Skincare products are flooding the market with each passing day, making it close to impossible to decipher which one is for you. Instead of drowning in a sea of products, follow this guide to adopt a minimalistic approach to skincare. Master the basics and build on it thereafter. Glance through these categories, pick one from each and voila, you have your custom-made skincare essentials kit without any fuss or confusion. All you need is the knowledge of your skin type and you can begin building your skincare regime!
1. Cleanser
Picking the right cleanser is extremely important as the wrong one can create havoc for your skin. Skip the squeaky clean finish (it is for glass surfaces, not your skin) and opt for a gentle cleanser suited for your skin type.
Dry skin: The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Wash, Himalaya Aloe Vera Face Wash.
Oily/Combination skin: Kaya Skin Clinic Purifying Face Wash, The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Face Wash, The Body Shop Seaweed Deep Cleansing Face Wash.
Tanned/Pigmented Skin: Himalaya Clarifying Face Wash, Organic Harvest Skin Lightening Face Wash, Kaya Skin Clinic Fairness Cleanser.
Also read: 11 Skin Care Secrets That Will *Change* Your Beauty Routine!
2. Toner
This is the step we most often skip, but it is imperative in an efficient skincare regime. It preps the skin to absorb all the goodness of the skincare products, tightens pores and provides a smooth base for makeup application.
Oily/Acne Prone skin: Neutrogena Blackhead Clearing Toner (It has salicylic acid which is brilliant in managing acne and comedones), The Body Shop Tea Tree Toner (Tea tree is amazing for tackling blemish prone skin).
Dry Skin: The Body Shop Vitamin E Hydrating Toner, Za Total Hydration Fresh Lucent Toner
Tanned/Pigmented Skin: Za True White Toner
All skin types: Bioderma Miceller Water (Though this is a cleansing water, it works beautifully as a toner because it removes impurities and residual makeup, tightens pores and preps the skin for a flawless makeup application).
3. Moisturizer
Oily or dry, every skin has a moisturizer made to suit its needs. Do your skin a favour, identify your skin type and pick a good moisturiser accordingly. There are various oil-free versions and many hydrating creams and gels available in the market to suit each skin type.
Dry Skin: Za Deep Moist Cream, Loreal Hydrafresh Supreme Emulsion (Both these creams have hyaluronic acid, which is amazing at retaining water on the skin and giving it a bouncy appearance), The Body Shop Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream
Oily/Shine prone Skin: L’Oreal Hydrafresh Mattifying Gel (Ditto with the hyaluronic acid with the added benefit of a shine free mattifying finish), The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Moisture Lotion.
Acne/Blemish prone skin: The Body Shop Tea Tree Clearing Lotion
Also read: 5 Skincare Problems EVERY 20-Something Girl Faces… Solved!!
4. Sunscreen
This step is non-negotiable – you must use sunscreen to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. Picking a sunscreen is by far the most harrowing experience for most complexions and skin types, as they can be too oily and difficult to blend, and often leave a whitish cast. Luckily, we have multiple options available to us now.
Herbal Options: Lotus Herbals offers an incredible range of herbal sunscreens ranging from SPF 30 to SPF 100 in a gels, crèmes and tinted creams. Organic Harvest is another excellent option for those inclined to go organic with their skincare.
Sensitive & Dry Skin: Eau Thermale Avene and La Roche Posay Anthelios have options of sunscreens in SPF 50+. They are suited for sensitive skin and they blend into the skin very easily. Herbal and Organic Sunscreens also work well with such skin types.
Oily Skin: Opt for gel-based sunscreens such as the Lotus Herbals UV Screen Mattegel SPF 50 and the L’oreal UV Perfect Aqua Essence SPF 30.
5. Lip Balm
Our lips tell the story of our skin’s health before we even begin speaking. So, it is important that we care for them. Never let your lips be without a lip balm, even when indoors.
Pigmented lips: Colorbar Lighten Up Lip Mender Cream, Biotique Bio Morning Nectar Lip Balm, Biotique Bio Fruit Whitening Lip Balm.
Other brands that our lips love: Soap & Glory A Great Kisser Lip Moisture Balm, Burt Bees Honey Lip Balm, The Body Shop Honey Mania Lip Balm, The Body Shop Hemp Lip Protector.
Images: Shutterstock
