Skincare is one thing that a lot of people neglect, as they deem it less important for their health than fitness or nutrition. A well-designed skincare routine is one of the most important things that you can incorporate into your lifestyle. It will keep the wrinkles away and maintain the glow of your face for longer.

What exactly is a well-designed skincare routine and how can we understand which skincare products are best for us? It is complicated, but let us break it down for you.

There are 5 basic types of skin: normal, oily, dry, combination and sensitive. The type of skin is based on how oily the skin is and where the oiler areas are situated on the face. Each different type of skincare will need different products that compensate and support the particular type of skin, keep it healthy, and maintain it in a balanced state (not too much oil, and not too much dryness). However, there are some basic principles that apply to all skincare types, these lie at the foundations of any skincare routine.

Principle No 1: Use sunscreen.

UV light is the number one thing that causes skin ageing. Protection from UV rays is crucial to help maintain a healthy wrinkle-free skin. A lot of moisturisers and makeup products, such as BB creams, now come with SPF. You can use a moisturiser with SPF or use regular sunscreen to protect your skin. However, sunscreen is not very kind to the skin and it is best to avoid its overuse. Most Britons are deficient in Vitamin D, and it is recommended to expose the skin to the sun for 10-12 minutes before applying SPF to get a dose of Vitamin D.

Principle No 2: Cleanse your skin properly.

Cleansing is very important to keep your skin breathing and remove any environmental factors that can have a negative effect on your skin. It is also important for ensuring that makeup is properly removed. A good cleanse consists of 2 parts: cleanse with micellar water or makeup remover, and a foaming cleanser. This will help ensure that all bits of makeup and the outdoor world are taken off the skin before applying other products.

Principle No 3: Don’t overdo with your skincare routine.

Too much of anything is not good for your body. Skincare products are only good in moderation. Using them too often or too much of them will create imbalances in skin system and may create oily skin or dry skin, depending on which product you overuse.

Principle No 4: Stay hydrated.

It is important to both drink enough water, and use moisturisers on your skin. This way, hydration will come from inside as well as the outside, so you need to drink a sufficient amount of fluids every day to ensure that you skin stays balanced from within, from the deeper layers of the skin. Moisturisers help keep the top layers of the skin in moist and healthy.

Be gentle with your skin, take time to care for it and keep it healthy. It will reward you with a brighter glow, a smoother tone and a softer texture, which will keep you younger for longer.