Taking care of your outside is just as important as prioritising beauty from within. Having a skincare routine that supports your skin goals is an important step. There’s no such thing as too much when it comes to skincare, you’ll never regret it.
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So, what does a healthy skincare routine look like?
When we have a great skincare routine in place, we can better support our skincare goals and how we feel.
A good base routine consists of:
What should I look for in a cleanser?
A cleanser contains surfactants which contain a water loving and a fat loving part within their structure. Surfactants overcome surface tension and support the removal of oils, makeup, and dirt. Cleansers help the removal of dead layers of skin, helping to keep the skin looking fresh and create a clean complexion for your next steps.
What does a toner do?
Many people ask if they really need a face toner. The answer is always “Yes”.
Depending on the ingredients, a toner can help with your skin type. Want support with oil balance and pore size? Look for ingredients containing astringents like Witch Hazel. Is locking in moisture and supporting a youthful appearance your goal? Look for ingredients like B5 or Gotu Kola. Many toners are mists that can refresh the skin throughout the day. It’s a lovely additional step.
What is a serum and why is it important?
A serum is usually a light lotion or gel that contains effective amounts of ‘actives’. Serums are available for all skin types and can target a multitude of skin issues. Key ingredients to look out for might be a serum with vitamin C for brightening, hyaluronic acid for hydration, B3 for acne prone skin, or caffeine in eye creams for reducing puffiness or the appearance of tired eyes.
Are moisturisers that important?
A moisturiser is usually a heavier cream that goes on as the top layer of skincare products to protect and hydrate. Moisturisers usually have up to 10% oils, which protect the skin from water loss, supporting hydration. Moisturisers can also be made to feel noticeably light for people who have oilier skin.
Which SPF is best for your face?
Sunscreen is your greatest protection against aging skin. UV rays that are present even on a grey overcast day can cause damage and aging effects of pigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles to the skin over a lifetime of exposure. If you don’t like the feel of a moisturiser with SPF, try a BB cream or foundation with SPF coverage as they are often a lighter texture.
What about masks and scrubs?
Masks and scrubs are excellent additions to any skincare routine and are perfect for all those self-care moments. Take time out to do something lovely for yourself by including these in your skincare regime.
Masks offer a variety of functions depending on their ingredients. Clays can draw oil and impurities from the skin, helpful for pimples and oily skin. Lipids like jojoba or rosehip oil, and humectants like hyaluronic acid or glycerine support hydration and prevent water loss from the skin, ideal for dry skin types.
Scrubs support a fresh appearance because the exfoliant ingredients slough off dead skin cells within the very top layer of the epidermis. Scrubs should be gentle and not damage the skin in any way. For acne-prone skin, scrubs can be useful to prevent build-up within the pores.
How to tailor a skincare routine for yourself
Observe the type of skin you have throughout the day – the general categories are oily, balanced, dry, or some combination. Do you struggle to control the shine from oil? Does your skin feel tight and dry? Do you notice blackheads on your nose and chin and experience no issues on other parts of your face? Acne can be present with any skin type, not just with oily skin.
No matter our skin type, we all have different things we are trying to achieve, be it a brighter appearance, clearer skin, plumper or tighter skin, or more hydrated skin. Consider the following additions to your skincare routine.
Brighter Skin
Add an exfoliator after cleansing, or look out for vitamin C in your products
Hydrated Skin
Add hyaluronic acid, moisturiser and lipids, like an oil in the evening
Clear Skin
Add an exfoliator after cleansing, and products with probiotics
B3 Youthful Skin
Add in bakuchiol and vitamin B3 (niacinamide)
Our strict ingredients standards
The desire for safe ingredients matters, and we get it! We believe you have the right to know what’s in your products. That’s why we’re committed to working with brands who are mindful of the ingredients they use.
Our strict ingredient criteria is a guarantee that the products we stock are free from harmful ingredients - ingredients that we consider potentially harmful to human or environmental health, or that don't meet our Clean Beauty ideals. Learn more about our strict criteria.
Our favourite Clean Beauty ingredients
Bakuchiol
Move aside retinol, there’s a natural plant-based retinol in the house. Bakuchiol is made from the plant Psoralea corylifolia and supports the skin similarly to retinol but without the photosensitivity so you don’t have to avoid the sun while you’re wearing it, and it doesn’t tend to be drying or irritating. It’s full of antioxidants to help with aging and also works to soothe skin.
Kakadu Plum
A beautiful plant-based extract from our neighbours in Australia that is a rich source of natural vitamin C, helping to do all the same things that we love vitamin C in our skincare for. What’s more, the Kakadu Plum extract helps to revitalise and regenerate our skin too.
Vitamin C
Free radicals affect our skin and contribute to aging from pollutants in the environment or UV rays from the sun. Vitamin C is a powerful topical antioxidant that can neutralise the free radical damage to the surface of the skin and can stimulate collagen production, helping to visibly reduce the signs of aging.
Gotu Kola
Centella asiatica is a treasured plant in Ayurveda, and it’s making its way to cosmetics near you for the way it soothes the skin and improves hydration. Gotu Kola is a great source of amino acids and constituents that help to replenish our skin.
Niacinamide
Also known as B3, Niacinamide is a well-known vitamin that works to support the body in many ways. When used topically, it offers skin benefits for protecting the skin against the signs of aging – pigmentation, sun damage, and oxidative damage. For acne, it can calm and soothe the appearance of the skin, helping to balance the skin.
Hyaluronic Acid
If smooth, plump, hydrated skin is the goal, look out for hyaluronic acid. This amazing ingredient can absorb 1000x its own weight in water helping to draw moisture down into the top layers of the skin and improve the appearance of dryness, lines, and wrinkles.
Aloe Vera
A superstar for soothing the skin after time in the sun, aloe vera is a wonderful addition for hydration. Aloe vera is a skin conditioning agent and can be useful to reduce the appearance of redness on the skin. It also contains a rich source of antioxidants and vitamins which can help protect your skin.
But just as important as it is to feel amazing on the outside, we must also take care of how we feel on the inside. Learn more about the importance of looking after your skin from the inside.
Ready to receive your complete guide to clean beauty? We share ways to feel great on the inside plus a whole lot more in our latest eBook.
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