How To Build A Skincare Routine

Whether you have had an acne flare-up or looking to bring some glow back to those cheeks, perfecting your skincare routine can do wonders for your skin in more ways than one. The best skincare routine will include everything from cleaning out those pores to adding cream under those eyes to make them pop. However, did you know that you should be using a different routine in the morning and before you go to bed? Your skin is exposed to multiple damaging elements during the day, such as the sun, meaning that you need to find a way to protect your skin in your morning routine and nourish it in the evening after a hard day in the wind or sun. But it’s okay; we’re here to help you build a skincare routine for day and night that will work just right for your unique skin type.

Build A Skincare Routine That Is Right For You

Many of our clients booking in at our beauty clinic in Northampton always ask which treatments will help to give them a youthful glow and tighten those fine lines. There are an array of treatments that can transform the look and feel of your skin, such as a relaxing CBD facial and laser carbon peel, but after your treatments, you should always look to keep your skin in healthy condition to maintain the effects of your treatment. To do this, you will need to devise a skincare routine that is perfect for your skin. All routines will follow the same guidelines, but your products will differ depending on your skin type and whether you suffer from skin conditions such as acne or psoriasis. If you are yet to perfect your skincare routine and need a helping hand, then here is how you can create a routine that nourishes, soothes and replenishes your skin:

• Morning Skincare Routine
• Nighttime Skincare Routine

Morning Skincare Routine

Your morning skincare routine is so crucial as it helps to protect the skin against all the different elements it will face throughout the day. This means finding products that help to guard your skin from the outside world without making it feel like you have endless layers of creams and serums on your skin. Here is the best morning skincare routine that you can follow, altering products to your skin type, and can be used all year round without having to change it up for the warmer weather:

1. Cleanse

The best way to start the day is with a fresh face wash using your trusted cleanser. A cleanser helps to remove dirt and any other substance from your skin and, most importantly, your pores. When your pores begin to clog up, it can cause spots and breakouts, particularly in those prone to acne. These flare-ups can be sore and sensitive, meaning that not only do you feel less confident in your appearance, but you may also be wary of applying further products to your skin.

For your morning cleanser, we would advise using a gentle product, potentially one that does not require you to wash your face. There are two main reasons for this; firstly, if you have a face-washing routine before bed, over-washing your face could cause your skin to become dry or encourage your skin to produce more oil, which inevitably means more spots. Secondly, your morning routine is more about preparing your skin for the day ahead rather than cleaning and nourishing the skin after what it has endured. A cleanser for dry and sensitive skin will be the best option for your morning routine, so try Garnier’s Micellar Water for example, or take a look at Prevention’s handy article including the top 12 face washes for sensitive skin.

2. Serum

Unlike other products such as your cleanser or creams, serums help to provide you with a high level of concentration, deeply nourishing the skin with vital ingredients that it requires for that youthful glow and to prevent fine lines. Again, the serum that you use may be based on what skin type you have, so you can find some serums with ingredients to help treat acne, for example.

However, when choosing your morning serum, try to find one with vitamin C, as it helps to protect the skin against damage caused by the sun and even pollution. While the bottle of your serum may appear small, don’t be fooled by its size; you only need a small drop on each check every morning. Rub the serum into your skin using the tips of your fingers and move in a circular motion.

The Vitamin C Skin Brightening Corrector from Vichy Liftactiv is a great product to incorporate into your morning routine. However, if you would like to try a few products out then you can find a range of the best Vitamin C serums over on Harper’s Bazaar.

3. Moisturise

Even if you feel that your skin is too oily for moisturiser, you should always apply a pea-sized drop onto your skin in the mornings. There are an abundance of moisturisers for various skin types, oily and dry, so it is important to make sure that you find one that matches you for it to work at its best. Although you can find a host of daytime moisturisers with SPF, you should note that this does not necessarily mean that it provides you with UV protection. For this reason, we would advise that you look for a moisturiser that matches your skin type rather than focus on whether it has SPF, as you should apply sunscreen after your morning routine and before applying any makeup. Vogue has put together a list of the best face creams for various skin types, from dry to oily.

4. Sunscreen

This is a step that many people forget when creating a morning skincare routine, but it can be one of the most important. You must wear sunscreen all year round, even when you’re not likely to get burnt in the winter; this is because the UV rays, no matter how strong, can damage your skin. This damage may not appear instantly like it would if you are sunburnt, but it can have an ageing effect, causing fine lines, wrinkles, and even ageing spots. There are multiple benefits to wearing sunscreen, including the following:

• Decreases risk of sun damage
• Lowers risk of skin cancer
• Prevents premature ageing
• Helps to maintain an even tone

However, one of the main reasons why sunscreen is often neglected is because it can feel heavy on the face, but this can be avoided by spending a little more on your skincare products. Sunscreen products designed specifically for the face are lighter and less oily, meaning you can keep your skin well protected from the sun without feeling sticky. For some of the best sunscreens for your face, take a look at the Independent’s article!

