The perfect skin care routine is one that you can follow day after day without losing interest or confusing the order of your products. I can tell you from personal experience finding the right skin care routine can be like finding a needle in a hay stack. My advice is keep it simple. And I’m going tell you how in today’s blog.
At Skin Bar NYC, we start all our members with a simple at home skin care routine that’s easy to follow. We have learned compliance and consistency are the two requirements for an effective skin care routine. These tips have been drawn from over eight years of testing, failing and retesting. As they say practice makes perfect.
I have found at my spa that the ideal number of products in any regimen is three. Three products offer the broad spectrum of cleansing, moisturizing and nutrients your skin needs every day and compliance is highest in a three product regimen. Add a fourth product into the regimen and compliance drops by 50%. There is no benefit to a routine that you can’t follow.
If you are someone who washes your face with soap and water and calls it day you’re gonna love this easy and effective skin care routine. More important you’re going to see the quality of your skin really improve. As you put your routine together keep these facts in mind.
- Results don’t happen overnight, so be patient. You will see results, I promise. But visible results can take up to 3 months to see.
- If you’re not used to spending money on skin care products you might get sticker shock when you see a $30 price tag for a cleanser. Bite the bullet. Spend the money and use your products sparingly. A cleanser can last for me as long as four months. And it can last you four months too, if you just use 3 or 4 drops every time you cleanse your face. That might seem like a small amount, but that’s the same amount your skin care professional uses in every facial.
- Seek the advice of a skin care professional. Many spas offer a complimentary skin evaluation. Skin Bar NYC offers a Complimentary Fit-skin-photo-session to every new client. A 30 minute consult can save you lots of time and money when you start your routine with the right products, instead of using the trial and error method.
- Use your products in the order prescribed below. Cleanser, add-on and sunblock/moisturizer. Be sure to wait a minute before applying the next product. This will ensure complete absorption.
Choose Your Cleanser.
Picking the right cleanser is important. Using body wash on your face in the shower is not gonna get it done. Body wash is actually formulated to be a bit more acidic because the skin on our body is thicker and more resilient than the skin on our face. Choosing a professional cleanser will ensure that the pH level is appropriate for your skin.
Depending on whether your skin condition and age you can choose either a creamy cleanser or gel cleanser. Speak to a skin care professional to determine which is best for you.
Product treatments are a great way to ensure that your skin gets all the nutrients and extra boost it needs to glow. Product treatments consist of serums, retinol’s and masques among other things. I typically suggest a seasonal add-on. As we approach the spring and summer months I suggest antioxidant rich products. Serums with Vitamin C are a great place to start. In the fall and winter, I suggest more hydrating products. Products with hyaluronic acid do a great job of retaining moisture.
Choose Your Sun Block.
Sunblock is the single most important product you put on your skin. Most sun blocks already have a light moisturizer infused with sun protection, giving you dual benefits in one product. I have found that this approach is sufficient for normal to oily skin types. Be sure your sun block has an SPF of 30+.
If you have dry skin you might want to consider adding a separate moisturizer to your sun block. If so, be sure to apply the moisturizer first and then add your sun block last.
See it’s simple as 1-2-3. Easy-Peasy. If your not sure what 3 products are right for your skin, feel free to schedule a complimentary Fit-Skin-Photo-Session at Skin Bar NYC.
