My Simple Skincare Routine & How To Develop Your Own

     I've been thinking so much about skincare lately. It really is one of the most important parts of beauty. There's something inherently beautiful about healthy skin, no matter what the rest of your features may be. If your skin glows, you glow. Of course, healthy skin mostly comes from inside, but this is the routine I follow to enhance my skin's appearance externally. Here is the simple skincare routine I follow for clear, glowing skin. Read on to find out how to develop your own.

My skincare routine

I have sensitive skin, so I consciously keep a very simple routine, morning and night. In the mornings, I immediately wash my face with a gentle foaming cleanser. I've been using Biotherm Purefect Skin Cleansing Gel for years; it's gentle, but prevents shine and keeps blackheads away. It also leaves my skin feeling so clean.
Next I apply a bit of moisturiser. This is a new step; until last week I did not moisturise at all and my face would get very dry, making my makeup appear patchy. I bought Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion, and I like it so far. It absorbs well and doesn't feel heavy.
On days I expect to be outside, I use Clinique Pep-Start Daily UV Protector. It's slightly tinted, which adds a tiny bit of coverage if I don't want to wear makeup, and is SPF 50. I really should use this every day, and am making an effort to work it into my routine more.
Then I apply my makeup as usual, starting with my primer, which I like to imagine serves as a barrier between my skin and the rest of my makeup.

Once per week, I exfoliate just by steaming my face and gently rubbing my skin with a warm fuzzy washcloth. I haven't used an exfoliator since St. Ives Apricot scrub in middle school, and let's just say I don't recommend it! If you know any great exfoliators, let me know below. I'd love to hear about them.

I like to apply face masks afterwards. My favourite is the Spotlight Brightening Mask by Saturday Skin, which I wrote about here.

I am thinking of adding a toner to my routine. I'm unsure; do you think I should?

Some questions to ask when building your routine:

Skin type: This is the most important question of all. Whether you're looking for a sunscreen or a foundation, you're most likely going to be asked what your skin type is. In general, there are five main skin types: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive/acne prone. Normal is generally what everyone aims for, but you will most likely have a combination of skin types on different areas of your face. For example, your forehead or T-zone (the area including your forehead, nose, and chin) may be oily while the rest of your face is dry. Or perhaps you have normal skin, but suffer from an acne prone jawline. Your skin type will be based on a few factors, including health, diet, and genetics, and will be unique to you.

To determine your skin type, it's a great idea to visit a dermatologist. If that's not an option, you can probably figure it out by asking yourself a few questions. Do you remember using any products that made you break out? What was in it? You may have acne prone or sensitive skin. Does your skin feel sore and flaky in the winter? Could be dry skin. Do you find it difficult to make your foundation last all day and control shine? Your skin might be oily.

For more help. TEEN VOGUE has a quiz here.

Allergies: You definitely will want to check the ingredients of any new products you try if you have allergies or sensitivities. With so many "natural" products on the market, anything from exotic fruits to nuts may be inside. Tip: If you're unsure, test the product on a small patch of your arm for 24 hours before applying to your face.

Time: The last thing to consider is how much time you actually want to invest in your skincare routine. If you are very busy and usually are in a rush in the morning and tired at night, you probably don't want to invest in a Korean glass skin routine, for example.

(I personally love glass skin, so I will slip in a video here of what it looks like, performed by Wishtrend TV, one of my favourite YouTube channels.)

Shop my skincare favourites:

Have you developed a skincare routine that works for you? Let me know your favorite products below!