#skincare explained

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Every skin is unique and what might work for others, might not work for you. This means that your routine will be unique as well, there is no one-size-fits-all. It should address your specific concerns and maintain the health of your skin.

This is achieved by choosing the right products and staying consistent. Your products need to target your skin concerns and those products need to match your lifestyle choices.

Finding your perfect skincare routine is a journey of experimentation. These experiments should be at least 6 weeks long, because your skin renews every 28 to 45 days. You will only know the true impact of your routine after this time period.

This 8-step process will be your guide through this journey. It will take the guesswork out of your routine, so you can focus on what matters most to you. We’ve created a free, easy and fun journal to keep you on track, get instant access down below.  

Step 1. Know your oil production

Skin types are not a standardised classification system, so your oil production rate will be the basis of your skincare routine. You can find this out by washing your face with a mild cleanser. Don’t put any products on your skin and wait 1 hour. After this, examine your skin in the mirror. What do you see and feel? 

Dry Skin: Feels tight and can be sensitive. Your pores will look small, but fine lines and wrinkles can be more visible.

Oily Skin: Feels oily. Your pores will be visible, and you can be prone to breakouts. Your fine lines and wrinkles might not be as visible.

Normal skin: Feels supple. Your skin does not feel tight or oily.

Combination skin: Your skin feels oily on your forehead, nose and chin, but tight on your cheeks.

Write this down in your skincare journal.

 Step 2. Know your skin concerns

If you don’t have any, you’re one of the lucky ones! If you have multiple ones, you can rank them in order. Below you can find some examples of some common skin concerns. You might also find that you have sectional concerns. For example, fine lines around your eyes and dehydration on your cheeks. Write your skin concerns down in your worksheet and use the face map to mark down any sectional concerns you might have. Try to stick with one skin concern per experiment.

 Skin Concerns

Acne / Blemishes Sensitivity / Irritation Eczema / Allergies and Sensitivity Rosacea / Redness and Sensitivity Dehydration / Dull Skin Hyperpigmentation / Uneven Skin Tone Ageing / Fine Lines, Wrinkles and Sagging Skin

 Step 3. Know your lifestyle

Your lifestyle plays a huge role in whether you’ll stay consistent or not with your routine. As we know, consistency is key when it comes to skincare. Here are some questions to consider. If they apply to you in any way, write these down in your skincare journal under my lifestyle.

1.    Are you in a polluted environment, wear makeup or are outdoors a lot Yes? Double cleanse your skin. Double cleansing is a technique where you wash your face two times. This can be with a makeup remover and a foam cleanser or an oil-based cleanser and a water-based cleanser.

2.    Are you vegan? Yes? Stick with vegan products.

3.    Are you Muslim? Yes? Stick with certified halal products.

4.    Do you find cruelty-free brands important? Yes? Stick with brands that don’t physically sell in China.

5.    Do you prefer shopping online or in store? Online? List your favourite retailers and their shipping times. In Store? List your favourite retailers and their usual brands available.

6.    How much time do you have for your skincare routine daily? If you don’t have a lot of time during the week, make a note of it. This way you won’t add too many products into your routine. If you have more time on the weekend, consider using that day for exfoliation or masks.

7.    Do you find “clean” products important? Yes? Determine what “clean” means to you. Clean beauty is unregulated, and the ingredients omitted depend on the brand and retailer.

8.    What is your budget? If you’re on a tight budget, focus on multi-tasking products that will manage both your oil production and skin concern. If you have a higher budget, be wise with it. You don’t need to spend a lot on a cleanser that will stay on your face for a minute. It’s better to splurge on a good serum or moisturiser.

9.    Do you have any allergies? Yes? List them down.

10. Are there any other lifestyle notes you would like to make? Yes? List these down too.

"Your lifestyle plays a huge role in whether you’ll stay consistent or not with your routine. "

Step 4: Pick your primary products 

With this information, you can start building your routine. Every routine has the same foundation: Cleanser, Moisturiser and SPF. These are what we call your primary products. These products are more dependent on your oil production but if you’re on a tight budget or lack time, you can find primary products that target both your oil production and your skin concerns. Write this down in the product section with the relevant information in your skincare journal.

 Step 5: Pick your secondary products

Your secondary products will be more dependent on your skin concerns. These can include toners, serums and masks. These products are not essential for your skin’s health but are beneficial to combat your concerns. In most cases, the type of product matters less than the ingredients in them. Below we have listed some ingredients to look for in your secondary products based on your skin concerns. Write this down in the product section with the relevant information in your skincare journal.

Step 6: Build your routine. 

Now that you have selected your products, you can start building your routine. Write the products down in the routine section of your skincare journal. The products should be listed in order to make it easier for yourself. You can write notes as you go along your journey.

Before you start your routine, take a well-lit picture of yourself with no makeup. Ideally this should be done in broad day light. Start with your primary products for at least 1 to 2 weeks before you incorporate your secondary products. Your skin can worsen if you add a lot of different products in a short amount of time. This way you’ll also know what products did and didn’t do wonders for your skin. There are certain products, like masks and exfoliators that should only be used on a weekly or biweekly basis.

