Skin Care Routine: what it is, what it's for, and the right beauty ritual for you
Skin Care is one of the key components of the Beauty Routine, the secrets of the daily beauty ritual.
Literally, "Skin Care" simply means "skin care," but it includes a wide range of best practices, steps, products, and specific advice that differ based on gender, age, and skin type.
Let’s take a detailed look at everything you need to know to become a true Skin Care expert and have flawless skin every day!
What is Skin Care and what is it for?
The term "Skin Care" refers to a series of practices aimed at taking care of your body, health, and beauty, focusing specifically on the skin, both face and body, through daily rituals and the application of specific products.
The Skin Care routine can include various types of products depending on the need, such as:
- cleanser;
- mousse;
- body cream;
- face cream;
- day cream;
- night cream;
- serum;
- booster;
- face mask;
- lotion;
- perfector;
- eye contour cream;
- anti-aging cream;
- anti-wrinkle cream;
- peeling;
- scrub;
- toner;
- oil;
- micellar water;
- anti-impurity patches;
- products specific for acne;
- sunscreen;
- glow drops;
- facial massages, self-massages, and facial exercises.
Skin Care helps balance the skin's well-being and/or maintain it in good health, improving its appearance and preventing or solving any skin problems.
Skin Care aims to - among other things - prevent, treat, or limit the signs of skin aging through cleansing, purification, and the integration of specific active ingredients.
Skin Care Test: for every skin type
One of the key parameters for identifying the right types of products and the most suitable steps is asking yourself:
"What is my skin type?"
Of course, each person is the best judge of themselves, but to label your skin type, it can be useful to answer a few simple questions, including:
- Is your skin uniformly shiny? It could be oily skin.
- Do you feel tightness or see small cracks forming? You most likely have dry skin.
- Is your skin shiny only in the T-zone, i.e., forehead, nose, and chin? It could be combination skin.
- Is your skin even, not excessively shiny, sufficiently hydrated, and smooth? Then everything is normal!
P.S. Before answering the questions, wash your face with a gentle cleanser, dry it, and wait for half an hour to let your skin normalize.
Other parameters should also be considered when looking for the perfect Skin Care, such as having sensitive skin or imperfections.
Despite the subjectivity of the choice, let's look at a few concrete examples...
Skin Care for oily skin
Taking care of oily skin requires particular attention to curb excessive sebum production and prevent blemishes.
In this case, purifying oily skin through cleaning, cleansing, and exfoliation is crucial.
Targeted treatments for acne, pimples, enlarged pores, and face masks are also essential, but never forget the application of a toner, hydration, and sun protection!
Skin Care for dry skin
For dry and flaky skin, it’s necessary to focus primarily on hydration, integrating lipids or oils.
Skin dehydration doesn’t only have aesthetic consequences, but can also cause itching and, in extreme cases, pain.
Generally, dry skin is particularly sensitive to environmental influences, such as harsh cold, sun, or wind, so it’s always best to protect it properly.
For good Skin Care for dry skin, it's not enough to regularly use gentle cleansers and moisturizing creams (face and body) in both day and night versions, but also keep in mind to:
- avoid harsh cleansers;
- hydrate, hydrate, hydrate...
- drink at least 2 liters of water a day;
- use sunscreen all year round;
- add a hydrating serum to your daily Skin Care;
- utilize the moisturizing power of hyaluronic acid.
Skin Care for combination skin
“Combination” skin tends to have multiple types of skin at the same time: for example, drier skin around the cheeks and chin, and oilier, more imperfect skin on the forehead and nose.
Combination skin can therefore be more complex to manage; a proper Skin Care routine must include localized actions, depending on the areas and different skin types present, combining Skin Care for both dry and oily skin.
Skin Care for normal skin
Skin Care for normal skin, with no obvious issues, is obviously much simpler; it mainly serves a conservative purpose, but it shouldn’t be underestimated, especially as we age.
The Skin Care routine for normal skin includes all the “basics,” i.e., cleansing, cleaning, hydration, protection, and prevention, for which the keyword is – as always – consistency!
Skin Care for imperfect skin
For skin prone to impurities, the two most important stages are:
- Deep cleansing and purification of the skin, while always avoiding squeezing blackheads or pimples to prevent scarring.
- Hydration.
Skin Care for sensitive skin
Sensitive skin requires – in addition to everything mentioned so far – extra care!
Delicate skin prefers hypoallergenic cosmetics, as gentle as possible, free from added fragrances, alcohol, and with extra protection from UV rays (SPF).
Skin Care based on age
Age obviously affects the appearance of the skin, its health, and the needs the daily Skin Care must fulfill.
Especially for women, but not only, hormonal changes mark two significant phases of life: menopause and puberty.
Skin Care for young skin with acne
Young skin, which is still very elastic and fresh but often prone to acne, especially during puberty, requires a delicate yet effective approach to manage excess sebum, imperfections, and prevent further breakouts.
Similar to Skin Care for oily or imperfect skin, deep purification and cleaning are necessary before hydration.
Skin Care for mature skin with wrinkles
Caring for mature skin with wrinkles requires products and techniques that promote hydration, cell regeneration, and collagen production to keep the skin elastic and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
The choice of rich creams, based on hyaluronic acid, serums, boosters, and anti-aging products is essential in this case.
Skin Care steps: the correct order of steps
Finally, aside from skin type and age, it's important not just to perform all the steps of the Skin Care routine, but to follow them in the correct order!
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Serum
- Eye contour cream
- Spot treatments (masks or specific treatments for impurities or imperfections, exfoliator, scrub…)
- Day moisturizer
- Facial oil (optional)
- Night cream
Also adding throughout the day: makeup remover (if using makeup) and sunscreen.
In particular, the Korean Skin Care routine is famous worldwide for its dedication to consistency and order.
Here’s a quick summary of the K-Beauty basics, directly from the Korean Cultural Institute.
Face Skin Care
Although Skin Care includes the care of the skin itself, both face and body, cosmetic products for face Skin Care are the real protagonists.
The Unique Form Face Skin Care products include:
- Anti-Aging Face Mask / Purifying Face Mask
- BioBotox Eye Patches
- Face Scrub
- Cleansing Mousse
- Anti-impurity / Anti-age / Vitamin C Booster
- Anti-aging / Hydrating / Anti-impurity Face Cream
- Eye Contour Gel Serum
Body Skin Care
For body skin care, The Unique Form recommends:
- Exfoliating Body Cream
- Drenched products to counteract water retention
- Periodical use of muds
Skin Care and Supplements
The skin is the outermost layer of our body and is therefore an immediate reflection of our general health.
For this reason, often the best solution is not (or at least not only) to intervene directly on the symptom (acne, oily skin, wrinkles, dehydration, dry skin…), but to act from the inside, through specific supplements aimed at balancing the overall health of our body, for a more long-lasting result.
The Unique Form supplements include weight loss, fat-burning, anti-cellulite, draining, and detox products.
Skin Care and Diet
As mentioned above, diet also impacts the health and beauty of the skin!
Omega-3 fatty acids, for example, contribute to making the skin hydrated, firm, and elastic, and can be consumed through food, especially olive oil, oily fish, and nuts.
Equally important is Vitamin C, found in much seasonal fruit and vegetables, such as citrus fruits, kiwi, strawberries, leafy greens, and peppers.
Many foods also have antioxidant properties and promote collagen and elastin production.
Skin Care for Men
Lastly, let's specify – in case it’s needed – that Skin Care is not just a beauty routine for women, but also has a specific men’s Skin Care routine, with dedicated male cosmetics!
Here’s an example of an enviable men’s Skin Care routine.