It might just be that by now you have a rich Collection of high-quality skincare products 'on the shelf'. Attracted by the positive effects that the various ingredients bring, you think you are keeping your facial skin in optimal condition with them. But: are you taking the correct order into account? Timing is everything. But also knowing what you are applying. Are you not using too many products (at the same time) and aren't they working against each other?
That's why we have devised a basic and an advanced routine for you. So that you know exactly how to best take care of your facial skin and make it sparkle. If you are already a pro and have been using the basic Skincare routine below for a while, you can skip straight to the Advanced Skin Routine, Easy does it!
Exactly the right steps and with which products you achieve the best results.
BASIC Skincare ROUTINE (With Grown Alchemist!)
Step 1: Facial Cleanser
The first step you take in the morning is to cleanse your Face. That's an essential part of your Skincare regime. With a good Cleanser, you remove all sebum, dead skin cells, and dirt from your Face. In the evening before you go to bed, you obviously do that too. Washing your Face with just water is not enough. Water does not dissolve fat particles, resulting in clogged sebaceous glands. Additionally, the active ingredients in a Toner or Moisturizer can also penetrate better into a cleansed skin.
We therefore recommend investing in a good Cleanser. One that perfectly suits your skin. It should at least be a mild Cleanser that ensures the skin does not dry out or get irritated. With an excellent facial cleanser, you prevent clogged pores, a dull pale skin, and pimples.
Step 2: Toner
The second step to a healthy skin is a good Toner. A good mild hydrating Toner helps calm and protect irritated skin. Using a Toner also strengthens the skin barrier and ensures a healthy moisture balance in your skin. Additionally, it also enhances the active ingredients of other skincare products, think of it as a liquid primer that prepares your skin for the rest of your Skincare regime.
Step 3: Face Cream
The final step in a basic Skincare routine is applying a Face Cream and/or Face Balm. Always apply a moisturizer (Moisturizer) as soon as possible after using a Toner. Many active ingredients in a cream penetrate more easily into a damp skin. By applying your Face Cream immediately after using a Toner, you ensure that both moisture and the active ingredients of the Toner are essentially locked into the skin.
In your Skincare routine, always use a hydrating product first (in this case a Toner) and then a moisturizer. Hydration provides moisture to your skin, and moisturizers lock it in.
Our advice is to choose a Face Cream with SPF, so you are protected against skin damage from the sun (the biggest cause of skin aging). Or even better, use a Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher after your cream. Not only in the summer, but there is also enough UV radiation present in the winter.
Tip: If you have very oily skin, a Day Cream may be unnecessary. In that case, a Toner is a good alternative to a cream. Be careful not to let your skin dry out, as oily skin tends to crack.
ADVANCED Skincare ROUTINE (With Medik8!)
Above, we have outlined the basic steps on how to get and keep your facial skin in excellent condition in a relatively quick manner. Of course, you can go a few steps further in this. It can always go to the next level. If you're ready for that, we now give you 7 steps to get and keep the skin in excellent condition.
Step 1: Facial Cleanser
The first step you take in the morning is cleansing your Face. That is an essential part of your Skincare routine. With a good Cleanser, you remove all sebum, dead skin cells, and schmutz from your Face. Of course, you do this in the evening before you go to bed as well. Washing your Face with only water is not enough. Washing the Face with water and soap, by the way, causes your skin to dry out. Water also does not dissolve fat particles, resulting in clogged sebaceous glands. Moreover, the active ingredients of the other products in your Skincare routine can penetrate better into a cleansed skin.
We therefore recommend investing in a good Cleanser. One that perfectly matches your skin. It should at least be a mild Cleanser that ensures the skin does not dry out or become irritated. With an excellent facial cleanser, you prevent clogged pores, a pale dull skin, and pimples.
Step 2: Scrub Exfoliator
A step further in cleaning your Face is exfoliating or scrubbing the skin. After a Cleanser has removed dirt from your skin, you can use an exfoliant to remove the top layer of your dead skin cells. This stimulates the skin cells to renew more quickly, making your skin more even, softer, and more radiant. Scars and blemishes will also fade faster as a result. Do this no more than 1 to 2 times a week, unless the packaging indicates that it is so mild that it is suitable for daily use. Of course, you want to prevent your skin from getting damaged.
What is the difference between scrubbing and exfoliating?
- Scrubbing is physical. With tangible granules, you rub away the dead skin cells in a fairly robust manner.
