New Year, Better You: Five ways to easily update your skincare routine
The last year of the last decade saw me having a baby. I knew this meant changes to my lifestyle, and I had to bid goodbye to my tried and tested routines. I cut out a lot of products during my pregnancy, and became conscious about avoiding certain ingredients. After I gave birth, I found myself with drier skin than usual ,and with significantly less time to devote to a skincare regimen.
It has been nine months in and I'm still adjusting to my new routine, but I've managed to figure out one that works for my current skin condition and lifestyle. It’s a process that took some trial and error, but it’s important to keep beauty routines updated to ensure that they still work for you, even if you haven’t made any major life changes. Here are five things you should do for your yearly beauty check up!
Conduct a product inventory
Every year, I take stock of all the products I own. If you don’t do it yet, it’s helpful to make a list, and note down expiry dates and PAOs. Throw out products that have already expired so you don’t risk irritating your skin, and consider using up those that are set to expire soon so they don’t end up in the trash.
I did my inventory before the previous year ended, and only then realized that my Kora Organics Noni Radiant Eye Oil was way past its 6 months recommended PAO! I replaced it with the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum, and having a new eye cream to start the year with also helps me feel more excited to do my routine.
Evaluate your skin and adjust products accordingly
Similar to how our skin can change with the weather, some life events can also cause our skin to behave differently. Hectic work days? You might be drinking a lot more caffeine, which can cause dehydration and affect your skin. Frequently flying? Changes in temperature plus that extra dry cabin air may be the reason why your favorite moisturizer seems to suddenly not be enough.
I have always had a dry skin type but after giving birth, my skin was extra, extra, extra dry! I had to change up my routine by adding hydration in layers until I found the combination that worked best for me. I'm still tweaking the products I'm using but my current favorites include Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate or Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair layered with Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream.
Check your basics
As we update our routines to add or remove products, it’s important to remember the basic skincare rules. “Cleanse, tone, and moisturize” may be canon for some, but the two rules I do my best to follow are to apply sunscreen every day and to clean my skin as thoroughly as possible at night.
Sunscreen is the best anti-aging product and also a necessity for preventing skin cancer. Complaints about it being too white or too sticky is no longer an excuse because we have a lot of great options available now, and you can even check out our Asian Beauty Sunscreen Battle to help you find a more comfortable formula.
As for thoroughly removing everything from my sunscreen to my makeup, I still swear by double cleansing! My go-to pair these days are the In Her Element Sunflower Wash-Off Cleansing Oil followed by the In Her Element Low pH Rose Gel Cleanser. If you still haven't tried low pH cleansers, read Liz's article on why she's stopped getting facials. Making the switch to low pH has also been a game-changer in my own beauty routine, and there’s no going back to harsh formulas!
Be realistic with your routine
Our schedule can get too busy at times and we'd much rather sleep than go through an entire regimen. Instead of beating ourselves up and feeling like we've neglected our skin, have a minimalist alternative with just one or two steps. It may not address all your skin needs but it’s enough to cover some basics and offer you some peace of mind when you’re too tired or stressed.
My personal “one and done” after cleansing is applying the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask to take care of my moisturizer needs. I just slather this on my clean skin and head to bed.
Don't be boring
With all the latest skincare developments and brands hitting our local shelves, why not try something new? Fancy some hyaluronic acid? Try Hada Labo Hydrating Lotion. How about some seaweed for the face? Human Nature's Marine Caviar HydroMiracle line may be just the thing!
Integrating new products and new steps into your routine can make it more exciting, but there are some things to consider before you do. Do a patch test to check for allergies, and read the ingredient list to check if the new product has anything that you need to avoid. I try to introduce new products one at a time so I know if it's working or not. This way, I can mitigate any reactions before they potentially get out of hand.
Here are a couple of new inclusions in my routine that I've been loving! The Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate Serum is actually an old favorite that I've recently reintroduced in my regimen. I like how I can layer this with other serums and not feel like I'm clogging my pores. The Caudalie Beauty Elixir is another good one for toning the face with a perceived tightening effect. It feels like an instant perk me up in a bottle though it does not seem to do much for me in terms of hydration.
I followed these five steps to update my skincare routine for 2020 but I'm pretty sure I’ll continue to make adjustments as the year progresses! How about you? How are you updating your 2020 skincare routine?
