The Derma Corner: How to build your skincare routine, according to a dermatologist
Sometimes I have patients who will come in for consult for another matter but would segue into skincare because they have no idea on where to start with their routines or what to apply. After asking some questions, I would then learn what skincare mistakes they’re committing without knowing it like cleansing their faces only once a day, using products not suitable for their skin type or not putting on any sunscreen. So, to avoid any mistakes with starting your own skincare routine, here are some steps for you to follow.
Know your skin type
The first step in building any skincare routine would be to know your own skin type. I’ve written a previous article here on Project Vanity about the five different skin types (oily, dry, combination, sensitive and normal skin types) and each of their characteristics. The reason why this needs to be the first step is because you need to know what type of products your skin will be best suited to you and what kind of consistencies will your skin favor the most.
Find out what your skin concerns are
The next step would be to determine which skin concerns you want to deal with. I often get inquiries from random people asking me what skincare product recommendations I can give them but that in itself is a vague question for a dermatologist because skincare these days have ingredients in them that target specific skin concerns like sensitivity, anti-aging, hyperpigmentation, acne, dryness, etc. To know which products will benefit you and will help address your skin concerns the most, you need to identify them before moving on to the next step.
Start with the basics
The basic skincare steps of cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen are the foundations for any skincare routine. I too began with the basic skincare steps before gradually building up my routine until I was able to add additional steps like essences and serums. These are called the basics for the plain reason that they are all any skin type would need as far as skincare goes. Once you have found the right products for your skin type and concern, remember that cleansing and moisturizing is done twice a day, in the morning and evening, and sunscreen is applied as the last step in the morning.
Add supplementary skincare only if your skin agrees to it
Other steps like essences, serums, ampoules and sheet masks are merely supplemental and are not necessary in a routine. All you really need to keep your skin healthy are the basic steps but say, you want to add another anti-aging product to your routine, then it’s ok to add an essence, a serum or an ampoule – just as long as your skin is okay with it. It doesn’t mean however, that applying more products will be better for your skin because additional layers can cause irritation too. You need to be careful with what you apply, which leads me to the last step.
Listen to your skin
A very important step in following thru with any routine would be to listen to your skin. It doesn’t matter if your routine comprises of 3 or more products, what matters most is taking note of how your skin would respond to what you’re applying and if you would react negatively to them. By carefully observing your skin’s reactions, you would be able to guage if your skin is getting the best care it needs or if it would need a different product.
I sincerely hope this short guide will be useful to everyone reading this. If you have any more concerns or questions you would like to ask about skincare routines, a consultation with a board-certified dermatologist is the best option. Remember that our skin is different from another and that our routines should be individualized to suit our needs.
Until my next article then, stay safe!
Dr. Nikki Paderna is currently available for online consultations thru the HealthNow and Medifi app on Google Play for Android devices and on the Apple store for iOS devices, or thru the FB page, Vivestrata Dermatology Clinic (for face-to-face consultations, kindly message the FB page for details).
