This is a complete guide to skin care routine.

So if you want to improve your facial skin or look younger,  you’ll enjoy the actionable tips in this new guide.

Let’s dive right it.

Skin Care Fundamentals

Taking oily skin as an example, this post will teach you how to formulate a skin care regimen. Skin care routines for other skin types are also similar to oily skin.

There is no distinction between men and women in skincare. The only difference between skin is oily skin, dry skin, combination skin, and sensitive skin.

Under normal circumstances, men have more androgens and their sebaceous glands are more active. The proportion of men with oily skin is more than that of women, but there are also many women who worry about oily skin.

So this post is aslo about skin care routine for men and women.

Choose different skin care products according to different skin conditions and different temperature and humidity environments.

The purpose of writing this post is “How to make a targeted skin care regimen based on the environment and skin conditions”.

Therefore, after reading this post, I hope you don’t focus on the product list, but focus on the skin care ideas behind it.

Understand why these products were selected and how they are matched.

Because if you only care about skin care products and ignore the knowledge behind skincare, you will only know the products recommended by others.

Once the environment and skin conditions change, the existing skin care products are no longer suitable. Or the products are iteratively updated, and you do not know how to choose skin care routine.

This post will explain the skincare process and products as an example, giving a High-Profile Version to go with it first, and then an Affordable Version to go with it.

The functional needs of the High-Profile Version and the Affordable Version are the same. The need for efficacy is the same for both the High-Profile Version and Affordable Version, they differ in the principle of thinking.

This also means that the knowledge system and logical structure of skincare remain the same and the products can be varied. Once you have the knowledge system of skincare, you can create the ideal skincare plan for any budget.

First, we look at the impact of the environment on the formulation of skin care regimen.

Analysis of Daytime Skin Care Ideas

The daytime air is dry due to sunlight, the rate of water loss on the surface of the skin increases, and aging accelerates. At this time, it is important to lock in moisture.

But oily skin has a lot of sebum and has strong moisturizing and water-retaining power. You don’t have to pay much attention to moisturizing power when choosing skin care products.

But it’s not that oily skin does not need to be moisturized. Whether to moisturize or not is determined by the amount of sebum production and the dryness of the environment.

For example, mild oily skin needs to increase the moisturizing power of skin care products in extremely dry environments. In a relatively humid environment, sebum is capable of moisturizing and locking water, and there is no need for high requirements on the moisturizing power of skin care products.

At the same time, ultraviolet rays invade and physiological activities produce a large number of exogenous and endogenous free radicals.

Free radical is a very active molecule with oxidative properties. It is extremely restless, always attacking our healthy cells recklessly. If healthy cells are attacked for a long time, cell damage or even apoptosis will occur until cell death. The changes on our face are the lack of elasticity, dark yellow, loose, and wrinkles. The process of getting rid of free radicals is called antioxidant.

Prevention of free radical damage is the key. This is required for any skin type. Protecting against free radicals requires Sunscreen + Antioxidant + Repair.

Because there is no 100% protection against damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals that have not yet been removed, coupled with external stimuli such as dust, pollution, and makeup in the daytime environment, and lifestyle habits such as improper diet and staying up can cause skin inflammation invisible to the naked eye.

This leads to post-inflammatory pigmentation and aggravates problems such as inflammatory acne (Red acne). This requires us to use anti-inflammatory skin care products, which are required for any skin type.

Finally, daytime people are awake and active, and some people need makeup. They have requirements for the skin feel of skin care products (Such as avoiding ball up), and they need to avoid using photosensitive ingredients (Such as retinol). The requirements for the selection and matching of skin care products are more stringent, and it is impossible to focus solely on efficacy.

Analysis of Night Skin Care Ideas

The night air is humid, people are indoors, and the environment is not bad. The dry problem can also be solved with a humidifier, and the requirements for moisturizing skin care products are lower.

Furthermore, there is no sun damage, and the body is in a resting state of energy storage. At this time, it is necessary to strengthen the repair of skin damage during the day.

It is no longer necessary to protect against environmental damage, and the needs of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation can be replaced with the needs of whitening and anti-aging.

Finally, people are sleeping and without makeup, have low requirements for skin feel of skin care products, and there is no taboo for environmental ingredients (Such as light insensitive ingredients). There is more room to choose and match skin care products at night.