Nighttime Skincare Routine

Now that your morning routine is down to a tee, it’s time to discuss your nighttime skincare routine. This routine is just as important as your morning one, as it helps remove dirt and oil accumulated throughout the day. It is important for everyone to perfect their nighttime routine, but even more so if you suffer from acne or wear makeup. Here is the best routine to do just before you go to bed:

1. Cleanse

Much like you would in the morning, cleansing your skin in the evening is also vitally important. This is because your skin would have built up dirt throughout the day, which would have made its way into your pores. However, while you will need to purchase a gentle cleanser for the morning, your evening cleanser can be slightly more abrasive.

For example, if you suffer from breakouts, then a tea tree oil-based cleanser may be beneficial. You can also find cleansers in the form of face wash or foam cleaners, which remove dirt while remaining gentle on the skin.

If you do choose to opt for a face wash or foam cleanser, then we would also advise treating yourself to an electric cleanser. The multiple functions and heads of the cleanser allow you to thoroughly clean the skin using various different abrasions. For example, to clean the skin, you can use the soft brush, but for your weekly exfoliation, switch to the firm brush. If you can’t, though, don’t worry, you can use your hands to cleanse your face (as long as they’re clean!) just like Hailey Bieber does in this tell-all nighttime routine video from Harper’s Bazaar!

2. Exfoliate

Much like sunscreen in your morning routine, exfoliation can also be a step many of us neglect due to sensitive skin or go the opposite and over-exfoliate because of oily skin. However, regardless of skin type, exfoliation should be completed at a maximum of every other day, but we advise exfoliating every three days.

Exfoliation helps remove dead skin, oils, and dirt from deep within the skin, but over-exfoliating can leave the skin feeling delicate and dry or causes the skin to produce more oil to replenish itself. Instead of over or under-exfoliating, be sure to treat yourself to an exfoliator designed for your skin type. For example, Boots’s own No7 Total Renewal exfoliator is perfect for sensitive or dry skin as it helps to replenish the skin with a creamy mixture while gently exfoliating.

3. Treatments

As specialists in a range of beauty treatments in Northampton, we know how important it is for your skin to enjoy a nourishing treatment after a hard day. Treatments are a great way to unwind while treating your skin to some well-needed TLC, and there are tons of treatments that you can enjoy at home between your visits to our beauty clinic. Some of our favourites include:

• Sculpting bars
• Face masks
• Face massage rollers
• Facial steamer
• Acne spot treatment

4. Serum

As you have nourished the skin with some vitamin C in the morning, before going to bed, treat your skin to some vitamin A, which is known for its ability to make your skin glow. Again, serums are the perfect way to introduce this into your routine, as they can provide your skin with large doses to keep you looking bright and well. Other ingredients that you should look out for in your serums are alpha hydroxy acid and retinol.

Alpha hydroxy acid helps to brighten the skin to slowly remove dead skin that is still slightly attached to the face. This creates a natural lifting effect by allowing the new skin to breathe while also keeping the skin clean from dirt build-up. Retinol, on the other hand, is a form of vitamin A, which is extremely nourishing for your skin, as it helps to decrease wrinkles and fine lines as well as bright spots and pore size.

5. Moisturise

Moisturising before bed is just as important as it is to do it in the morning. However, you should have two separate moisturisers, one of which nourishes the skin far more than the other. The great thing about applying the cream before bed is that you can apply as much as you want without worrying about it impacting your makeup. Usually, night creams are used to provide you with glowing and plump skin, and when matched with a good night’s sleep, will make you look bright and ready for the day ahead. You can find out more about what night creams are so important and the best ones to buy over on Marie Claire’s article.

Perfect Your Routine

There are an abundance of reasons why you should perfect your skincare routine for the morning and evening, with one of the main reasons being that it gives you a youthful glow and minimises fine lines and wrinkles now and in the future. By treating yourself to a few products, you can transform your skin, giving you back your confidence and radiant glow.

If you need a helping hand and would like to give your skin that much-needed boost over the summer period, then why not treat yourself and book in for a treatment at our laser clinic in Northampton? A wide selection of treatments are available at our beauty clinic, such as our Gene0+ facial and microneedling, so please feel free to book in for a midweek pick me up!