Ways to Develop a Personalized Skincare Routine That Works

Developing a personalized skincare routine helps you understand your skin's needs, and what you can actively do to support it. Explore how to get started here.

Keyword(s): personalized skincare routine

 

Developing a skincare regimen tailored to your unique needs and concerns is not just about following trends or mimicking someone else's routine.

It's about understanding your skin at its core - its quirks, its sensitivities, its ever-changing needs - and curating a regimen that addresses them with precision and care.

Let's go through how to develop a personalized skincare routine.

Skin Types

Figure out whether you have oily, dry, combination, sensitive, or normal skin. Your skin type will dictate the products and ingredients that will work best for you.

Apart from your skin type, identify any specific concerns you want to address, such as acne, hyperpigmentation, or sensitivity.

Face Mapping

Face mapping is a technique used to identify specific areas of concern on the face and correlate them with underlying issues or imbalances in the body.

In dermatology, face mapping is often used to identify skin patterns. By examining the location and characteristics of skin issues on the face, you can figure out exactly how to make your skin look its best.

Face mapping can even give you recommendations for products you should think about adding to your new routine. 

Skin Analysis

To create the perfect skincare routine, you'll need to carefully analyze your skin. Review the products you're currently using and assess their effectiveness in addressing your skin concerns.

That way, you can figure out any products that may be causing irritation or not delivering the desired results.

Familiarize yourself with key skincare ingredients and their benefits for different skin types and concerns. Look for ingredients known to address your specific skin issues, such as retinoids or niacinamide, for pore refinement.

Pick a Cleanser

Select a cleanser based on your skin type and concerns. Gel cleansers are best for oily and combination skin types as they help control oil without drying you out.

Cream cleansers are best for dry and sensitive skin types as they provide hydration and gentle cleansing.

Foaming cleansers are effective for oily and acne-prone skin as they remove extra oil and other impurities.

Or, you might consider micellar water or our Micellar Prebiotic Preacleanse which is a great choice for all skin types, especially sensitive or acne prone skin since it gently removes dirt and makeup along with replenishing the skin.

Don't Forget Sun Protection

You want to make sure you include sun protection in your skincare routine.

Choose a face-specific sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher that protects against all of the sun's rays. 

Make sunscreen application a non-negotiable part of your morning skincare routine, even on cloudy days or during winter months. Apply sunscreen to all exposed areas of your skin, including the face, neck, ears, and hands.

If your moisturizer or makeup contains SPF, it can provide additional sun protection. However, rely on dedicated sunscreen for adequate protection, especially if you're spending extended periods outdoors.

Always Moisturize

It's important to moisturize every day as part of your skincare routine. Those with dry skin should look for rich, emollient moisturizers with ingredients like shea butter, hyaluronic acid, or ceramides to lock in moisture.

People struggling with oily skin should opt for lightweight, oil-free, or gel-based moisturizers that won't clog pores or feel greasy. If you have combination skin, use a moisturizer that balances hydration without exacerbating oiliness in the T-zone.

Those with sensitive skin need to be more careful with their moisturizer. Look for fragrance-free, hypoallergenic formulas with soothing ingredients like aloe vera or oat extract.

You can also look for moisturizers with specialized benefits. Many moisturizers come with added ingredients like antioxidants, retinoids, or vitamin C to target these concerns.

Incorporate moisturizer into your morning and evening skincare routines. Apply it to clean, damp skin after cleansing to lock in hydration. Dispense an appropriate amount of moisturizer for your face and neck. Start with a pea-sized amount and change it up as needed based on how your skin feels.

Exfoliants

Exfoliation is an important part of any skincare routine since it helps get rid of dead skin cells, unclogs your pores, and helps with cell turnover, resulting in smoother, brighter skin. 

The main options are physical and chemical exfoliants. Physical exfoliants contain granules or particles that physically scrub away dead skin cells.

Chemical exfoliants contain acids or enzymes that dissolve the bonds between dead cells. That makes it easier to slough them off.

Common chemical exfoliants include alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid, lactic acid, and different beta hydroxy acids like salicylic acid.

If you're new to exfoliation or trying a new product, start with a lower frequency to allow your skin to adjust. Slowly increase the frequency if your skin holds up.

Masques

Incorporating masques into your skin routine can provide targeted benefits and enhance the overall appearance of your skin.

Hydrating masques are infused with ingredients like hyaluronic acid or aloe vera to replenish moisture and soothe dry or dehydrated skin. Clay masques are formulated with ingredients like kaolin or bentonite clay to absorb excess oil, unclog pores, and reduce acne breakouts.

Sheet masques are convenient and infused with various serums to provide hydration, brightening, or firming effects.

If you have different concerns in different areas of your face, consider multi-masking by using different masks on specific areas. For example, apply a hydrating mask to dry cheeks and a purifying mask to an oily T-zone. 

Determine how often you'll use masks based on your skin's needs and the specific type of mask you're using. 

Serums

If you want to use serums, make sure you apply serums in the correct order within your skincare routine. As a general rule, apply serums with lighter consistencies before heavier ones to ensure optimal absorption. Serums deliver a higher concentration of active ingredients, hence making them an effective method to achieve your desired skin results. The high concentration of powerful ingredients along with the ability to penetrate the skin means that serums can deliver all those age-defying, clearing, hydrating or brightening benefits to the deeper layers of the skin.

As your skin's needs change over time or with seasonal variations, adjust your serum selection and usage accordingly. 

Don't Be Afraid to Change Things Up

Skincare is a dynamic field, with new products and innovations constantly emerging. Don't be afraid to try new products that align with your skin type and concerns.

When making changes to your skincare routine, introduce new products slowly. Start by adding in one new product at a time, and keep an eye on how your skin responds before adding more.

Create Your Personalized Skincare Routine

There's a ton that goes into creating a personalized skincare routine.

Are you ready to start shopping? Dermatologica has been embracing emerging skincare technologies since the 1980s.

Shop our products today.