Analysis of Skin Care Ideas For Oily Skin

Oily skin has a wide distribution of sebaceous glands with well-developed sebaceous gland function and high sebum production.

The advantage of oily skin is that the sebum contains Vitamin E, which is a powerful natural antioxidant. So oily skin has stronger antioxidant power than dry skin.

At the same time, oily skin has strong moisturizing power, and dryness is also one of the culprits of skin aging. Therefore, oily skin equals 24-hour use of moisturizers and antioxidant skin care products. Oily skin is far more anti-aging than dry skin.

The disadvantage of oily skin is that the sebum will appear dull and dull after being oxidized. Therefore, if the oily skin does not do a good job of anti-oxidation, it will be affected by the oxidized sebum and the complexion will be dull and dull.

Squalene in sebum is oxidized to squalene peroxide, which can induce hyperkeratosis in the opening of the hair follicle and increase the risk of clogged pores. Squalene peroxide can also aggravate the skin inflammation and lead to the development of acne and worsening.

At the same time, hyperkeratosis in the hair follicles of some oily skin, which can easily block the openings of the hair follicles. Poor sebum discharge can cause whiteheads (Closed comedones), blackheads (Open comedones), red acne (Inflammatory acne), and sequelae (Pigmentation and acne scars).

Besides, if the excessively secreted sebum penetrates the dermis, it will cause inflammation of the dermis and produce inflammatory scars, that is, ” enlarged pores”.

Some people will be confused. Vitamin E in sebum can help the skin resist oxidation, but after sebum helps the skin to resist oxidation, it will be oxidized. The oxidized sebum on the face will make the skin look dull and dull. At the same time, it will increase the risk of clogging pores and stimulate inflammation.

In summary:

1. Control sebum production.

2. Cleanse excessive sebum.

3. Acne-prone skin regulates keratin metabolism.

These are the 3 tips are oily skin skincare properties.

Summary of Skin Care Needs For Oily Skin

Cleanses excess sebum, controls sebum production, and repairs skin (Protects against damage and repairs damage) throughout the day.

The purpose of daytime skin care is to protect the skin as much as possible in harsh environments and prevent it from getting worse. The keyword is “Protection“

Morning Skin Care =  Moisturizing + Antioxidant + Anti-inflammatory.

The purpose of night skin care is to repair damage and optimize the skin as much as possible so that we have a good state to show people during the day. The keyword is “Repair“.

Night Skin Care =  Repair damage + Whitening + Anti-aging.

Finally, a set of targeted skin care regimens were developed based on the above requirements.

Skin Care Routine For Oily Skin

High-profile version skin care regimen

For all-day cleaning. I chose the Curel Foaming Wash. The advantage of this cleanser is that it is just right and can perfectly clean excess oil and dirt without taking away moisture from the stratum corneum. After washing my face, my skin feels soft and not tight at all.

Excessive cleaning will take away the basic sebum, intercellular lipids, ceramide, and natural moisturizing factor (NMF) that protect the skin. Excessive cleaning will lose the advantages of oily skin and leave the hidden danger of skin barrier damage.

I know that many oily skins like the refreshing feel of soap-based cleanser, but this does not fundamentally change the sebum secretion, and it can also cause potential skin problems.

In addition to being a gentle amino acid cleanser, Curel cleanser also has a Kao company patent, which can protect the ceramide and stratum corneum moisture to the greatest extent during cleansing, thus avoiding damage to the skin barrier caused by cleansing work.

For all-day sebum control and regulation of keratin metabolism. I chose the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence.

The exclusive ingredient Pitera can not only reduce oil production but also regulate keratin metabolism. It has a certain stabilizing effect on oily skin prone to acne, and the function of smoothing the stratum corneum can also make the skin delicate and smooth.

For daytime repair. I chose the ESTEE LAUDER Advanced Night Repair. Its core ingredient — Bifida Ferment Lysate (BFL).

In terms of protection, BFL can reduce the number of DNA damage fragments by 66% under the same conditions of ultraviolet radiation.

In terms of repair, BFL can double the speed of repairing DNA damage.

ESTEE LAUDER has a stronger moisturizing ability. It also contains anti-inflammatory and soothing bisabolol and two plant extracts, as well as a variety of antioxidant components such as Vitamin E Derivatives, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lecithin, etc. They can strengthen the “Moisturizing + Antioxidant + Anti-inflammatory” needs during the day.