"Your skin can worsen if you add a lot of different products in a short amount of time."

 If you’re using a new product, especially those with fragrances and essential oils, patch test the product first on your arm or neck and wait 24 to 48 hours to see if any irritation occurs. It’s best to try out new products in the evening, because your skin repairs itself over night.

 Step 7: Stay Consistent

Just like diet and exercising, results will only be seen with consistency. Use the habit tracker in your skincare journal to keep you going. Your only mission once you start your routine is not to break the chain.

 Step 8: Measure results

After 6 weeks of your routine, take another picture of yourself in broad day light with no makeup. Now you have a visible comparison. You can also add a quick note to your skin journal to see how effective this routine was.

 If your routine worked, you’ll notice an improvement, even if it’s only a slight one. If it didn’t , you can try to switch one of your secondary products. Do note that some products and ingredients take longer to work than 6 weeks. So, if you don’t have a specific issue with your routine, try to stick with it for at least 3 months.

That’s it! These were 8 easy steps you can follow to get to your perfect skin. It’s all about the journey and finding what works.

Don’t forget to download your skincare journal to keep you on track!

New to skincare?

Have you ever wondered what all those types of symbols on products actually mean? Well, they’re not just there by design. They’re there to communicate information, whether that’s a certification or something practical. In this post, we’ll uncover all the commonly used symbols on cosmetic packaging.  

  Period after opening

The time frame you can use a product without harm to you. Also known as the expiration date of your cosmetic product after you’ve opened it. This symbol was created by the European Council as a compulsory symbol on all cosmetic products that have a shelf life of 30 months or more.

For products with a shelf life of fewer than 30 months, a best before date is required (see Date of Minimum Durability). The letters and numbers refer to a time period. For example, 6M refers to 6 months, 12M refers to 12 months etc. Why this matters? Be mindful of when you open your skincare products as the formula can oxidise when it’s exposed to air.

Date of Minimum Durability

The expiration date of your skincare product, regardless of when you’ve opened it. This is typically 2 or 3 years after the product was manufactured but can be significantly less if it’s a natural or organic product. Expired products can be less effective and do more damage to your skin, so we suggest tossing them out immediately.

E-mark

An estimate sign referring to the average volume you’ll receive inside the packaging. This symbol was designed by the European Union for prepacked goods. Since then, many other countries have adopted it.  What does this mean for you? You’re getting what you paid for (on average).

CE Marking

This label is not directly found on skincare products but can be found on skincare devices. It’s a certification symbol to indicate that the device is manufactured in such a way that it meets the EU safety, health and environmental protection requirements.

Flammable

This product is highly flammable so do not expose it to any open flame or high heat. 

Refer to Insert

There is more to this product than described on the packaging. This symbol simply means that a leaflet is included inside with all the information you might need.

Broken Glass

The skincare packaging is made from glass. Be mindful not to break it.

Tidyman

This “do not litter” sign created by Keep Britain Tidy reminds us to dispose of the product in an appropriate way, i.e. throw it in the trashbin.

The Green Dot

A European trademark that shows consumers the company made financial contributions to a qualified national packaging recovery organisation. This does not mean that the packaging is recyclable or is made from recyclable material.

Mobius loop

This packaging can be recycled. If there is a percentage in the middle, it refers to how much of the packaging is made from recycled material. If there is a number between 1 to 7 in the middle, it refers to the type of resin used. This is useful for recycling companies in particular.

Not Tested on Animals

This is an Australian-based cruelty free certification by Choose Cruelty Free. This certification includes a strict policy on animal derived ingredients. You can find more regarding their accreditation standards here.

Peta’s Cruelty Free Bunny

A cruelty free certification from PETA. While this is one of the weakest certifications out there, it assures consumers that there was no animal testing done during the ingredient sourcing, formulation and final product. You can find more information on the PETA standard here.

Leaping Bunny

A cruelty free certification pledging that no animals were hurt during all product development stages. This logo is accredited by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics. You can find more about their standards here.

Halal Certified

This product is developed and formulated with ingredients permissible under the Islamic law. This includes no ingredients derived from animals that are forbidden to consume or slaughter, no alcohol from alcoholic drinks and strict manufacturing policies. More information on these Halal requirements can be found here.

Certified Vegan

This product is cruelty free and contains no animal derived ingredients in the formula. It’s a certification from the Vegan organisation and also includes strict manufacturing practices. More information on the certification process can be found here.

UK Vegan Certification

Another vegan certification, this one from the UK based Vegan Society. This refers to no animal testing, no animal product, by-product or derivative in the ingredients. More information on this certification process can be found here.

Eco Cert COSMOS

The company is organically certified by Eco Cert. This means that the production and manufacturing of the product is environmentally friendly and consists of recyclable material. The COSMOS Organic certification applies to products that contain 95% minimum organic plants and at least 20% organic ingredients in the total formulation (10% for rinse off products).

COSMOS is its own independent body with four types of standards: Organic, natural, cosmos certified, and cosmos approved. This certification refers not only to the ingredients but also the farming and manufacturing practices. More information on this certification process can be found here.

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