Taking care of your skin is important. I started paying more attention to my skin in my 20s, and I wish I started earlier. When it comes to having a great skincare routine, the earlier you start, the better. There is only so much makeup can hide. If the foundation isn’t right, the paint would look off! So ensure your skin is in top shape before spending money on makeup to plaster on it. Here are some skincare basics you should know.

Know your skin

The first step in having a good skincare routine is to know your skin. Is it oily, dry, normal or combination? Oily skin is greasy and shiny. Many of us had our own share of oily skin in our teenage years. Dry skin is dull and flaky with rough patches, especially across the cheeks. Combination skin is a perfectly even toned skin, with maybe an oily T-zone. Knowing your skin type will help care for your skin properly, and with the right skincare products.

Use gentle skincare products

Once you know your skin type, you need to get the most gentle skincare products for it. Avoid anything too harsh for your skin, Essential oil-based products are generally good. The simpler the product, the better. Don’t experiment to much when shopping for skincare products. Stick to products you have tried and tested and only use new products you have researched properly. Always read the instructions at the back to ensure there are no harsh ingredients.

Don’t pick your face

I know how tempting it is to squeeze spots and blackheads. I also know how horrible it looks when the squeezing goes wrong. Squeezing spreads the bacteria, damages the skin and can scar. My advice is to leave the blackheads and spots alone when they spring up. Alternatively, you can have they removed professionally if they bother you that much. The skincare pros steam the face to loosen the blackheads and extract without any scars or infection. You can also have your acne treated professionally as well.

Cleanse, tone and mositurise

These steps are the holy grail of skincare. You really should not skip any of them. Your skin will thank you for it. Cleansing is the first and most important step. You need to always remove your makeup before going to bed. Toner is the second most important step. It is designed to tighten the skin all up again after cleansing. Moisturising is the third and final step. A light moisturiser is great for nights and a heavier moisturiser for the day. A good night cream can also perform wonders on your skin.

Healthy lifestyle

Having a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and good sleep would do your skin wonders. Drinking the recommended amount of water everyday helps your skin too! So if all else fails, ensure you have a healthy lifestyle to keep your skin glowing.

Do you have any tried and tested skincare product you can swear by? Please share them in the comments section.