There's nothing quite like knowing you've nailed your skincare routine. You know exactly what skin type you have, what concerns you're actually treating and each product in your routine specifically targets each. The dream.
Because in reality, we don't need every single product we see on the market, or each new launch that pops up on our Instagram feed. We just need products that will quickly and effectively address our skincare concerns. And news flash: more often than not, our skincare concerns are not the same. That's why what may work for you, might not work for someone else and vice versa.
So what do we do to navigate the clutter and streamline our skincare routines? Well, it comes down to selecting the right ingredients for our concerns, making the best selection in products and applying them in the correct order. Whether your skin goal is to minimise redness, smooth and plump fine lines, improve congestion, reduce uneven skin tone, control blemishes, or a combination of all of them, we're here to help.
The best part is, all of these products can be found under the one roof (or online) at Myer, meaning it's never been easier to get your skincare routine just right for you. Here's a guide to achieving each of your skincare goals with the right ingredients and step in your skincare routine:
Minimise redness.
Redness is typically a result of sensitive skin, so it's important to use products that are gentle on the face. Try to avoid scrubbing or any products that might irritate your skin necessarily. It might even help to strip your skincare routine back entirely and go back to basics to really understand what is causing your skin to become red or irritated to begin with.
Estée Lauder ANR Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex Serum, $135.
When it comes to trusted skincare products, Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex Serum is the holy grail. It is a great all rounder that is suitable for all skin types and has lots of hydrating ingredients such as peptides and hyaluronic acid that are perfect for addressing redness. It also uses Chronolux Power Signal Technology that reduces the look of multiple signs of ageing caused by the environment. This serum is best used after cleansing and before moisturiser.
SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel, $119.
The SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel has a cult-like status and is another product that is great for addressing redness as it contains hyaluronic acid and a phyto botanical blend of cucumber, thyme and olive leaf that all work together to bring hydration to the skin's barrier and soothe sensitive skin. If you are using it in the morning, apply it after vitamin C and before sunscreen. If you're using it in the evening, apply it after retinol.
Smooth and plump fine lines.
Fine lines and wrinkles are typically caused by environmental factors around us, like sunlight and air pollution. So it's important to ensure we're taking steps to reduce our exposure to the sun and trying our best to minimise the development of wrinkles to begin with. However, in terms of treatment, there are many ingredients we can incorporate into our skincare routine to smooth and plump fine lines.
Clarins Double Serum 30ml, $120.
The Clarins Double Serum is a groundbreaking product that works by stimulating the skin's five vital functions of hydration, nutrition, oxygenation, protection and regeneration to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. It contains katafray, hyaluronic acid, kiwi, organic rosehip oil, pistachio and organic green tea, green banana and survixyl that work together to stimulate the skin's natural hydration process, improve cellular processes and firm the skin. It is best used after cleansing and before moisturiser.
Elizabeth Arden Vitamin C Ceramide Capsules 60 capsules, $160.
Elizabeth Arden's Vitamin C Ceramide Capsules has been a favourite of mine for a long time. It's a dry oil serum that combines the two ingredients of vitamin C and ceramides into one capsule. By packaging the oil in the capsule, it ensures the maximum freshness (important in the effectiveness of vitamin C) with the ingredients working to protect the skin against environment mental aggressors that can cause fine lines and wrinkles. It is best used after cleansing and before moisturiser.
Improve congestion.
Congested skin is usually more likely to appear in oily skin types. We usually describe it as skin that feels bumpy or rough and it's no surprise it usually occurs around areas where we get more oil build-up, like around the nose, forehead, chin and cheeks. Congested skin can result in acne or blackheads and be improved by addressing the excess oil in our skin.
Kora Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask, $72.
Kora's Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask is a great product for addressing congested skin. The mask is designed to clean pores and remove sebum buildup, while also helping to reduce uneven skin tone and dullness. It contains certified organic turmeric, aspen bark and rosehip seeds and can either be used as a scrub or a leave on mask. This two-in-one mask is best used after cleansing and before serum and moisturiser, up to three times a week.
Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil, $68.
Using a face oil to address congestion might seem counterintuitive. But it's actually not the case. Clarins' Lotus Face Treatment Oil is best suited to oily or combination skin and helps to rebalance and purify. It is made from 100 per cent pure plant extracts such as rosemary, hazelnut and geranium blended with lotus extract that are anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. These essential oils work to tighten pores and refine the texture of the skin. It absorbs instantly into the skin and is best used as a last step in your skincare routine, after moisturiser.
Reduce uneven skin tone.
Uneven skin tone can have a number of causes. It can develop as a result of redness, acne, age spots and sun damage (or a combination of... well, all of them). So when it comes to treating uneven skin tone, it's important to have a well-rounded skincare routine that targets its multiple causes to see the best results.
The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA Serum 30ml, $18.30.
The Ordinary's Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA Serum is an effective product for a truly excellent price point. It works to reduce the look of age spots and can help to improve skin tone. It contains a high two per cent of alpha arbutin (compared the standard one per cent) and uses the next-generation form of hyaluronic acid. It is best used after cleaning and before moisturiser. It should be used with sunscreen in the morning.
Clinique Even Better Clinical Radical Dark Spot Corrector & Interrupter Serum, $98.
Clinique's Even Better Clinical Radical Dark Spot Corrector & Interrupter Serum is just that, even better. It is a clinical strength products that works to address the appearance of dark spots, age spots and blemish scars. It is double the dose of its previous formulation and contains Clinique's own CL302 brightening complex, salicylic acid, glucosamine, vitamin C (ascorbyl glucoside), UP302 (dimethoxytolyl propylresorcinol) and gyokuro (camellia sinensis leaf) extract. It is best used after cleansing and before moisturiser, and also should be used with sunscreen in the morning.
Control blemishes.
Blemishes can appear on the skin for a number of reason as they can have many causes. Blemishes are usually red in appearance are any type of spot or mark that appears on the skin. A few types include age spots, acne, cysts, scars or even hyperpigmentation. Understanding the cause of the blemish can help to understand the best way to treat it.
Natio Clear Quick Fix Spot Treatment, $13.95.
Natio's Clear Quick Fix Spot Treatment is best used to quickly target blemishes as an oil-free spot treatment. It's perfect for throwing in your handbag and using it on the go. It contains spot-fighting ingredients such as licorice root, witch hazel and salicylic acid. It helps to balance oil production dissolve surface impurities and gently neutralises breakouts. It is best used as a spot treatment after cleansing and should only be applied to the blemish as needed.
Philosophy Purity Pore Extractor Exfoliating Clay Mask, $55.
Philosophy's Purity Pore Extractor Exfoliating Clay Mask targets blackheads through the use of purifying white clay, salicylic acid and natural exfoliants. It helps to draw out impurities in the skin and shrinks the look of pores. It is best used after cleansing and can be used on the entire face or focused on the t-zone and oilier areas. It should be left on the skin for five to 10 minutes before being removed with water, and the intensity can be increased with massaging on application and removal.
Which product is your favourite? Tell us in the comments section below.
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Featured Image: Getty.