Get back to the basics of skincare with these must-do steps – The Star Online
Low-maintenance ladies, listen up. Like it or not, skincare is a part of your general well-being and shouldn’t be ignored.
If the mere thought of attempting the famed 12-step Korean skincare regimen makes y…….
Low-maintenance ladies, listen up. Like it or not, skincare is a part of your general well-being and shouldn’t be ignored.
If the mere thought of attempting the famed 12-step Korean skincare regimen makes you break out in hives, take a deep breath and count to three, which is the number of “bare minimum” skincare steps that experts recommend.
Dr Kartini Farah Abdul Rahim breaks down the three crucial steps everyone should carry out on a daily basis, as well as weekly extras.
Cleansing: A good cleanser removes sweat, oil, cellular debris and make-up gently without stripping away the skin’s moisture. Select a gentle cleanser that is soap- and fragrance-free, as well as pH-balanced to reduce any skin irritation. If one wears make-up, it is advisable to remove the make-up first with a remover, then proceed to double cleanse to make sure the skin is totally clean.
Moisturisation: You need to choose a moisturiser based on your skin type and your skin’s need, for example, use an oil-free moisturiser if your skin is oily with regular acne breakouts. If you have signs of premature ageing, you may need skincare products that contain anti-ageing properties. Drier skin areas will need thicker moisturiser with ingredients that are occlusive to prevent water loss (transepidermal water loss).
Protection: We need to protect the skin from harmful sources, for example from UV radiation, by covering up as much of our skin as possible, using an umbrella, a hat, sunglasses, shoes and also by applying sunscreen (containing broad spectrum protection) when going outdoors.
Exfoliating: Chemical or physical exfoliating should be done once a week to brighten the skin. Over-exfoliation and over-cleansing strips away the natural layer of the skin, causing imbalance of the skin’s microbiome and destroying the skin barrier function.
Toning: The toning step may be redundant, as its mild exfoliating and hydrating function can be incorporated into the cleansing and moisturising step.
Very dry and sensitive skin may not be able to tolerate stringent toners with high content of alcohol that disrupts the skin’s moisture barrier and dries it out further. Essences, serum, face masks and eye cream work to moisturise the skin, which essentially can be taken over by a good moisturiser, and so these steps are usually left out too.
Selecting a good moisturiser is crucial when minimising your skincare regime. Some opt to skip the moisturiser step too, and do a two-step regime during the day which involves cleansing and sunscreen or sunblock that moisturises the skin too.
