Building a skincare routine: How to add to your current routine

Wanting to add new skincare products to your routine, but not sure how to or where to start? Keep reading to find out how you should be doing it

Now that you've got the basic skincare routine down, and you're comfortable with it, you may want to start adding new products and steps to your routine.

Top Tips:

1. Adding multiple new products at once can be overwhelming for, not only you but also, your skin, If you flood your skin with too many new ingredients, you could cause irritation or breakouts, without knowing which products worked for your skin and which were the irritants. This is why introducing one new product at a time can help you figure out what actually works for your skin.

2. To ensure that you are not allergic to any new product, you should patch test it on the inside of your elbow, or behind your ear.

3. Be consistent with using the new product. Use 1-2 times a day for at least one month before reassessing whether it is effective or not. It is recommended to use any new product 2 times a day, as skipping nights, or even weeks, may impact the benefits you can receive.

4. Pay attention to how the product makes your skin feel. If your skin becomes dry, flakey or red, and worsens after 3 weeks, consult a doctor. More subtle changes in how your skin feels, such as roughness, bumps and dullness, can also tell you to stop using a product. If the product is working, your skin should feel moisturised and balanced.

Where to start:

If you're currently using the most basic skincare routine, consisting of cleansing, toning, moisturising and SPF, then the next products/steps you may want to add to your routine are exfoliators, vitamin C serums and eye creams, and double cleansing. You may also wish to start using a night cream instead of the moisturiser you use in the morning.

Exfoliators:

Exfoliants are a good place to start when adding new products into your skincare routine. However, if you use a toner containing exfoliating acids, you should skip adding exfoliants to your routine. You should use an exfoliator 1-2 times a week. There are two different types of exfoliator; chemical and physical. Chemical exfoliants come in the form of AHAs and BHAs, which work in different ways to break down and remove excess build-up from the skin's surface, and can be found in some toners. Physical exfoliants are in face scrubs, and work through you manually rubbing away dead skin cells, excess oil, and build-up. However, physical exfoliants can irritate the skin, be abrasive and can induce broken blood vessels and micro skin tears.

Vitamin C Serums:

Facial serums are high-potency, lightweight topicals, which are filled with concentrated doses of active ingredients, such as vitamin C serums. General antioxidant serums, like vitamin C, in the morning are perfect to help protect your skin from daily aggressors. Vitamin C serums are great for helping to brighten dull skin and decrease dark spots, but only with continued use. A vitamin C serum can be used as part of both your morning and evening skincare routines, however, if you opt to use a retinol serum (which should be used at night), then you should only use the vitamin C serum in the morning, and not as part of your evening routine.

Eye Creams:

The skin around our eyes has less collagen, elastin fibres and sebaceous glands compared to the skin on the rest of our face, meaning it is more prone to losing moisture, becoming dryer, showing wrinkles and losing its plump appearance. Eye creams help to keep this area of skin hydrated. Eye creams which contain certain active ingredients are great for combating specific concerns. Eye creams containing caffeine will help combat puffiness by reducing the build-up of lipids which lead to eye bags. Eye creams containing hyaluronic acid will help to hydrate the eye area, helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and those containing vitamin C will help to brighten the eye area and reduce any signs of fatigue.

Double Cleansing:

Double cleansing is basically washing your face using two different types of cleanser. The first cleanser should be an oil-based cleanser, and the second should be water-based. Oil-based cleansers are designed to remove oil-based impurities such as makeup, sunscreen, sebum and pollution. Using an oil-based cleanser first, allows following up with a water-based cleanser, which removes impurities such as grime and sweat, to be more effective. Many people only double cleanse in the evening, as your skin is more likely to be covered in makeup, sunscreen, pollution and grime, however experts say that double cleansing in the morning is also beneficial. This is because, as you sleep, your skin still produces oil, sweat and sebum. Double cleansing in the morning will help remove these impurities, as well as any remaining product you used the night before.