For daytime anti-oxidation, I choose SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic. Vitamin C is the oldest and most thoroughly researched ingredient in the antioxidant industry.

Dr.Omar, the co-founder of SkinCeuticals, was the first scientist in the world to apply Vitamin C in skin care, and the use of Vitamin C has reached a peak.

At the same time, the brand SkinCeuticals has been committed to research on antioxidants.

Vitamin C is an excellent antioxidant ingredient, it can sacrifice itself and die with free radicals, and protect you from being harmed by free radicals.

Vitamin C is also an excellent whitening ingredient. It can inhibit the activity of tyrosinase, thereby reducing the production of melanin and achieving whitening effects.
But if vitamin C is sacrificed to resist oxidation, if it disappears, it will not be able to whiten.

Therefore, the main effect of using vitamin C during the day is to prevent oxidation and eliminate free radicals.

The main ingredients of this serum are 15% vitamin C, 1% vitamin E, and 0.5% ferulic acid.

15% of vitamin C has highly effective antioxidant capacity, but the disadvantage of vitamin C is that it is water-soluble and not easily absorbed by the skin. Vitamin E is fat-soluble and easily absorbed by the skin. Vitamin E has stronger antioxidant power than vitamin C.

When vitamin C and vitamin E are used in combination, vitamin E can revive the sacrificed vitamin C and double the effect of both parties.

Ferulic acid is not only anti-oxidant but also UV absorption, anti-inflammatory, and soothing.

Ferulic acid + vitamin C + vitamin E, the combination of these three can enhance the stability of vitamin C and vitamin E, and increase the antioxidant power of the combination by 8 times.

The golden ratio is 15% vitamin C + 1% vitamin E + 0.5% ferulic acid in this essence. This concentration combination is a patent of SkinCeuticals.

Anti-inflammatory in the daytime. I chose Helena Rubinstein Re-Plasty Age Recovery (WHITE).

This cream first provides basic moisturizing power.

Pro-XylaneTM, L’Oréal’s ace anti-aging ingredient, with content as high as nearly 30%, provides excellent anti-aging effects.

Moreover, it has a patented anti-allergy from the world’s top ingredient company, Symrise (R&D company of whitening ingredient 377), along with Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate and Centella Asiatica Extract, which have excellent anti-inflammatory properties.

Perfectly customized the last need for daily skin care.

For night repair. I chose LANCOME Advanced Genifique.

Both LANCOME Genifique and ESTEE LAUDER have Bifida Ferment Lysate (BFL).

LANCOME Genifique’s moisturizing is weaker, and the skin feels more refreshing. It contains alcohol, which can moderately clean up oils at night, providing more room for subsequent skin care choices.

At the same time, it contains whitening ingredients Vitamin C Derivatives and Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, which echoes the needs of night whitening.

For night whitening. I chose Super White 377 VC. After investigating almost all mainstream whitening ingredients and after most of the trials, I chose Phenylethyl Resorcinol (377).

This ingredient belongs to the calming whitening serum, after being used in LANCOME Genifique, it has a certain function of enhancing whitening.

In the application of 377, no brand can compare to DR.Ci: LABO. The added amount of 377 in this whitening serum is the highest in the industry.

In addition to the main ingredient 377, fat-soluble Vitamin C Derivatives (More friendly to oily skin) and Vitamin A Esters are also added to enhance the whitening effect. At the same time, a large amount of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and soothing plant extracts are compounded to alleviate the irritation of high concentration of 377.

For anti-aging at night. I chose Helena Rubinstein Re-Plasty Age Recovery (BLACK).

There are three super-weapons in the world of anti-aging ingredients: retinoic acid, L’Oréal’s patented Pro-XylaneTM, and polypeptide.

The principle of anti-aging is too long, so let’s briefly summarize.

The anti-aging effect of vitamin A compounds is to thicken the dermis, which mainly acts to tighten loose skin.

Pro-XylaneTM strengthens the junction between the dermis and epidermis, promotes the growth of elastin and collagen, and fills the shriveled skin.

Because there are too many types of the polypeptide, different types have different effects, so skip this.

Helena Age Recovery (BLACK) has the industry’s highest Pro-XylaneTM content, with a concentration of up to 30%.

