Daily skin care: 7 steps to healthy skin

Daily skin care: Step by step
The best skin care is not rocket science. In the morning and evening, you should apply skin care products from the lightest to the heaviest. How to care for your skin and what not to forget if you want to maintain a youthful appearance?

1. Cleansing and make-up removal – the basis of skin care
Clean skin is like a blank canvas – ready to accept all the good things you offer it. That's why you should take time to cleanse your skin in the morning and evening, even if you have a busy day ahead.
Use a gentle cleansing gel or foam as part of your morning skincare routine. Apply the cleanser with warm water and rinse thoroughly. Then gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel (never rub).
In the evening, take the time to thoroughly remove your make-up to get rid of dirt, make-up, cream residues and impurities that accumulate on the skin during the day.
 
2. Toner – balance and soothing
Toner is a light liquid product used after cleansing the skin. It refreshes, cleanses and helps regenerate the skin, restoring the balance that cleansing can disrupt.
 You may skip this step, but toner helps restore the skin's natural pH, tightens pores and prepares the skin for further care. Choose a gentle, ideally alcohol-free product that does not dry out the skin. Allow the toner to dry naturally before moving on to the next step.

3. Serum – complete skin care in a single drop
Whether you need hydration, firming, soothing, brightening or are fighting wrinkles, the right serum can work wonders for your skin. Just a few drops, gently massaged in with your fingertips, are enough.
 Give your skin a moment to absorb – light serums only need a few minutes, while thicker ones or those with active ingredients (e.g. retinol, vitamin C) need 5 to 10 minutes before you move on to the next step.

4. Eye cream – delicate areas, gentle care
The eye area is the most sensitive part of the face. It deserves extra attention – apply eye cream or gel in small dots near the inner corner of the eye and spread outwards, gently patting it into the skin with your ring finger.
 If you are dealing with fine lines around the eyes, reach for lifting eye creams that help firm the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. If you are bothered by dark circles under the eyes, choose a cream that targets this problem directly.

5. Day and night cream – nourishment and protection
In the morning, use a cream that moisturises and protects, and in the evening, use a more nourishing cream. Dry skin prefers thicker textures, while oilier skin will welcome lighter gels or fluids.
How to moisturise your skin? Moisturising is essential for daily skin care. The right moisturising cream helps prevent both dryness and extreme oiliness.
Well-hydrated skin regenerates better, is more supple and less prone to irritation and ageing.
Don't forget to take care of your lips – hydration is also important in this area, as lips dry out and crack easily. Use a nourishing balm in the morning and evening, e.g. with panthenol or shea butter, which regenerate and soothe. During the day, use a balm with SPF to protect the delicate skin of your lips from the sun.
Skin oils – an alternative to cream
You can use skin oils as a supplement or alternative to moisturising cream. Apply a light oil (e.g. jojoba) to damp skin after applying serum, or mix it with cream. Thicker oils (e.g. argan or rose oil) can be used as a final step to lock moisture into the skin and make it soft.
Oils are generally more suitable for evening care as they can leave a subtle sheen on the skin. During the day, it is better to use a lighter cream or just add a drop of oil to your cream.

6. SPF – protection you can't do without
Creams with SPF should be applied immediately after moisturiser (or instead of it, if they contain nourishing ingredients) and before make-up. The sun affects the skin every day, even when it is cloudy, so you should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. You can choose either a product with a mineral or chemical filter. Do you know the difference between them?
Creams with mineral SPF (physical filter) contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, for example. They remain on the surface of the skin and reflect UV rays. They start protecting immediately.
Products with chemical SPF are absorbed into the skin and convert UV radiation into heat. They do not protect immediately, so they should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure. 

7. Make-up
After your morning skincare routine, you can apply make-up – whether it's just a light BB cream or full coverage. If you want to smooth out fine lines, use a lifting make-up. It is important that it is gentle on the skin and does not clog pores. Make-up looks better and more natural when applied to well-hydrated and nourished skin.

Extra care
Mask or scrub – 1 to 2 times a week
Both masks and scrubs should be used 1-2 times a week in the evening, after cleansing and toning, but before applying serum or cream. The skin sometimes needs an ‘extra dose’ of unique care.
Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, while a mask nourishes, hydrates, firms, brightens and detoxifies the skin. Choose a mask according to your skin's current needs – and feel free to turn your skincare routine into a little ritual with music and a cup of tea.
How to care for your skin after a chemical peel
If you choose a chemical peel – at home or professionally – treat your skin gently for the following days. Avoid retinol, AHA acids, vitamin C and perfumed products. Reach for soothing and moisturising products, ideally with panthenol, aloe vera or thermal water. And don't forget your daily SPF 50, even when the sun isn't shining – your skin is more sensitive than usual after a peel.
Retinol – a miracle for fine lines
To start with, apply it once or twice a week after cleansing and toning, instead of serum, as a separate step before your cream.
Once your skin gets used to it, you can use it more often. Retinol causes sensitivity to UV rays, so it is best to use it at night.
Why do you need it? Retinol accelerates skin regeneration and can improve its texture. It reduces fine lines and lightens dark spots on ageing skin. It also improves the condition of oily or acne-prone skin by reducing oiliness, unclogging pores and removing dead skin cells.
Retinol is not suitable for all skin types – if you have sensitive skin, it is best to avoid it. It is also not recommended for use during pregnancy.

