The Correct Morning and Night Skincare Routine for Teenagers and Young Adults
Having healthy and glowing skin is everyone’s dream, especially for teenagers, university students, and career women in Indonesia who have busy schedules. However, we are often confused about the correct skincare order. Even using expensive skincare products will not give maximum results if the order is wrong. This article will thoroughly discuss the proper morning and night skincare routines, along with tips for choosing products that suit your skin’s needs.
Why Is Skincare Order Important?
The correct skincare order ensures that each product can work effectively. Products with lighter molecules (such as toner) should be applied first so they can fully absorb into the skin. If you use heavier products (such as creams) before lighter ones, the lighter products will not be able to penetrate the skin layers, and their benefits will not be felt.
Morning Skincare Routine (For All-Day Protection)
Morning skincare focuses on protecting the skin from sun exposure, pollution, and free radicals. Here is the ideal morning skincare routine:
- Cleanser: Start by cleansing your face using a gentle cleanser that suits your skin type. Avoid soaps containing SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) as they can dry out the skin.
- Tips: Choose a cleanser with a balanced pH (5.5-6) to maintain the skin’s natural moisture.
- Toner: Toner functions to balance the skin’s pH after cleansing and prepares the skin to receive subsequent skincare products.
- Tips: Choose an alcohol-free toner containing soothing ingredients like chamomile or aloe vera.
- Serum: Serums contain a high concentration of active ingredients and target specific skin problems, such as acne, dark spots, or dull skin.
- Tips: Choose a serum according to your skin’s needs. Vitamin C serum for brightening, hyaluronic acid serum for hydration, or niacinamide serum to address acne and large pores.
- Moisturizer: Moisturizer functions to hydrate the skin and maintain its moisture throughout the day.
- Tips: Choose a moisturizer that suits your skin type. Gel moisturizer for oily skin, cream moisturizer for dry skin, and lotion moisturizer for normal skin.
- Sunscreen: This is the most important step! Sunscreen protects the skin from the harmful effects of sunlight, which can cause premature aging, dark spots, and even skin cancer.
- Tips: Use sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 and PA+++. Apply sunscreen 15-20 minutes before going outside and re-apply every 2-3 hours, especially if you are active outdoors.
Night Skincare Routine (For Skin Regeneration)
Night skincare focuses on skin regeneration and repairing damage that occurred throughout the day. Here is the ideal night skincare routine:
- Cleanser: Just like in the morning, cleanse your face from dirt, oil, and makeup. If you wear heavy makeup, perform double cleansing with micellar water or cleansing oil first, followed by a facial wash.
- Exfoliation (1-2 Times a Week): Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells that accumulate on the skin’s surface, making the skin appear brighter and smoother. You can use a physical exfoliator (like a scrub) or a chemical exfoliator (like AHA/BHA).
- Tips: Do not exfoliate every day as it can irritate the skin.
- Toner: Just like in the morning, toner functions to balance the skin’s pH.
- Serum: Choose a serum that contains ingredients that support skin regeneration, such as retinol or peptides.
- Tips: If you are new to using retinol, start with a low concentration (0.01%-0.03%) and use it only 1-2 times a week.
- Night Cream: Night creams are usually richer and more moisturizing than morning moisturizers.
- Tips: Choose a night cream containing moisturizing and nourishing ingredients, such as ceramides or hyaluronic acid.
- Eye Cream (Optional): Eye cream helps address skin problems around the eyes, such as wrinkles, dark circles, and under-eye bags.
- Tips: Gently apply eye cream using your ring finger.
Tips for Choosing the Right Skincare Products
- Know Your Skin Type: Is your skin dry, oily, combination, or sensitive? Understanding your skin type will help you choose suitable skincare products.
- Read Product Ingredients: Pay attention to the active ingredients in skincare products. Make sure you are not allergic to any of these ingredients.
- Perform a Patch Test: Before using a new skincare product on your entire face, do a patch test first on a small area of skin (such as behind the ear) to see if there is any allergic reaction.
- Consult a Dermatologist: If you have serious skin problems, it is best to consult a dermatologist to get the right treatment.
Salwa Salon Conclusion
By following the correct morning and night skincare routine and choosing products that suit your skin’s needs, you can achieve healthy, glowing, and protected skin. Remember that consistency is key. Perform this skincare routine regularly to get maximum results. Good luck trying!
