How to Figure out what Skincare Products You Need

What skincare products you and I need will differ depending on many factors. When you look at all the different products and options out there, you can easily feel overwhelmed and end up in a situation where you don’t want to make a mistake buying new skincare products.

The truth is that figuring out what skincare products you need is easier than you think. You don’t have to spend all day comparing labels and ingredients. All you need to do is grasp the basics of building a solid group of products which work with your preferred routine, skin type and skin concerns.

In this blog post, I’m going to break each of these down so you can confidently research and shop for the skincare products you need that will provide you with the best benefits.

Start by figuring out if you have a routine

Everyone might think they have a skincare routine, but more often than not, they don’t. I liken it to asking someone how often they floss. It is something everyone above a certain age should do daily as part of their hygiene routine. Truth be told though; most people will regularly lapse in their routine.

We’ve all been there when looking in the bathroom cabinets and finding a product that is half used, sitting as a reminder that we didn’t stick to a routine. It is so important you put together an idea of what your routine should be; see what products you already have, and then fill in those gaps where you still need to address your skin type and specific skin concerns.

Address your skin type

Everyone has a unique skin type, but not everyone knows how to figure out what skin type they have. There are countless factors that contribute to your skin type, but to keep things simple, here would be the most common skin types someone could fall under:

• Normal
  • You have varying skin problems from time to time.
• Dry
  • Skin is prone to dry bouts and flakiness. (If you do not care for your dry skin properly, it may result in redness and more severe skin issues further down the line, such as dermatitis).
• Oily
  • Skin feels slick and can appear shiny. (Your skin may tend to develop congested pores and experience breakouts).
• Combination
  • Your skin is a mixture of different types. (The T-zone is usually oily and the cheeks tend to be the dry or normal skin type).

I also recommend having a good think about the role age plays in your skin type. If you’re in your 30s or 40s, think back to how different your skin was when you were a teenager. The Skinsider blog has a great article on the Best Anti-Ageing Skincare Routines for Your 20s, 30s & 40s I recommend reading after this.

Address your skin concerns

It helps a lot if you can differentiate your skin type from your skin concerns. What do I mean by this? I’ll give you a common example. Someone with oily skin might use cleanser and toner too much, resulting in problem areas drying out or becoming sensitive. That person would then have specific skin concerns that need attention.

Examples of common skin concerns include:

• Acne
• Dryness
• Dullness
• Environmental Stressors
• Oiliness
• Redness
• Sensitivity
• Unevenness
• Sun-damage

Take some time to understand what your concerns are before leaping to buy something. Skinsider has all products broken down by skin concern. You can find the right product for your specific needs here in our Skin Concerns section.

Figure out what results you want

You always want to use products that are in line with your goals. In a perfect world, someone could simply apply some moisturiser and be on with their day, but that isn’t the case. You’ll want to think about skincare products in terms of where they’ll have your skin in a few days/weeks/months.

I’m going to use serums as a good example. A reliable serum will do wonders in helping hydrate your skin, but you shouldn’t expect it to work magic overnight. Serums typically contain active ingredients that need time to repair skin so it can hydrate better. This can be a process of weeks before you notice real changes.

Always keep in the back of your mind that even the best products will need some time to get to work. And if you’re looking for some guidance on how to choose serums, read this recent blog post breaking down exactly what skin serums do.

Find your ideal skin routine by shopping at Skinsider

Now that you know some of the products you should be using, take the next step to build a dedicated skincare routine. I recommend getting acquainted with the traditional steps of a Korean skincare routine first.

And if you’re looking for somewhere to start buying top K-Beauty products, take a look at some of the best-selling products available at Skinsider .