When people find out I’m an occasional beauty blogger, they always have questions. The main question they ask is usually”What product should I use for xyz?” and I usually have an answer. However, the one question that I’ve been getting recently is what are the main skincare products you need. So, let’s have a quick chat about the basic skincare products you need.
This post is for the beginners out there who want to build a staple skincare regimen, but don’t where to start. If that’s you or someone you know, then keep reading.
Many years ago, when I visited my first dermatologist, she said that your age and skin determines what you need. At the time, I was in my mid 20s and the only skin issues I had was acne and enlarged pores. Update! My acne issues are rare, but still happen. It’s life. Speaking of life, I will have my enlarged pores for the duration of my life. After trying many products that claimed to “erase pores”, but didn’t and some sad wine infused crying fits about said products, I’ve come to terms with that.
The beginning of all basic skincare regimens begins with a good cleanser. Although there are an infinite amount of facial cleansers for every skin type and issue, the one cleanser that works on most is Cetaphil. Cetaphil is the cleanser that I recommend to everyone when they are having skin issues or are skincare newbies. I always recommend this cleanser, because 1) every dermatologist I’ve ever seen recommends it 2) It’s gentle enough for most skin types and 3) it’s super affordable and accessible. What else could you want?
The next basic skincare product every one needs is an exfoliate. Depending on your skin type, you probably can get away with exfoliating once a week. The St. Ives Apricot scrub is iconic and probably most people’s first exfoliate, because it’s cheap and makes your skin smooth and glowy. Truthfully, it’s still my go-to exfoliator. However, if you have sensitive skin or need something less abrasive, use a wet washcloth to rub a teaspoon of baking soda on your face. Using baking soda to exfoliate your face is gentle enough to do every day, if possible.
Yes, we’ve arrived at the “serum section” of this post. I’m obsessed with serums. Anytime I get to use a serum, I’m all in. If you want to try a serum that’s great for all skin types, I have to recommend The Ordinary’s “The Buffet”. This serum is packed with plenty of anti-aging ingredients and leaves skin bright, tight, and smooth. If you want something formulated for oily skin and acne-prone skin, try their Niacinamide formula, which is what I mostly use.
Moisturizers; the one product I didn’t think I needed in my teens and early 20s, because I already had oily skin. I know that most people with oily skin had that problem and people with dry skin didn’t use the right moisturizer. Recommending a “safe” moisturizer for “all” is a little hard to do, because of all the different skin types. However, if you bend my arm, I would have to say Clinique’s Dramatically Different moisturizer. The reason I recommend this moisturizer is because Clinique offers this same moisturizer in three different formulas. The Dramatically Different moisturizer comes in a cream for dry skin, a lotion for dry/normal skin, and gel formula for oily skin. This moisturizer is hydrating and your skin soaks it up.
You need SPF! SPF is your BFF, because you need it on sunny, rainy, and cloudy days. Just because clouds are blocking the sun, those UVB rays are still coming through. So, use SPF everyday that’s at least SPF 30. The higher the SPF, the more UVB rays it blocks, but there are no sunscreens that block 100% UVB rays. For example, SPF 100 is the highest SPF you can buy, but that can only 99%. If you want to find out more about SPF, I suggest you read more about it on Web MD.
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