By Alejandra Hernandez

Have you ever walked through the skin care aisle and start thinking: Where do I begin?! With brands all over the place, sprays, oils… Sometimes walking through it feels like we’re on a library full of never ending books and information. Lets be honest, great skin is not simply a matter of DNA. What you actually do on a daily basis is key for achieving long-term results. If you want to start caring for your skin and find a routine that suits you, here’s a mini guide to let you know what to keep in mind in order for it to be perfect. (And product recommendations too!)

1. A must!

A step towards amazing skin will always be sunscreen. Up to 80 percent of the sun’s rays pass through clouds, that’s why we should never assume it’s OK to forget it if it’s cloudy. Sunscreen is amazing for plenty of reasons, like lowering skin cancer risks, preventing premature ageing of the skin and helping maintain an even skin tone. Experts recommend choosing one with at least SPF 30.

2. Beware of forgetting to cleanse!

Cleansing twice a day is essential to any skincare routine. It’s beneficial in the morning due to the natural exfoliating process that occurs whilst your sleep. Another cleanse is great before going to bed to wash away make up and dirt you’ve been collecting throughout the day. Here are two important tips: 1. The type of cleanser you use matters more than you think it does. 2. Sometimes we take cleansing so serious that we actually cleanse too much or too harsh. (Twice a day is perfect).

3. But really, why do we need to buy toners?

Did you know that after we clean our skin, we can strip it of its natural moisturizers and cause our pH balance to be thrown out of whack?! A great way to avoid it is using a toner. If you have dry or sensitive skin opt for a hydrating one to soothe. Acne-prone skin types should look for toners with salicylic acid.

4. How important is it to add serums with Vitamin C?

Never forget that choosing a good serum is a must. Everyone should use vitamin C, no matter what your age is. It helps preventing damage from the sun and pollution. A tip: look for serums that contain a stable form of vitamin C so that it penetrates your skin perfectly!

5. Find the right moisturizer!

Yes, the skin retains some amount of moisture on its own. And it’s fantastic. But we can’t leave it all the work. We need to use additional products in order to be properly hydrated. Remember, it’s not exactly the thickness of the product itself that determines how effective it will be for you.

6. Do we need to add face and eye oils too?

It’s been proven that a great way to lock in moisture while you sleep is using face oils. They also help softening the skin. Looking for products with retinol and alpha hydroxy acids are a great way to enhance moisture in the face. The skin around your eyes is different from the rest of your face, its thinner, drier and more sensitive. That is basically why this area needs extra care.

Want to find more products to add to your skin care routine? Watch our video: Top 5 SKINCARE products for 2021 on YouTube (And don’t forget to subscribe!):

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Image by Zoë Ghertner courtesy of Zara Beauty