Skincare Guide 101: The Ultimate Handbook for Beginners

Like learning anything new, starting skincare can be a lot. You understand the importance of skin care and are eager to start. However, the more articles you read, the more overwhelmed you feel—endless product recommendations, complicated routines, and conflicting advice make it hard to know where to start or what truly matters in a basic routine. 

If this is you, we’ve got you covered. Lets cut through the noise and start with the basics.

Skin Care is a lifestyle
A skincare routine is not only about cleansing your face, it’s about it’s about protecting your skin, preventing issues, and addressing concerns as they arise. Along with a good skincare routine, achieving healthy skin requires staying hydrated, maintaining a balanced diet, and using skin-friendly products.

Types of Skincare Routines
Before diving into the order of applying skincare products, you first need to know the main skincare routines: morning and night-time. 
While morning skincare routine is important for preparing your skin for the day and removing excess oils and dirt accumulated during sleep, night-time skincare is important to treat any dirt left from the day and restore skin cells while you are resting. 

MORNING SKINCARE ROUTINE

1. Cleansers: Cleansers are products used to remove impurities from the skin like, oil, dirt, make up, and so on. They are generally cream or lotion based. 
   They are different from face wash as face wash is a water-based/gel-based product with foam, used with water to clear up impurities. Although you can go for both, it is generally recommended to take up face wash for your morning cleanse, if you have oily or acne prone skin. Cleansers are great for sensitive or dry skin or for skins that have make up on them regularly.
   2. Toner: Toners are products that remove the leftover dirt and maintain the pH level of your skin. It benefits the oily and acne-prone skin type more as it focuses on unclogging pores and tightening them. 
   People with dry/sensitive skin types can choose specific toners which are milder and hydrating, but this is optional.
   
   
   3. Serums: Serums are oil or water-based skincare products with active ingredients formulated to treat specific skin issues like acne, dullness, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles etc. different types of serums with different ingredients addresses a different issue. 
   Vitamin C serums brighten the skin and reduce hyperpigmentation. Serums with Retinol supports skin’s natural cell turnover, reduces enlarged pores and fine lines. 
   Hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E in serums work to retain moisture in the skin. 
   Using these for dry skin also facilitates the lightening of wrinkles and fine lines. Niacinamide helps in acne breakouts and shrinking pores. Keep in mind that mixing serums make them less effective.
   4. Moisturizer: As the name suggests, moisturizers enable to retain and lock moisture in your skin, keeping it hydrated and protected all day.
   This is considered an important step, even for people with oily skin types, as it repairs the skin barrier. 
   While dry skin types can go for rich moisturizers with ceramides, shea butter, glycerin etc, oily skin types can choose a lightweight/oil-free ones for better results. 
   5. Sunscreen: Sunscreen should always be the last and mandatory step of your morning skincare routine, it not only protects you from sun-burn, UV rays but also reduces risks of skin-cancer, wrinkles, sunspots etc. always wear SPF 30 or higher and apply and reapply generously.
   
   
   NIGHT-TIME SKINCARE ROUTINE
   
   1. Cleanser: Use water based cleanser to wash out make up and other impurities collected during the day. Use a gentle cleanser with neutral pH to maintain your skin barrier. 
   If you apply make up, it is recommended to use a oil-based make up remover before cleansing.
   2. Toners/hydrating mists: Hydrating mists or toners are the last step of your night time cleansing routine. It helps remove the residues left from previous steps and maintains your pH balance. This is optional.
   3. Acid treatment: Facial acid treatments work with cell turnovers. Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid etc are some options out of which glycolic acid is suggested for beginners. 
   Salicylic acid with acne and hyaluronic acid assists with moisturizing your skin.  These products bring a radiant glow and brightness in a skin. 
   This step is optional but if you choose to do this, choosing an acid that suits your skin type is essential.
   4. Serums: Serums are also highly beneficial products for specific skin issues as we discussed before. They penetrate into the skin’s top layer more easily and hence deliver effective results. You can use serums for problems like acne, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation etc. 
   
   
   
   
   5. Face oil: A face oil works best for dry and flaky skin. As it’s heavy, it’s best suited for a night time skincare routine. For the same reason, it might not be the best product for oily and acne-prone skin types. 
   6. Night cream: Night creams are optional but they work out great at protecting and locking in moisture in your skin, as well as the process of skin repair. 
   In addition to these steps, there are many products like masks, eye cream etc that add to your skin’s health when used right.
   
   One thing to always keep in mind is the order in which you use the products. It plays a very important role and determines the effectiveness of the products and your skincare routine as a whole. With the right products and order, you will start seeing results in less than a month as it ensures healthy, glowing skin for you. 
   
   
   Ready to build your perfect skincare routine? Aalphul offers hand-picked essentials designed to fit seamlessly into your regimen. Let’s get started!