If you are one to regularly scroll social media channels, then you are familiar with the popular romanticized skincare routine content that tends to flood our feeds and “For You” pages. With so many skincare products on the market today, it is more important than ever to make sure that you are doing your research and picking products that work for you and your skin, versus products with aesthetically pleasing packaging or that your favorite influencer uses.
If you have never purchased skincare products for yourself or feel overwhelmed with starting a routine, just know that it is never too late to start taking care of your skin and taking preventative measures for your skin’s health.
So, how exactly do you start a skincare routine and pick the products that work best for you?
Here are some steps that you should take when shopping for skincare products.
1 – Know your skin type.
There are countless skincare products that are created for specific skin types, so before you begin shopping around, you must know exactly what kind of skin that you have. Brands will sell products for oily skin, dry skin, a combination of the two, as well as for sensitive skin.
If you see a dermatologist regularly (if you don’t – schedule an appointment!), you are likely familiar with what type of skin that you have. If you do not, assess your skin’s characteristics to figure out what condition your skin is in.
2 – Figure out your skin goals.
Once you know what type of skin that you have, it is time to figure out what your goals are with your skincare routine. Figure out why it is that you would like to purchase skincare products, and what you are trying to get rid of, maintain, or prevent.
For example, are you looking to target your dry skin? Get rid of eye bags? Clear up acne? Whatever your goals are, make sure that you are clear on the issues you are experiencing so that you can purchase products that will give you the most for your money.
3 – Pay attention to ingredients.
The ingredients in your skincare are extremely important to pay attention to, because many products can do more harm for your skin specifically than they will do good. Once you know your skin type, you will be able to target products that include ingredients that you know will work best for your skin.
Generally, you will want to look for products that have ingredients such as Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C and E, Retinol, and B3.
And surprisingly, while you may find yourself gravitating toward skincare products that smell like perfume, you will want to avoid fragrances, especially if you have sensitive skin, as they are likely to cause irritation, and for some people even allergic reactions.
4 – Quality over quantity.
There are so many skincare products on the market, and you might be dying to try them all. Resist the urge to purchase tons of different products and pay more attention to quality versus quantity. Figure out exactly what products will go into your daily skincare regimen and keep it as simple as possible.
Especially in the beginning, the more products that you use on your face, the more likely it is that your skin could become irritated or break out, and you will have a hard time figuring out which product specifically is causing the irritation.
5 – Know your budget.
Lastly, know what your budget is when it comes to skincare and try your best to stick to it. There are so many different price points in skincare, whether you are looking at products in drug stores or looking more towards the luxury brands – and everything in between!
Remember that you do not necessarily need to go with the most expensive options. Skincare is extremely personal and will vary for everyone!
