What does a skin care routine include?

The core framework of a conventional skin care process actually only has three steps: cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection. Most of the various multi-step processes on the market are superimposed on different skin types and different skin care needs. There is no unified standard answer that must be followed.

My best friend with combination skin does not even need toner on her skin care in the summer. She only uses amino acid cleansing to wash away the oil and dust on her face, then applies a refreshing gel to moisturize, and finally puts on sunscreen. Her skin condition is much better than when she followed the trend two years ago and added six or seven layers of essences and lotions. The closed acne caused by that time has disappeared a lot, and even the T-zone is less oily.

That’s not to say that stacking multiple products is necessarily wrong. If you have clear skin care needs, stacking corresponding products will help you see results faster. I have dry and sensitive skin, and my face tends to become red and itchy in spring and autumn. After cleansing, I will first apply a soothing and repairing essence, and then a moisturizing cream. If it is too dry in winter, I will add a layer of squalane oil. The whole process only takes four or five steps. It will not burden the skin, and the repair effect is much better than just applying moisturizing cream.

There are two opinions that are quarreling on the Internet right now. One is that "skin care must be done in ten or so steps to be effective." The other is that "skin care that takes more than three steps is an IQ tax." In fact, both are quite extreme. The former is mostly a skin care anxiety created by businesses. The need that can be solved by applying a whitening essence must be applied first to promote absorption, and after applying the essence, you must also use lotion to lock in moisture. This puts an unnecessary burden on the skin, and may cause acne and redness. ； The latter is too absolute. If you are in the period of barrier damage, or have clear functional needs such as anti-aging and whitening, it is really difficult to achieve the desired effect by relying on the basic three steps.

To put it bluntly, the skin care routine is like your daily meal. Cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection are the basic rice and vegetables, which can meet the core needs of the skin. The remaining functional steps are like snacks. Whether you want to eat milk tea hot pot or a fat-reducing meal all depends on your own needs and the current skin condition. It’s not a perfunctory thing to do three steps in three minutes when you’re in a hurry. It’s not a perfunctory thing to put on a facial mask and do a massage and take care of yourself when you have time on the weekend. After all, skin care is something that serves you. There are no standards that you must abide by.