Hey guys! Today’s post was inspired by my friend who was wondering to build a basic skincare routine. They weren’t doing much and wanted to do more to improve their skin but didn’t necessarily want a 7 seven routine. So today we’re keeping things basic. And by basic, I mean three products. I’m going to share a routine for dry skin and oily skin. And we’re going to keep all the products affordable. Let’s get into it.
For both routines, we’re going to keep it to three products – a cleanser, a treatment and a moisturizer. These are the main things you should be doing every time. You can add more things – but that can be another post. If you are unsure if you have dry or oily skin, then look at it at the end of the day. If it’s slick to the touch then it’s oily. If it’s rough and flaky then it’s dry. There are more skin types, such as combo, normal and sensitive, but today we’re keeping it super simple.
Dry Skin Routine
If you have dry skin it’s still important to cleanse your face. This helps get rid of any dirt or impurities that have accumulated on your skin. I recommend La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser. La Roche-Posay is used to teach people with rosacea, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis – so you know is this going to be gentle. This will help clean the skin but not strip it and leave it feeling dry.
After cleansing the skin we are going to treat it. To help with dryness I recommend using hyaluronic acid. The Inkey List has a Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum that is only $9.99. By using a serum and a moisturizer you will be giving your skin twice the amount of hydration. Just make sure to wet the skin before applying the serum so it has something to adhere to.
The final step for dry skin is to moisturize. If you have very dry skin then you need the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. This stuff is thick and will help soothe any dry patches on your skin. I love using this in the winter when my skin is on the drier side, but if you have dry skin you can use this year-round. It helps soothe and bring down any irritating dry patches.
Oily Skin Routine
If you have oily skin, you want to make sure to probably clean the face but still moisturize. Many people with oily skin think they don’t need moisturizer, but often it’s because the skin is dry that it’s overcompensating by creating too much oil. But first, you need to clean it. Check out the CeraVe Salicylic Acid Cleanser. Salicylic acid is a great active ingredient that helps chemically exfoliate the skin to help get rid of texture and prevent acne.
For treatment, I have two options. If you find that the CeraVe cleanser is enough to treat any breakouts, then try incorporating a vitamin c serum. Try The Inkey List 15% Vitamin C Serum. Vitamin C will help brighten any dark spots such as acne scars or sunspots. It will also just help brighten your overall complexion. If the CeraVe cleanser isn’t enough for breakouts, then check out the Benzagel 5% Gel. This is the most potent Benzoyl Peroxide that you can get over the counter. This is a strong ingredient but really does make a difference – it’s what I use to help treat my acne. Just put a bit on any acne breakouts or daily on areas where you often break out.
Finally, it’s time to moisturize. This helps soothe and repair the skin after using active ingredients to help fight oil and acne. For oily skin, I recommend using a gel moisturizer because it will hydrate the skin but it won’t feel as heavy as a cream. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream is a great dupe for some higher-end moisturizers. It’s lightweight but will give the skin some moisture.
And those are my basic skincare routines. Let me know if you want a part two where I can add in a few more product recommendations or give other options that are more mid-range prices!
xoxo
Lea
Leave it to Lea 