Skincare can seem overwhelming, and trying to choose the right product can seem like a space shuttle mission because of the number of options. This leads to one of the most frequent questions I am asked, ‘’what product do you recommend?’’ While I understand the reason for this question, the thought process behind it is inherently flawed.
Now I am going to simplify the process of building a skincare routine, aka “what products you recommend?”, primarily because every product will not work on every skin type.
FACTORS YOU NEED TO CONSIDER
Building a skincare routine has 3 main factors you need to take into consideration:
- Your skin type
- Your skincare goal
- Your budget
1. WHAT IS YOUR SKIN TYPE?
To get to where you are going, you need to know where you are or what you are working with. Attempting to build a skincare routine without identifying your skin type is like driving without directions; so before you do anything else, identify your skin type. Is your skin oily, dry, sensitive, combination or acne prone? Doing this helps eliminate certain products or ingredients from your routine that could either aggravate your skin or cause breakouts.
To find out your skin type you can take this QUIZ or download this FREE GUIDE.
2. WHAT IS YOUR SKINCARE GOAL?
We all have specific challenges with our skin which we are looking to improve. Two people with the same skin type can have vastly different skin care goals depending on where they are in their journey? What is yours? Is it acne, hyper-pigmentation, dryness or general skin improvement?
Pick a maximum of 3 goals, and choose products that work on improving them. Remember the first principle, which is dealing with the root cause. For example, focusing on hyperpigmentation is pretty pointless if you do not deal with the cause of the hyperpigmentation, acne.
3. WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?
This is a ‘biggy’ for most people because skincare can be expensive. However don’t be fooled into thinking that expensive always means better; believe me I have used some pretty ‘’useless‘’ but very expensive products, so choose carefully.
If cost is an issue, focus on spending the most money on the ‘treatment or serum step’ of your routine because they are the most concentrated and remain on your skin. You can afford to go cheaper with your cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen because there are loads of inexpensive options for you to work with. If you would like to find some affordable but effective brands, check out this post.
THE ROUTINE
Now that you have identified your skin type, your skincare goals and your budget, it should be easier to find products beneficial to you. It is important to do so for the different steps in your routine and if you are unsure of what steps you need, here is a handy guide.
Do you have any other challenges when it comes to building a skincare routine? Let me know and tell me your skin type.
Ps: If you are wondering where to get quality Skincare Products in Nigeria, check out our beauty directory where we have 20+ different Nigerian skincare retailers listed: BEAUTYDIRECTORYNG