- Exfoliating is chemical. Instead of literally scrubbing off dead skin cells, you loosen the dead skin cells with ingredients such as fruit acids, glycolic acid, or salicylic acid.
The result is the same, only the method differs. It depends on your preference and what works best for your skin. Be careful when scrubbing, as scrubbing too roughly can damage the skin barrier.
Note: If you have used an exfoliator, it is not advisable to use a Serum containing glycolic acid or salicylic acid afterward. These acids are already in the chemical peel, causing the skin to undergo the same treatment twice in a row. This increases the risk of damaging your skin. Our advice is: “Work smarter, not harder.”
Step 3: Toner
After removing the dead skin cells from your skin, a Toner is the next step to healthy skin. A good mild hydrating Toner helps to calm and protect irritated skin. The use of a Toner also strengthens the skin barrier and ensures a healthy moisture balance in the skin. Additionally, it enhances the active ingredients of other skincare products, acting as a liquid primer that prepares your skin for the rest of your Skincare regime.
Step 4: Serum
Consider applying a Face Serum as an extra tool you can use to address a specific Skin Concern. This can include combating skin aging, pigmentation spots, hydrating a dry skin, or treating blemishes. It is important to choose a Serum that suits your specific Skin Concern.
- Skin aging, wrinkles, and fine lines: Vitamin A (retinol), vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, peptides
-
Hyperpigmentation: Thiamidol, vitamin C, azelaic acid, vitamin B3 (niacinamide), alpha arbutin
Acne: Salicylic acid (BHA), vitamin B3 (niacinamide), glycolic acid (AHA), azelaic acid, vitamin A (retinol) - Dry skin: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides
- Dull skin: Vitamin C, Vitamin A (retinol), glycolic acid (AHA)
- Sensitive skin: Vitamin B3, C and E, Salicylic acid (BHA), glycolic acid (AHA)
- Oily skin: Vitamin B3 (niacinamide), Vitamin C, licorice root extract (glycyrrhizia glabra), hyaluronic acid
Step 5: Face Cream
A perfect next step after a Serum is applying a high-quality Face Cream. The advantage of a high-quality Face Cream is that it maintains the moisture balance of the skin. It is nourishing and keeps the skin healthy.
Our advice is to choose a Face Cream with SPF, so you are protected against skin damage from the sun (the biggest cause of skin aging). Or even better, use a Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher after your cream. Not only in summer, but there is also enough UV radiation present in winter. Also, consider whether you need an anti-wrinkle cream to reduce wrinkles and lines.
Tip: Especially for dry skin, it is advisable to use a nourishing and moisturizing Night Cream. This cream can then be absorbed all night, providing extra nourishment and hydration to your skin.
Step 6: Eye Cream
It is important not to forget the skin under the Eyes. This fragile area is very sensitive. This is where the signs of skin aging first become noticeable. Therefore, we recommend applying a high-quality cream or Hair Gel here as well.
A good Eye Cream not only nourishes and hydrates, but also improves the elasticity of the skin and combats fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness under the Eyes. The sooner you start caring for the areas around your Eyes, the smaller the chance of dark circles, puffiness, and noticeable lines. For the best result, use a Eye Cream during the day and before you go to sleep.
Note: If you use a special Serum or cream for under the Eyes, make sure you have not first applied a Face Cream to this area. That is redundant and affects the nourishing effect.
Work Smarter. Not Harder
Make sure not to use products with the same ingredients redundantly, as that does not make much sense and can even be harmful to your skin. Always read what ingredients are present in which products. For example, do not use a Serum with acids like glycolic or salicylic if you have just extensively scrubbed your Face with an exfoliator containing the exact same ingredients.
Avoid incorrect combinations as well. Especially with vitamin C, it often goes wrong. Products with Vitamin C should preferably not be combined with vitamin A (retinol) and other acids (hyaluronic acid, on the other hand, is harmless). That is why we also advise using products containing vitamin C in the morning and Skincare products with other active ingredients in the evening before going to bed.
It is generally better to use moisturizing products in the evening because your skin then has the chance to really absorb a Moisturizer properly. Especially men with dry skin would do well to use a good Night Cream.
Do you see water burning when reading some of the difficult terms in this article? Then take a look at our Big Skincare Dictionary. Here we explain all skincare terms (that you as a man should know) extensively for you. Should you still have questions based on this article, we would of course be happy to hear from you! We will gladly help you further with this.
Good luck!
Your friends, The Alpha Men.