How To Build Your Personal Skin Care Routine On a Budget

So you’ve finally decided to begin a proper skincare routine but you’ve got questions like what skincare products are right for your skin, which products to apply first or how often should I have my skincare routine or you don’t have any skincare routine just yet. I got you!

But first, let me make this disclaimer that I’m not in any way giving you professional advice nor am I a dermatologist. I’m going to share my own experience and how I discovered a good skin routine that is effective and budget-friendly.

I used to think skincare was not important, and washing my face and moisturizing it should be just fine for my skin. But my face was never the best for it. I had to deal with a dull face, blocked pores, and blackspots everywhere on my face. I was not happy.  I also had the fear of using just any products to avoid a ‘frying pan to fire situation. I wanted to make my skin look clean and smooth. And even though I tried some recommended products here and there they didn’t give me the results that I wanted.

I later realized that to get the most out of your facial skin you need to follow a routine daily and be consistent with it to get a good result. 

I started by doing some research that helped me discovered a basic solid good skincare routine that has been helping my skin so far. I need to include here that there are affordable products available in the market, you don’t have to break a bank to make your skin glow.  Skincare routine is not only for those who have skin blemishes or a luxury but it is a good investment  for all skin types. To put it simply, the skincare routine is very personal, you need to take time to find out what works for you. 

What Does A Proper Skincare Routine Look Like?

According to professionals whether you have oily skin, dry skin, sensitive or normal skin there are 4 major basic steps to follow

• Cleanse
• Treat
• Moisturize
• Sunscreen

Cleanse

To cleanse your face is to wash your face. Every day your skin comes in contact with environmental pollutants, dirt, oil, and other factors that ordinary water and soap are not enough to take them out, so you need a cleanser. The cleanser is designed to help eliminate slime from your environment that come in contact with your skin or the residue builds up overnight.

There are quite several cleansers on the market and sometimes picking the one that suits your skin can be an uphill task but it is possible. To play it safe look up skincare products that have been in the market for over 5 years or even more with positive reviews from the users which ingredients are mostly nature-based. You might need to do some research which is highly suggested. This way you'll discover which product is suitable for your skin type. Don't leave it entirely in the hands of a shop attendant except for a professional. Take advantage of the information available and know something about your skin type.

The cleanser can be applied morning and night but when I started using it I applied mine every night only just to monitor the effect for some weeks. It turned out good  so I decided to stick with applying my cleanser at night only. Remember to listen to your skin when using these products. If you like the result then go on using it and if not don't wait for a soothsayer before you stop using it. You can start small and adjust according to your skin needs. 

Treat

The next thing to do after cleansing is to treat your skin. This step helps to protect and treat skin abnormalities with concentrated amounts of good ingredients that address skin issues like dark spots, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, skin dullness, and others. And a serum will get the job done. Most professionals have recommended antioxidants serum which is vitamin C. I’m currently using Tree tea oil which has been giving me good results while I save up for Serum because the good ones among them are actually on the high side and I can’t afford any right now. 

If you want to go for a substitute like I did make sure to go for a natural-based oil to be on the safer side. 

Moisturize

The next step is a facial moisturizer, this is to help the skin stay hydrated and soft. Facial moisturizer is highly recommended all year round. Did I mention that I used to think that body moisturizer is equally good for the face: I was terrible at this thing. But thanks to research, I found out I need a different moisturizer designed for the face alone. It will help the skin strengthen its barrier. 

A lighter moisturizer is ideal for oily skin to soak in your skin immediately while thicker formula is suitable for dry skin. Moisturizer locks up the goodness of the serum you applied in the second step and with the dirt out of the way using cleanser you can imagine how happy your skin is going to be.

Sunscreen

This next step will make all your efforts i.e cleansing, treating, and moisturizing yield the expected result. If you don’t use sunscreen especially when you are outdoors you might as well ignore the previous steps. 

The sun which we are all exposed to carries a broad spectrum of harmful UV rays that cause uneven skin tones or discoloration, sunburn, and premature aging. This is where sunscreen comes in because it protects the skin's appearance and helps to prevent damage from exposure to the sun.

Sunscreen acts like a shield preventing the sun from penetrating through the skin and thankfully there are some facial foundations and body cream that comes with sunscreen but it is advisable to get a sunscreen that comes with a minimum of SPF 30.  

Now apart from these basic steps, another step you want to add is facial exfoliation, this can be once a week or twice. Make sure to do it mildly and too much of it is bad for the skin. You might end up breaking your skin barrier and reaping off your skin's natural oil.

Facial exfoliation removes dead skin from the surface of the skin improving the appearance of the skin and long-term exfoliation can increase collagen production. Collagen keeps your skin young and vibrant. 

Exfoliation is achieved using physical materials like granular scrubs, loofahs, dry brushes, or DIY scrubs which are more accessible but chemical exfoliants give more interesting results. The key is to discover which is suitable for your skin and stick to it constantly.

To get the best result always allow the exfoliant to sit for a while on your skin so it can perform its magic before washing it off and applying using the circulation motion working it up from your cheek to your hairline.

Skincare routine is a necessity and personal, what works for the other person might not work for you and while you wait to use professional help, you can create a personalized skincare routine through research. Give it time and be consistent, allow your skin to breathe as often as possible, and keep it clean most of the time. Make sure to carry a smile that wells up from your tummy; it works its magic in your overall appearance.  

Do you have your personalized skincare routine or do you think something is missing? Please share it with me