There are literally hundreds of skincare products on the market. Hydrate Moisturize. Restore. Plump. Revitalize. With so much to choose from, no wonder it’s confusing.
So step one is figuring out what type of skin you actually have. Is it oily? Dry? Sensitive? Prone to breakouts? Combination? Once you have pinned it down by really analyzing how your skin looks and feels, you have the basis for the direction you need to go.
If you have oily skin, you’ll want products that don’t clog or add to the oiliness you already have. If your skin is dry, you’ll want to avoid products that are too high in alcohol or other drying ingredients. Acne-prone skin will benefit from oil-clearing formulas, perhaps containing some preventative treatment.
Then there is the point of philosophy. Are your looking for a drug store brand? Department store brand? All natural/organic products? Do you believe that you must use the mass merchandised brands? Or are you comfortable trying products from a smaller online company? But how do you know?
And what about age? Older, dry and combination skin will likely need more moisture than regular or oily skin. Younger skin is more supple, and it’s likely you’ll want a product to maintain rather than restore.
Regardless of skin type, you’ll want a routine that includes a cleanser, a toner or balancing lotion and a moisturizer. Which type however, will depend upon your skin type.
There are lots of beauty bloggers and social influencers online who test and report back on their favorite products. It can be a great way to find out what’s new, what’s liked and what’s not. Then there are the beauty magazines. Check out their beauty sections for product reviews. And there’s always the google search; especially for natural and organic products that tend to be found in smaller, specialty and on-line stores.