5 Simple Ways to Figure Out Your Skincare Routine

Honestly, this isn’t an easy task. I have now spent years and finally at a place where I am happy with my skincare routine. Make sure to read my previous beauty posts but this is the one to help you how to figure out your skincare routine.

Needless to say, this post is to address the needs of someone looking for a basic skincare routine. However, I do think it would probably help even if you are in the middle of a skincare routine and its needs a bit of a kickstart.

1. Considerations

Of course, one of the main factors for an effective skincare routine is how effective it is. But we seem to ignore some of the other considerations. Some of the other ways to determine whether this skincare routine works for you is to ask yourself these questions:

Can I afford these products?

For instance, I wont buy La Mer because I don’t realistically believe I can continue to afford their products on an ongoing basis. That is not a routine that is within my reach. And like I have already said, expense does not make a product effective.

Do I have reasonably easy access to these products?

You may remember me raving about the Tatcha Water Cream – I loved it! However, it is a brand from the USA and not available in the UK where I live. In an ideal situation, I should not have spent money and bothered with it since this was not a realistic option as a skincare routine staple.

Will I realistically be able to fit this routine into my lifestyle? 

For instance, my morning skincare routine now also includes using the Nu Face 3 – 4 times a week (more on that later). I realise outside of a lockdown scenario this is not realistic for me and my lifestyle. I can barely make breakfast let alone use my precious morning time before work for beauty. So this is something I will definitely have to rejig once things go back to normal.

2. Start out Basic and Simple

Start out as basic as possible. For instance, cleansing, moisturising and using sunscreen is a good way to start off.

Keep using this basic routine for about 3 months or so (barring major issues!) and see how it works out. Is your skin behaving itself? Is it breaking out? Is it doing better? If all is good, its time to move onto the next step.

3. Prioritise One Area First

One you have the basic routine going, think about what about your skin annoys you or what you want to work on. Is it acne? Is it redness? Do you just want some glow? Or are you all good? Depending on your requirements, look into products that address your skincare problem. My advise in this step would be to add in a serum which could address your specific problem in most cases.

However, let me also clarify, the product you need to add might not be a serum. For instance, if you problem is glow, yes, it might make sense to add in a Vit C serum (I like this one) but if your problem is dryness you might be better off either switching to a richer moisturiser or adding in a oil after (this is the one I use in dry weather). It all depends on your skins needs and one size fits all might not work. Trail and error is the name of the game.

4. Have an Inventory

This is one of the main issues I had with using a beauty membership service. Consistency and continuity is the most important thing to get any kind of real benefit from your skincare. Make sure you have your next bottle or jar of product lined up when finishing the one you have.

Its really odd but people do think that skincare should continue working

5. Take Stock and Assess

The only way you will know whether or not your skincare is working is if you take stock and asses regularly. Take photos of your skin and check if your skincare goals have been realised.

One of the basic principles of skincare which I want to remind you is to only add a new products one at a time. For instance, don’t add 5 new products in one day. Take your time. This ensures your skin is not overwhelmed with all the new products as well as helps pinpoint which product is working and which isn’t.

Bonus Tip: Observe What Your Skin Actually Needs

Instead of guessing or copying someone else’s routine, take a few days to really observe your skin. Is it dry in patches? Oily by mid-morning? Does it feel itchy, tight, or suddenly reactive in one area? Keep track of how it changes throughout the day and from morning to night. This will help tailor your choices. A few tools can aid in this process – for instance, dual-sided cotton clean swabs are useful for applying toner precisely to oily zones or dabbing on treatment products without irritation. They’re especially handy if you’re trying to isolate specific concerns without overloading your entire face.

I hope these basic tips helps how to figure out your skincare routine. Keep it simple is what I would always recommend. Also please keep me updated on how your skincare routine is working out and if you have some good tips for me, I am all ears! You can comments on this post below or use the Instagram account or Facebook page.

– Anisha