Morning Skincare Routine
Cleanse
If your skin is prone to acne or breakouts, it is important that you cleanse your face twice a day.
Tone (Optional)
Using a toner is an additional step that helps remove extra oil and impurities, as well as rebalance the pH of the skin, which is normally slightly acidic, (the ingredients in some cleansers may nudge the skin pH towards basic). Because some toners can be drying, if you have less oily skin, you may not need to use one.
Treat/Medicate
The products used in this step may look different for everyone, but note that the morning is a good time to begin targeting new, or existing blemishes. Spot treatments are helpful for zeroing in on acne bumps with products that contain active ingredients like salicylic Acid, benzoyl peroxide, and sulfur.
Moisturise
Moisturising your skin is an important final step in your AM routine. But why? Lipids, or fats, in the top layers of the skin help retain moisture and function to create an impermeable barrier between your skin and the environment. Skipping this step could leave the skin dry, vulnerable to infection, and/or dull in appearance. Remember to look for non-comedogenic, which means the product is less likely to clog pores and contribute to the formation of acne papules.
Protect
Using a high SPF sunscreen is a very important step to maintaining healthy skin.
Makeup
Now you're ready to apply your favourite oil-free, mineral-based makeup, if you so desire.
Night-time Skincare Routine
The best results come with consistency and patience! Don't forget, by simplifying your skincare routine you'll make it easier to complete, and therefore, increase the likelihood of repeating it each day and night.
Cleanse
Washing your face in the evening removes oil produced during the day, as well as dirt, makeup, and other impurities you have been exposed to. If you are prone to or have more severe acne, you may want to try cleansers that contain active ingredients. Alternatives to acne washes are gentle cleansers and micellar water.
Tone (Optional)
As mentioned above, if your skin is oily, you can repeat applying toner in the evening, too, for an extra-squeaky-clean feeling.
Medicate
Because not everyone needs, or can tolerate acne medications applied to the whole face, how you medicate may look different from how another person with acne medicates. Product recommendations are typically individualised, but a gentler option is dipotassium glycyrrhizate, derived from licorice root extract. Dipotassium glycyrrhizate helps to kill bacteria, exfoliate dead skin, and brighten skin complexion.
Moisturise/Apply Night Cream
As opposed to in the morning, your evening serum, moisturiser or night cream should not contain SPF.
