingertips to remove debris, and rine them under the tap until there is no more soap or make-up coming from the brush.