In addition to Pro-XylaneTM, it also contains a 4% extract of European Lingonberry, which is rich in vitamin C and contains bioflavonoids that stabilize vitamin C. In addition to antioxidants, it also reduces AGEs produced by glycation reactions, plus it is supplemented with dermal hyaluronic acid. All-round extreme anti-aging.

This is the process of developing skincare regimen, skincare has to be logical, not purposeless, and unplanned.

The following is the skin care routine of most people.

Q： Why are you this skin care process?

A： I don’t know. Everyone is Cleansing–Hydrating–Serum–Lotion–Cream, I also Cleansing–Hydrating–Serum–Lotion–Cream.

Q： Why do you use this product?

A：I don’t know. I bought it when others said it was good.

Because the price of the high-profile version is too expensive, most people can’t afford its price. Next, let’s take a look at the matching of the affordable version of skin care products.

You can select certain products from the high-profile version, and then select certain products from the affordable version to form your skin care regimen.

Affordable version skin care regimen

The demand for skin care ideas in the affordable version is exactly the same as the high-profile version.

Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser. The best amino acid cleanser I’ve ever used that I couldn’t fault after considering the price factor.

L’OREAL Youth Code is an affordable alternative to LANCOME Advanced Genifique. The conscience product of L’Oréal Group.

This serum also has a high concentration of BFL, but it’s not as effective as Estee Lauder and Lancome.

Its advantage is that it is cheaper and has a capacity of 50ML.

Anti-oxidation: Timeless 20% Vitamin C E Ferulic is a copy of SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic. The Vitamin C concentration of Timeless CEF is 5% higher than SkinCeuticals CEF, reaching the limit of 20%.

However, the 15% concentration chosen by SkinCeuticals CEF is definitely well thought out. When there is a synergistic technical, it is not that the higher the concentration, the better the effect.

The effect of Timeless is about 20%-30% of SkinCeuticals, but considering its price is less than 10% of SkinCeuticals, the advantage is that it is more cost-effective.

The disadvantage of Timeless is that the concentration of Vitamin C is too high, which makes it easy to stain hands, face, and clothes. Need to cooperate with Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) to exfoliate the keratin regularly to restore the yellowed skin.

Anti-inflammatory: I didn’t find a cheap anti-inflammatory cream.

L’Oréal Paris Skincare Revitalift Triple Power Intensive Skin Revitalizer contains 6% Pro-XylaneTM and 2% Vitamin C, which is anti-aging and antioxidant to make up for the lack of anti-inflammatory.

PROX by OLAY Dermatological Even Tone Spot Fading Treatment contains 5% concentration of niacinamide, 1% concentration of LAMINARIA SACCHARINA EXTRACT, 1% concentration of Undecenoyl Phenylalanine, allantoin, panthenol, dipotassium glycyrrhizinate.
Niacinamide: Reduce sebum production and whiten.
Undecenoyl Phenylalanine: Reduce the production of melanin, whiten.
Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate and urea sac: excellent anti-inflammatory and soothing ingredients.
Panthenol: moisturizing.
LAMINARIA SACCHARINA EXTRACT: Anti-aging, anti-oxidation.

Anti-aging: Pro-XylaneTM fills the skin during the day and tightens the skin with retinol at night.

Retinol can promote the metabolism of the stratum corneum and prevent hyperkeratosis of epidermal cells, thereby preventing the formation of acne.

Retinol can also inhibit the activity of tyrosinase, reduce melanin production, and have whitening effects.

Retinol can thicken the dermis, stimulate the growth of collagen, and prevent the rapid breakdown of collagen.

While both ingredients improve oily skin pore enlarging. Retinol and niacinamide have a synergistic effect, “1+1>2”.

Why remove the toner? Because the toner is a bit tasteless. The basic function of toner is to adjust the unbalanced facial pH value after cleansing, replenish the lost moisture of the stratum corneum, and prepare for the penetration of subsequent products.

Besides, if you want powerful toner, the price of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is higher.

The above is the skin care idea of healthy oily skin (insensitive, not acne).

Oily sensitive skin and oily acne-prone skin should be adjusted on this basis.

Skin Care Ideas For Oily Sensitive Skin

Oily sensitive skin (Uncommon, oily skin is more tolerant), that is, the skin barrier of oily skin is damaged, moisturizing and defense ability is greatly reduced. It is oily and dry, and when the external environment changes or some skin care products are used, it is prone to itching, tingling, fever, redness, etc.

