Feeling overwhelmed by the amount of options and information out there? We get it. Our expert skin therapists are here to help.  

At Skintopia, we are obsessed with skin, and we believe healthy glowing skin is achieved largely through our daily habits and routines. We also understand how overwhelming it can be trying to wade through the myriad of different products, ingredients, recommendations, reviews, and information that is out there, to select the right products for your skin. We want to take the guesswork out of skincare, and create a foolproof and simple step by step guide to building your skincare routine. 

Cleanser

When looking for a cleanser, it's important to go for a formula which is specifically for your skin type. By using the incorrect cleanser for your skin, you may end up with more problems than you started with.

Oily/Breakout prone -  typically this skin type works well with a foaming cleanser, it will help to remove excess oils and leave the skin feeling fresh. A cleanser containing Salicylic Acid, such as Clearing Skin Wash will dive deep into follicles and remove excess oil, debris and pollutants that can lead to breakouts.

Dry/Dehydrated - cream or gel/cream cleanser formulas generally work best for drier skins, that's because their formulas are naturally rich in lipids (oils) to help skin feel more comfortable and nourished after cleansing.

Normal - this skin type is very uncommon and will mostly be present only in a very young skin, if you have a normal skin the key here is balance. You don't want to use something too nourishing nor too stripping. We love Special Cleansing Gel from Dermalogica it's naturally foaming so wont dry out the skin but removes excess oils!

Sensitive/sensitised - sensitive skins can often struggle with exfoliating ingredients so make sure you don't have any AHA's or BHA's present in your cleanser. Go for a gentle formula which doesn't contain artificial colours or fragrance as these can aggravate sensitivity.

Pro Tip: You often don't need as much as you're using! Most cleansers work well by just using a pea size amount for the face/neck and decollate. Plus! Opt for washing your face in the basin instead of the shower to ensure the water isn't too hot.

Toner

Many of our clients wonder why they need to use a toner...but It's actually a vital part of a skincare routine! By using a toner after cleansing you avoid that tight uncomfortable feeling and it allows other products like serums and moisturisers to be properly absorbed by the skin. There are many different formulas out there which can either hydrate, remove excess oil and even provide the skin with an antioxidant boost and flash-firm! What's not to love.

Pro Tip: Refresh skin throughout the day by spritzing over makeup, our favourite is Antioxidant Hydramist as the spray is super light and helps fight free radical damage. Plus it comes in travel size for ultimate convenience.

Serum

To put in simply, serums are the powerhouse when it comes to treating specific skin concerns. They can target pretty much anything and everything, from dark spots to red spots to breakout spots! 

A few popular ingredients commonly found in serums:

Hyaluronic Acid - like a big glass of water for the skin, its deeply hydrating and is usually found in lightweight formulas like Skin Hydrating Booster.

Vitamins - There are so many vitamins out there and they all fight free radical damage. Free radicals are tiny molecules in the air that can damage skin and cause premature ageing (no thank you!) Vitamins counteract this damage so there's no wonder they are so commonly used. 

Peptides - Peptides naturally occur in the body, they get our cells to act a certain way. In serums, we use synthetic peptides to mimic the natural peptides in our body which can do wonders for skin, such as inhibiting melanin production ( to target dark spots), boost collagen production and to limit sensitivity reactions amongst other pretty epic benefits.

Pro Tip: use different serums in different areas of your skin, breaking out on the chin but dull elsewhere? use Age Bright Clearing Serum on the chin morning and night and Biolumin-C Serum on the rest of the skin to firm and defend with potent Vitamin-C.

Moisturiser

The basic function of your moisturiser is to hydrate and soften the skin. We recommend using around an almond size for the face, neck and decollate morning and night. There are many different weights available and this is where (like your cleanser) you need to use the right formula for your skin type.

Oily/breakout prone - go for a gel or lightweight formula which has a low oil content but still hydrates. Just because skin is oily doesn't mean you skip this vital step!

Normal/combination - a mid-weight moisturiser that leaves the skin feeling comfortable and absorbs well is key. We love Skin Smoothing Cream, it's mid-weight and locks in 48 hours of hydration.

Dry - this is where you can really go with a heavier cream or an oil. The more nourishing a moisturiser is the more oil content is present which feels like heaven on a dry, flaky skin. Check out Intensive Moisture Balance from Dermalogica if you suffer from dry, dull skin!

Sensitive/sensitised - because sensitive skins often have an impaired barrier they can also feel very dehydrated and uncomfortable. If you're going for a moisturiser that doubles as SPF protection, best to go for a physical sunblock to avoid any chance of irritation. 

Pro Tip: Don't wait to apply your moisturiser, its best to be applied within 3 minutes of cleansing and/or exfoliating.

Exfoliation 

Whilst exfoliation may not be in your daily skincare routine, it's still an important step to incorporate once or a few times per week as it helps to aid desquamation (natural exfoliation). When there aren't a bunch of dead skin cells sitting on the surface of the skin products like serum and moisturiser can properly absorb and don't just sit on the surface. Exfoliating also helps to brighten the skin by revealing new layers of skin cells underneath!

Pro Tip: Mix an exfoliant in with your cleanser a couple of times a week to save time!

If you have any questions about your skin or would like help from one of our skin therapist's on how you can start building your routine, please get in contact with us at hello@skintopia.co.nz