SKINCARE SUNDAY - How to master the art of a skincare routine

The first Sunday of July is finally here and that can only mean one thing - getting our skin into gear, of course!

Winter is well and truly upon us here in Australia, so there is no better time to kick start a new skincare routine, before our faces turn into dried up prunes.

You may think you have it down pat - cleanse, tone and moisturise. And yes, they are the minimal steps you should be taking, but do you have an eye cream? What about a serum? Where do you apply these amongst that basic 3 step routine? Let's break it down...

Cleanse - Okay to this would probably be the step I assume everyone does. But do you cleanse in the AM and PM? I had a reader ask, "why do I need cleanse in the morning if I cleanse in the evening? I didn't think my skin would get dirty from sleeping?" My answer? Your skin doesn't get 'dirty' but your skin cells do turn over, so cleansing is a way of removing that, preparing your skin for makeup and not to mention, wash away any of that night time nasty stuff that seems to build up around your eyes (yuck). 

Cleanse - No this isn't a typo. Depending on what routine you are doing, AM or PM, you may need to cleanse twice. A second cleanse is not necessary in the mornings if you have been a good girl the night before and followed the advice above. But in the PM (if you have been wearing makeup or SPF that day) you must double cleanse to remove every last trace. So let's make this clear, cleanse once in the AM and twice in the PM if you are wearing makeup/SPF.

RR TIP: Experience breakouts from wearing SPF? Don't blame the sunscreen, you have to double cleanse! 

Tone - This stage is probably the one I have been reading and researching the most. From what I have understood, the toning stage was originally what would remove the last traces of your cleanser and any makeup that was left over and was predominately full of alcohol. But as we are now washing our faces with water (not just removing our cleanser with a dry cotton pad, yuck), the toning stage is now designed to prep your skin going into your treatments in the PM and going into a face of makeup in the AM (note, this stage can be skipped in the morning if you prefer to prep with the option below). This stage of toner should include a liquid exfoliant. Something that will help remove dead skin and brighten your skin tone without the harsh abrasiveness of a bead exfoliant.

RR TIP: If you have any breakouts on your face and you use a bead exfoliant, you are only going to spread the infection around your face. A liquid exfoliant will still allow you to get in there and clean out your pores, but will help prevent any further infections and broken capillaries on the skin that harsh scrubs can cause. 

Tone - Again, not a typo. I know this is going to seem OTT for some of you. A second tone!? This gal is cray cray. But hear me out. The first tone stage is to exfoliate the skin, in liquid form remember? And the second tone is to add moisture back into the skin. This can be anything from Caudalie's Beauty Elixir to a rose water spray. I do this stage morning and night as I love the feeling of hydration, but if you don't want to exfoliate in the mornings as noted above, this is your tone stage. 

Eye Cream - If you wear any eye cream this is when you should apply it. If you put it on after your moisturiser, even if you are very careful not to get it around your eye area, it won't absorb where you want it. This is for AM and PM.

Serum/Treatment - Unless you have a specific treatment you like to apply during the mornings, this stage would generally just be for the PM. Makeup doesn't tend to sit the best over serums and oils which is why it's more beneficial to apply them at night time.

Moisturiser - Now it's time to pack on your moisturiser. Do you need a different moisturiser for day and night? That is up to you and your skins need. 

SPF - Obviously this last stage is for AM only. If none of your AM products have SPF included in them and you are going outside that day, you must apply SPF. 

RR TIP: If you have any spots or scars and you go into the sun without sunscreen, you will eventually be left with a dark mark where the blemish was. This is called hyper-pigmentation and is a really big pain to try and fade. Sunscreen is your BBF all year round. 

Okay so we are done! If you are freaking out and thinking this is way too much product to be putting on your face. Think again. Each stage is designed for a specific reason and of course can be determined on your skin type and skin concerns and/or needs, so listen to your skin and give it what it deserve. You only have one face remember?

Oh if anyone is going to ask, but shouldn't we just let our skin breath at night? News flash, your skin is always breathing. It's not rocket science. 

Next week I thought I would recommend a few products for each of these stages - what I use, what I want to use and what other people rave about so be sure to pop back!

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Can't wait until next week for more RR? You may like...

Skincare Tips and Tricks

CULY BEAUTY - Caudalie Beauty Elixir 

JUNE FAVOURTIES - Makeup, Nails, Skincare and more!

Note: I would like to thank Caroline Hirons for being my skincare go-to lady. Her blog, Beauty Mouth, is definitely worth reading if you are anywhere as obsessed as skincare as me.