The skin barrier, the brick wall structure, includes sebum, keratinocytes, and intercellular lipids. Unlike dry sensitive skin, both sebum and stratum corneum are damaged.

Oily sensitive skin often damages the stratum corneum due to excessive cleaning or laser surgery, but the sebaceous glands are naturally developed and sebum secretion is sufficient, so the repair work is simpler than dry sensitive skin.

No need to supplement epidermal oil, just repair the stratum corneum.

In the above skin care regime. The high-profile version of Helena Rubinstein Re-Plasty Age Recovery has a strong barrier repair function, without the need to replace skin care products.

The affordable version only needs to remove the irritating ingredient Retinol—Neutrogena Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream and replace it with anti-inflammatory and soothing skin care products. Choose one of the following anti-inflammatory products.

If the skin does not feel dry after using anti-inflammatory and soothing products, no other changes are needed. Most of the repair of oily sensitive skin only needs anti-inflammatory and soothing.

If your face feels dry after using anti-inflammatory and soothing products, You can choose one of the following skin care products with moisturizing and repairing functions.

Skin Care Ideas For Oily Skin Prone To Acne

Oily skin prone to acne is prone to whiteheads (closed comedones), blackheads (open comedones), red acne, and its sequelae hyperpigmentation and atrophic scars.

If you are suffering from mild acne, you need to adjust the keratin metabolism on the basis of oil control, and artificially peel off the keratin that is sticky and clogged due to abnormal metabolism.

Vitamin A compounds have this function, such as Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) is also preferred, the affordable version can replace the day L’Oréal Revitalift Triple Power with NEOSTRATA RESURFACE Glycolic Acid Renewal Smoothing Face Moisturizer Cream.

The key to oily skin prone to acne lies in prevention.

If you suffer from mild acne, Cleansing + Anti-inflammatory + Niacinamide + Retinol or Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) or Salicylic Acid is usually enough to solve most of the problems, as well as solve whiteheads, blackheads, and mildly enlarged pores.

But if your facial acne develops to red bumps (such as pustules, nodules, cysts) and its sequelae, or even a large-scale outbreak of acne on the face.

Skin care products cannot help you get rid of acne.

Compared to skin care products that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, I recommend you to see a dermatologist.

The dermatologist will use professional ointments or oral medications worth tens of dollars to help you treat facial acne.

For moderate-severe acne, you can replace the morning and evening serum with Helena Rubinstein Powercell Skinmunity or LANCOME Advanced Genifique with antibacterial function.

What they have in common is that they can activate the antibacterial peptides on the surface of the skin, inhibit Propionibacterium acnes and other acne-causing bacteria, and have a very good stabilizing effect on the skin prone to red acne.

You can also replace the morning and evening serum with Phyto-C Superheal Olive Gel with powerful anti-inflammatory function.

Final Recommendation

1. For particularly oily skin, the oil control effect of skin care products is minimal. This is why I do not recommend using soap-based cleansing. Changing lifestyle and eating habits is the general direction of oil control.

Eat fewer sweets, milk, and fried food every day, don’t stay up late and keep your mood happy.

Drink plenty of green tea, soy milk, and supplement B vitamins, zinc gluconate, etc.

2. Q： Do I have to use so many skin care products?

A：Of course not! The needs I have listed are only as comprehensive as possible, but not a need that must correspond to a product.

If you have enough product knowledge reserves, you can also distribute 1-2 needs of them to other products to reduce the total amount of skin care products.

For example, every product I choose has an antioxidant effect in addition to the main function, then I can remove the antioxidant product.

Or if you stay indoors during the day, you don’t need sunscreen products. You only need to use moisturizing and antioxidant products and then use retinol and repair products at night.

And so on, but this requires a relatively large product knowledge repository, which is a bit difficult for noobs.

To not let anyone reading this article feel confused, I have only listed the main effects of a certain product here. If you have the ability, you can also use the method of dispersing products to reduce the number of products in the regime.

Products can change, but the knowledge system and logical structure behind them remain the same. With the knowledge and logic of skincare, you can use different products to create a myriad of skincare solutions for all skin types.

But if you only focus on the product itself and only like to watch product reviews, you will always know only the products you have seen.

Once the skin condition changes, the old product is no longer applicable, or you are in contact with brand new products, and you don’t know how to match skin care products.