Night Creams:

Using a different cream/moisturiser at night is not essential, you can use the same one you use in the morning. However, night creams are formulated differently to day creams. Day creams work to 'protect' the skin, while night creams work to repair and regenerate the skin. Night creams are richer, thicker, and contain ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, which help to hydrate the skin over a longer period of time. In other words, night creams are generally thicker and more hydrating than day creams/moisturisers you use in the morning.

Additional extras:

Some other popular, but not essential, skincare products that many people add to their routines are masks, oils, and hyaluronic acid serums, and the use of facial tools.

Face Masks:

Some experts recommend that if you add face masks into your routine, only to do so once or twice a week. They should be applied onto clean, dry skin, after you have cleansed (and exfoliated). A top tip is to look for a face mask which targets the specific skin concern you have that day, if you have one, such as hydrating, clarifying, calming and brightening masks. Hydrating masks are great to use overnight while you sleep, as they penetrate and hydrate the skin over a longer period of time, much like night creams do. You can multimask, by using different masks on different areas of the skin at one time, such as using a clarifying mask on your oily zones, while using a hydrating mask on your dry areas.

Oils:

Facial oils are formulated to work alongside your natural oils, helping to keep the skin balanced and adding another layer of protection, all while keeping sebum at bay. They also seal in moisture and add extra nourishment, promote a healthy glow, help foundation apply more smoothly, and help evening products more effective. Additionally, facial oils don't clog pores. Contrary to popular belief, facial oils can be used by any skin type, even those with oily skin, as it works with your naturally produced oils, however, those with oily skin should look for lighter oils which absorb quickly, and may want to use it once a day.

Hyaluronic Acid Serums:

Hyaluronic acid is the key molecule involved in skin moisture, as it has the capacity to bind with and retain water molecules. The version of hyaluronic acid found in serums is a synthetic version, but adding this into your skincare routine helps boost the skin's moisture content, soothe and plump the skin, restore hydration and prevent moisture loss. A hyaluronic acid serum acts like a sponge by attracting moisture from the air to boost hydration at the surface of the skin.

Lip products:

You may wish to add a lip scrub and mask to your routine. Experts recommend using a lip scrub 1-3 times a week. It is better to exfoliate your lips at night, and then use a lip mask or lip balm, ensuring you wake up with smooth lips. Using a lip scrub can help soften dry and chapped lips, enabling your lips to absorb moisture more easily. This means lip masks/balms will be more effective, as the hydration and moisture they provide can penetrate the skin better. Lip masks and balms help to keep the area hydrated, seal the moisture into the lips, and protect the skin from exposure to the elements, such as wind, dry air and cold temperatures, all of which dry out the skin.

Facial Tools:

Some people add tools to their skincare routine, such as cleansing brushes and facial rollers. Cleansing brushes are a great addition to any skincare routine, as they buff away at/exfoliate your skin, allowing dead skin skills to be removed quicker, whilst also removing any makeup, sunscreen, oil or debris clogging your pores. However, overusing a cleansing brush can be detrimental. It is recommended that you gradually introduce the cleansing brush into your routine, eventually using it once a day, but those with sensitive skin are recommended to use them 1-2 times a week to avoid irritation. Facial rollers have lots of benefits for the skin. They improve blood circulation, decrease puffiness, cool and soothe your skin and distribute skincare products, whilst allowing tons to be flushed out of the body. Using a facial roller alongside an oil, serum or moisturiser enables the product to penetrate deeper into the skin. They should be kept cool to have the maximum impact on tightening pores, increase circulation, and calm inflammation and redness. Even using a roller for 5 minutes morning and night can deliver huge results.

Optional extras:

You may also wish to add a skincare fridge to keep your routine in. It is recommended to keep your skincare products cool, and away from heat and moisture (best kept out of your bathroom), so a mini skincare fridge is perfect for this. Facial rollers are also best kept in a cool environment, and the benefits they provide are enhanced when kept in a fridge. Cooled skincare products can also help to reduce puffiness in the skin and boost blood circulation, as the chill helps to constrict the blood vessels.