3 Step Skincare Regime

Visiting the beauty counter can be a daunting experience especially with so many lotions and potions to tempt you. Knowing exactly what is and what isn't needed is no easy task. However, for a basic skincare regime most beauty advisers would recommend a three step process to be done twice a day, morning and evening.

STEP 1 - CLEANSE
Gone are the days when soap (which can strip natural oils and dehydrate skin) is the only option for women. A good quality cleanser can make all the difference to your skin. Used daily (often twice) you need your cleanser to be refreshing and conditioning, remove makeup and meet Other needs depending on your skin type. Find out your skin type.

CREAM CLEANSER
Cream cleansers do not require water to remove them and instead are tissued off. Cream cleansers are usually best for dry skins because they provide a comforting cleanse without water. They are also ideal for sensitive skins as they are made with comforting ingredients such as camomile.

MOUSSE CLEANSER
Mousse cleansers can be for normal or combination skin types and foam up when wet. They refresh and rebalance the skin.

GEL CLEANSER
Gel cleansers purify the skin and are ideal for oily skins providing a deep clean. They are often made with ingredients particularly refreshing for oily skins such as citrus fruit extracts.

STEP 2 - TONE
Toner's complete the cleansing process and make the perfect base for your moisturiser and makeup. They also remove excess oil, dirt and makeup. Toners work differently to your cleanser by doing something extra. This will depend on which type you use:

HYDRATING TONER
Hydrating toners work to soften and hydrate the skin. They are best for dry or dehydrated skins. They leave skin feeling comforted and soft.

BALANCING TONER
Skin balancing toners are designed for normal and combination skins. The revitalise, rebalance and condition the skin.

MATIFYING TONER
Toners which work to matify the skin often have oil- absorbing particles in them to help control sebum production which leads to shine. Matifying toners are best for oily skins which have over-active sebum glands.

STEP 3 - MOISTURISE
We could go on all day about the benefits of moisturising but, above all, a moisturiser will maintain the hydration levels of your skin preventing patchy and flaky dehydrated areas, protect it from premature ageing caused by the environment (99% of premature ageing is caused by the environment) as well as help to firm existing sagging skin. If you are still questioning the necessity of moisturising remember one statement – prevention is better than cure. Yes ageing is irreversible but, although you cannot stop the ageing process, you can certainly slow it down.
Moisturisers are also the ideal base for your makeup – your foundation will glide on, look more radiant and have greater staying power when applied to conditioned skin. Overall, by moisturising daily you are giving your skin the best chance to maintain a healthy hydration level and it
will look more radiant. Some people choose to use a different moisturiser in the morning than in the evening. It is also advised to use a separate moisturiser for your eye area where the skin is more delicate and may have different requirements. To find out which type of
moisturiser is right for you, read our article . Want to know what step 4 is? If so, find out about repair products.