Are you looking for an easy-to-follow yet effective skincare routine for a glorious complexion, but not sure where to start? Here’s the skincare routine guide you need!
In this post, we will give you a ton of tips from Dr Nina on how to take care of your skin every day, from when you get out of bed to when you return to it after a busy day.
So if you are looking to get – or maintain – glowing, radiant skin by using the right products at the right time, keep reading!
Skincare Routine Guide for Beginners
Finding the right skincare routine for your skin could be daunting at first. With so many products on the market nowadays, how do you choose the right ones? And are you even sure you know what your skin needs?
Taking care of your skin is paramount if you want to maintain your youthful glow for as long as possible. Sure, non-surgical cosmetic procedures and facial aesthetic treatments are always a great help when you need that extra touch. But a serious skincare routine that targets your skin needs is the foundation for any other treatment.
A skin consultation with a professional such as Dr Nina should be the first step you take when you are considering starting a new skincare regimen or getting a procedure done.
With so many scientifically advanced, innovative professional treatments and medical-grade skincare products available, it can be quite overwhelming to choose what is best for you. And, if you are not fully aware of your skin type and your specific needs, you are bound to make a few wrong choices that will result in a waste of money and time.
After that, it’s all downhill!
However, it is important to remember that when it comes to skincare it is never a quick fix. Dr Nina will create a bespoke plan that will work for your skin, but results will come only if you stick to it diligently.
Skincare for the skin is a little bit like going to the gym. If you go once or twice it’s ok, but if you really want to see results you have to go consistently. Same thing for your skin.
Dr Nina
How to Start a Skincare Routine
If you are just getting started, there are a few general rules to keep in mind for any type of skincare regimen.
Your Skincare Routine Guide: How to Get Started
- Wash your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser.
To make sure your skin maintains its youthful glow for as long as possible, you should, first of all, take some time for your anti-aging skincare routine twice a day every day. The first time right after you wake up and the second time right before going to sleep.
- Exfoliate twice a week.
Removing dry skin cells regularly prevents your pores from clogging and also helps the products in your regimen work more effectively, as they get better absorbed into the skin.
- Use a face serum before your moisturiser.
Serums are light, easily absorbed skincare liquids that contain a concentrate of highly active ingredients much higher than a usual face cream. The active ingredients are able to penetrate the deepest levels of the skin and target specific skin issues, so they are much more effective than moisturisers alone.
- Always wear sunscreen.
Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection of at least SPF 30 every day before applying make-up and even in winter. Don’t forget to dedicate special attention to your neck and neckline too.
Skincare Routine Step-by-Step
Now that you have the basis to get started with your skincare routine, let’s dig deeper into the actual steps you should follow every morning and every evening. We are also going to talk about skincare products and ingredients that you should start incorporating in your daily skincare routine for glowing skin.
Skincare Routine Guide for the Morning
- Step 1: Cleanse
To remove the active ingredients applied during your night-time routine, start your morning by washing your face with a salicylic acid cleanser. Salicylic acid is a type of BHA (beta-hydroxy acid) that works by gently removing the outer layer of the skin, smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles, and also breaking down any superficial pigments and/or dark spots that your skin might be developing.
Moreover, salicylic acid is able to penetrate your pores and break down the oils, which makes it a great ingredient to prevent breakouts, acne, and skin inflammations.
- Step 2: Tone
After the cleanser, it’s time to use a toner. This step is recommended before applying any products to prep the skin to absorb all the active ingredients contained in the serum and moisturiser you are going to apply next.
Dr Nina recommends using an AHA-based toner, this time a lactic acid one. Lactic acid is a type of AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) that also creates a superficial exfoliation, but it’s milder than salicylic acid so can be used even on more sensitive skins.
- Step 3: Apply Serum
A face serum can have different functions. When it comes to choosing one, certain formulations are universally beneficial, while others are intended to treat specific skin concerns. Whether you want to target fine lines, dark spots, acne or dry skin, a properly formulated serum can deliver results with regular use.
If there is one face serum Dr Nina recommends incorporating in your daily skincare routine – especially skincare for mature skins – is a face glow serum made of high-quality ingredients like her new Face Sculpt Serum.
- Step 4: Moisturise.
Depending on your skin type, you might need to use a moisturiser after applying a serum, or you might not. If your skin still feels tight and in need of more hydration after the serum, then go ahead and apply a moisturiser on top of it. Just be mindful of what kind of moisturiser you choose and always check the ingredients.
- Step 5: Always wear sunscreen
While you can decide whether or not to use a moisturiser, this step is non-negotiable. UV rays are the worst enemies for any skin type, causing premature ageing, and pigmentation. So to finish off your morning routine, and prior to applying makeup, Dr Nina recommends always applying an SPF cream or lotion with SPF of 30+, oil-free and non-comedogenic.
Do it no matter the season or the weather, in winter and on cloudy days, and even if you stay indoors all day. This is because UVA rays can penetrate through the windows, and even the lights from computers and tablets can age the skin and worsen pigmentation.
Skincare Routine Guide for the Evening
- Step 3: Apply (a different) Serum
When you sleep, your skin undergoes a natural process to renew itself and is more receptive to treatments that can help this process. For this reason, Dr Nina recommends using a face serum packed with AHA to treat your skin with some extra exfoliation during the night.
On top of that, she also recommends applying retinol once a week to promote new cell proliferation. Because retinol is quite a strong ingredient, which might cause irritation, she recommends starting to introduce it once a week and give your skin time to get used to it.
- Step 4: Moisturise
While there’s no need to apply SPF at night, you can use this time when your skin is more receptive to applying a richer lotion, cream or moisturiser made of good quality ingredients to give your skin an extra hydration boost.
Your Skincare Routine FAQs
There isn’t a fixed age when you should start a skin care regimen, but the earliest the better! As Dr Nina says, “prevention is better than cure” so somewhere in your early twenties would be perfect.
At the very minimum, you should always cleanse twice a day – in the morning and before going to bed -, then apply a serum, a moisturiser if needed, and definitely always wear sunscreen during the daytime.
If you have oily skin, or if your skin is glowing and really healthy, you might not need to use a moisturiser and you might be okay just by applying a face serum. Always listen to your skin!
As a general rule, yes. There are some ingredients such as Vitamin C and SPF that are more suitable to use during the day, as they help protect the skin from external factors such as UV rays, pollution etc. Other ingredients such as retinol and AHAs/BHAs should only be applied at night before going to bed, as they either can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight or they just work better during the night, helping the natural skin renewing process.
Ideally, you should seek professional skin advice before starting any new skincare regimen to make sure you are going to use the right products and ingredients that work for your skin type.
Final Extra Tips
While a daily skincare routine is important to protect your skin from external factors, there are a few final tips you could follow to make sure you also take care of your skin from the inside out.
- Choose the Right Food
Consuming junk food on a regular basis leads to skin issues such as breakouts, dullness, and – in the long run – wrinkles. On the other hand, eating a healthy and balanced diet will help maintain your natural youthful glow.
- Drink a Lot of Water
Drinking a lot of water ensures that your body remains hydrated, and the toxins are flushed out properly, which will help you get radiant skin.
- Get Enough Sleep
Getting 7-8 hours of sound sleep per night stimulates collagen production and improves cell turnover, keeping your skin young and plump.
- Exercise Regularly
Regular aerobic exercise helps increase the heart rate, promotes blood circulation, improves oxygenation, and helps regenerate your skin cells.
- Don’t Smoke
Tobacco badly impacts the skin by depriving it of oxygen and nutrients. This can lead to a pale, greyish, or uneven skin tone, premature ageing, and a number of other skin disorders.
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