The Most Basic Skincare Routine

Everyone wants healthy and glowing skin. While some people are blessed with flawless skin, most of us do different trials to  get that natural glow. Before trying some expensive new cream or revolutionary procedure, you should consider your basic skincare routine. To keep your face looking as youthful as possible, you need  proper skin care. 

Basic skincare routine

Any skincare expert will stress on first getting the basics right. So simple as it may sound, we thought we’d give you a step-by-step breakdown of what your basic skincare routine should be. These days, high-quality skincare products are available at any drugstore, formulated for oily, normal or dry skin types. While the individual ingredients of each product may differ depending on what your skin needs, a basic skin care regime involves four simple steps: cleansing,exfoliating, toning, moisturizing.

Cleansing

The most basic  skincare routine is cleansing. It removes excess oil and impurities from your skin and helps improve its health and radiance. Proper cleansing to remove dirt, makeup and pollution should be the core of every skin care routine. The biggest mistake most of us make in this step is that we either under-cleanse or over-cleanse. Experts suggest that for those with normal skin, cleansing your face twice a day is optimum – once in the morning and once at night, before going to bed. The latter is especially important, as you want to get rid of the day’s grime and any make up or lotions that you may have had on.
Remember to find a good soap-free cleanser for your skin and avoid very cold or very hot water to wash your face.

Exfoliating

Exfoliation refers to the removal of dead skin cells from the top of the skin. If you start properly exfoliating your skin, you will notice an almost immediate difference. While some skin experts believe that too much exfoliation is bad for the skin, as it can strip away essential oils, most believe that exfoliating once a week is a good practice.
Varieties of scrubs are available in the market according to skin type. Find a scrub that suits your skin and use just a little bit once a week to clear dead cells and hidden impurities. If you prefer to go natural, you could even try making some home made scrubs and gently exfoliate for natural, glowing skin. 
 
Toning
 
Toning is an important second step that completes the cleansing process, yet many people choose to leave this step out. A toner is a liquid that helps to close the pores on your skin, to avoid attracting dirt, remove any remaining bits of oil and to give your skin a tighter, firmer look. Toning should be considered an important part of the cleansing process. Many women swear by this step and almost every major cosmetic brand makes a toner.
However, there are experts who believe that toners should be strictly optional. Try using a toner for a few days and decide for yourself if you want to add it to your skincare routine or not.

Moisturising 

Moisturising your skin is an absolutely essential step of your skincare regimen.The job of a moisturizer is to attract moisture and to protect the skin on your face by forming a barrier that holds in the water that's already there. By using a moisturizer, you can stop your skin from losing its hydration and allow it to put the moisture it does have to good use. Depending on your skin type(dry, normal or oily), find a moisturiser that works for you. Typically, people with very dry skin should go in for a creamy moisturiser and those with oily skin could get a water-based one. For your day needs, get a moisturiser with an SPF(Sun Protection Factor), as that can double up as a  sunscreen as well.

Also remember to moisturise at night, after you’ve thoroughly cleansed your face.