Everyone wants perfect skin but with our busy lives, our daily skincare routines are often a case of a quick wash with soapy water and slapping on some moisturiser. However, different skin types require different levels of care. Here are the five golden rules of any skincare routine:

Choose gentle skincare products

Although this goes without saying, you should always choose gentle skincare products. While many of us may reach for a standard bar of soap, it can irritate the skin and cause our problem areas to become, well, more problematic. For example, harsh chemicals can dry out skin or even irritate it to the point where it overcompensates and starts producing even more oil.

Look for fewer ingredients

Cleansers, face washes and moisturisers with a long list of ingredients can mean bad news for your skin, as there’s more chemicals that could cause irritation. Generally, the fewer ingredients in a product, the more natural it is. Take the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant wash, for example. Available from Pure Beauty, it contains natural rice extract, enzymes and acids, as well as liquorice, aspergillus and grapefruit extracts. It’s perfect for smoothing and soothing your skin.

Always remove your makeup before bed

We all know we should do it, but how often do we snuggle down in bed to realise we haven’t taken our makeup off? Sleeping with your makeup on can cause problems with your skin, clogging pores and causing those pesky breakouts. No matter how much you want to stay in bed, if you want a flawless complexion, you should always wash away your makeup with a gentle cleanser. Apply a hydrating moisturiser before going to sleep too.

Stay hydrated

Of course, some of how our skin looks is controlled by what we eat and drink. Dehydrated skin can make your complexion look dry and flaky, so make sure you drink at least eight glasses of water each day. Try to keep your coffee consumption to a minimum too, as this can dehydrate you further and make your skin look lacklustre.
Think you can handle the dehydration? Don’t forget that it can make fine lines and wrinkles more prominent!

Pat your skin dry

So you’ve washed your face and completed the first step of your skincare routine. You reach for the towel and rub your face dry — STOP! By doing so, the friction of the rough material is actually damaging your skin. Instead, use a soft, dry cloth and gently pat your skin dry.

How do you keep your skin in top condition? Do you have any tried and tested skincare tip to share?

*This is a collaborative post.