Great skin is not just about winning the genetic lottery. Your day-to-day dealings heavily weigh in on your appearance, too – from what you eat to what skin products you use. But for those who are new to the world of skincare, it can get overwhelming. Looking through different articles often yield different opinions on what works and what doesn’t.
Ads would say one thing and product reviews would say otherwise. Some swear on 10-step skincare routines, while some prefer a streamlined approach. Even just looking at your options at the skincare aisle or online can get absolutely dizzying. But at the end of the day, a skincare routine doesn’t have to be complex and elaborate for it to produce results. At the core of it all, the matters of your skin depend on what matters to you. For a skincare routine to be effective, it needs to be personal.
Here are a few tips on creating that routine that works for you:
Determine your skin type
Nothing screams personalization louder than tailor fitting the products you use based on your skin type. In truth, products that are formulated especially for your skin type offer the best possible results than the one size fits all kind.
The first thing you have to do is wash your face. Cleanse thoroughly to remove makeup and the day’s oil and dirt buildup.
Next, wait for an hour. Don’t apply any products, just stay bare-faced.
Lastly, examine your face.
DRY – your skin feels tight and you notice some flaky areas
NORMAL/COMBINATION – no signs of flaking or oiliness at all OR your nose and forehead are oily yet everywhere else is normal or dry
OILY – skin is quite shiny on both the T-zone (forehead and nose) and your cheeks
SENSITIVE – skin is delicate with tiny pores; made obvious when products are applied and it is easily irritated
Keep it minimalistic
Now that you know your skin type, you’re ready to start creating your routine! Let’s start with the three key steps.
CLEANSING
Cleansing is a crucial and fundamental part of caring for your skin. Throughout the day, dirt, oils, dead skin cells, environmental pollutants and more build up on the surface of our skin. If not washed away through cleansing, they will remain trapped inside our pores and cause breakouts. Cleansers prevent clogged pores and acne without stripping our skin of its necessary layers. It is suggested that one must cleanse twice in a day – once in the morning and once at night. However, if you engage in sweat-producing activities like hitting the gym, you must cleanse right after to avoid clogging your pores and waking up with a breakout. But be careful not to over-cleanse! This can lead to irritation, especially for those with sensitive skin types. How do you cleanse? Simply apply the product, rinse, and then pat your skin dry with a clean towel. It is also wise to read product labels for specific instructions and warnings.
A no-fail cleansing product we recommend is the Kojie San Lightening Soap which works wonders in thoroughly cleansing the skin and whitening it as well. The trusty kojic acid ingredient often prescribed by dermatologists is the main component of Kojie San Skin Lightening Soap. Kojie Kojic acid helps prevent melanin production thus causing skin whitening. Kojie San Skin Lightening Soap is a holy grail product for ridding your skin of dirt, diminishing dark spots, freckles and acne.
TONING
After ridding your face of impurities, a toner is applied to deliver additional nutrients to the skin, providing a healthy layer to better absorb other products in your regimen, while balancing out your complexion. Although often thought of as optional, toners are great sources of replenishment to your skin.
Generally, toners are applied with the use of a cotton pad or a cotton ball. It is dampened – not soaked – and spread on the face and neck, avoiding sensitive areas such as the eyes and lips. However, some say that you will end up losing lots of product with this traditional method of application and that applying it with clean hands is a better and more efficient method. Most toners can be used alongside cleansers twice daily, but those with exfoliating acids must be used only during your nighttime routine or even every other day. For those who want a hassle-free and time-saving option, there is a combined cleanser and toner that rejuvenates your skin by clearing out oil, reducing blemishes, and repairing dry and damaged skin. It is the Kojie San Dual Action Cleanser / Toner which is composed of active ingredients like kojic acid that gently cleanses the skin, tightens the pores, and exfoliates dead skin cells, revealing the fresh, healthy, and glowing skin beneath it.
MOISTURIZING
The most obvious function of a moisturizer is of course, to hydrate the skin and leave it soft and supple. According to New York City dermatologist Dr. Carlos Charles, “Essentially, moisturizers assist in preventing water loss through the outer layers of skin. They can also complement the naturally found protective oils and other building blocks within the skin, such as ceramides.” Moisturizers should be applied twice daily after your toner, or if you opt for adding a serum after the toner, then after the serum. In the morning, it is the very last step before makeup application. During nighttime, it is the last step before going to bed. You can use your fingers to dab it on key areas of your face like your forehead, nose, cheeks, and even your neck. From there, spread it out using a swirling motion. Wait until it fully dries before makeup application.
Kojie San Face Lightening Cream is a nourishing cream that can be used for both morning and nighttime applications. It is light and provides non-greasy moisture. It contains a blend of natural extracts and high quality kojic acid which gained its fame because of its remarkable whitening effect. So not only does it restore skin suppleness, it also lightens the skin and prevent the formation of dark spots.
Consistency is key
Now that you’ve crafted your very own skincare routine, it’s time to put it into practice. Make sure that the routine you’ve created doesn’t stay on to-dos. Resolve to consistently follow it and make it your daily thing!
Give it time
Don’t lose heart when it seems as though your skin has not improved at all with the routine you’ve created. Aim to follow that routine for a minimum of six weeks to yield noticeable results, as this is the period of time needed by your skin to fully renew itself with new skin cells.
Enhance your routine
When you’ve already established and committed to the three-step routine, you can add more to it depending on your need. You could add more products that target specific problem areas like sebum, acne, and others. But if you don’t feel the need to and are content with the basics, then the three-step routine is no doubt the one for you!