Deep cleansing
• Facial yoga
Exercises focused on the facial muscles that help firm the contours of the face, improve tone and blood circulation in the skin. To be effective, you should practise regularly – ideally for at least 5–10 minutes every day.
• Gua sha (massage stone)
Helps stimulate lymph flow, release tension and firm contours. Use 2–4 times a week in the evening, ideally on a slippery surface – such as oil or serum.
• Face roller (facial massage roller)
The cooling roller promotes microcirculation, helps with swelling, supports collagen production and soothes the skin. You can use it daily, morning and evening, ideally after applying serum or cream.
• Face tapes
Lymphatic taping releases tension, stimulates muscles and can promote a lifting effect. Apply them for a few hours or overnight, 2-3 times a week is enough.

Cosmetic devices for home care
Home devices can intensify your regular routine and target specific skin problems. They are not used daily, but incorporating them into your skincare routine 1–3 times a week can bring visible results.
  •The sonic brush gently but thoroughly cleanses the skin.
  •An ultrasonic massage spatula helps with deep cleansing, removes dead skin cells and improves the absorption of active ingredients.
  •A galvanic iron uses a gentle electric current to improve the penetration of serums into the skin and stimulate blood circulation.

What is your skin type? And how does it relate to your daily routine?
Before you start choosing creams, serums, masks or suitable skin care techniques or devices, it is good to know what type of skin you have. This will help you avoid unnecessary irritation, dryness or clogged pores.

Dry skin
It feels tight, flaky, reddens easily and can look dull. What cream is best for dry skin? Your skin mainly needs nourishment, lipids and a good dose of hydration. Avoid products containing alcohol and give products with thicker textures a try.
For dry skin, try Dermaguard barrier cream, which provides nourishment and protection. You can order it directly from our e-shop.

Oily skin
This type of skin is mainly shiny in the T-zone and prone to clogged pores and acne. The basis of care for oily, acne-prone skin is lighter, non-greasy moisturisers, gel creams, non-comedogenic serums and regular exfoliation. Gentle but thorough cleansing twice a day is part of the routine care for this skin type.
 Products containing salicylic acid, niacinamide or zinc work well on acne, helping to regulate sebum and soothe inflammation. Avoid products containing alcohol, which dry out the skin and can also irritate it.

Combination skin
Do you have an oily forehead, nose and chin and drier cheeks? Then you have combination skin. It manifests itself as a combination of oily and dry areas on the skin. The ideal solution for combination skin is a combination of products tailored to individual areas – for example, a more nourishing cream for the cheeks and a lighter fluid for the centre of the face.

Sensitive skin
It reacts to changes in the weather, new products and sometimes even water with burning, tightness and redness. When it comes to sensitive skin, less is more. Look for gentle formulas without fragrances, alcohol or irritants.
Natural skincare products that avoid synthetic fragrances, silicones, parabens and mineral oils are best for sensitive skin. They often contain plant oils, floral waters, herbs or essential oils.
 
Want to try something new and effective? Try renowned Korean cosmetics. They are known for their purely natural ingredients and quality. Korean skincare is a unique system based on traditional rituals that have been practised for centuries and includes natural ingredients such as ginseng, rice water, green tea and camellia.
 
Normal skin
Normal skin does not redden or shine and has balanced sebum production and hydration. Lighter, maintenance care is ideal – for example, a moisturising serum with hyaluronic acid, a light cream with ceramides or vitamin E and SPF.

Special skin care
Skin care is not universal – it depends not only on your skin type, but also on the season, hormonal changes and gender. That's why we've added special tips for winter care, pregnancy and men's skin, so that everyone can find what they need.

Skin care in winter
 In winter, your skin takes a beating – frost, wind, heating and temperature changes are not good for it. It often becomes dry, tight, flaky and red. Protection is an important part of winter skin care.
What helps:
• Thicker creams and balms – ideally containing lipids and ceramides.
• Protective barrier creams – such as Dermaguard, which forms a gentle film, protects the skin from drying out and is also ideal for dry or eczema-prone skin.
• Moisturise in the evening too – ideally with active ingredients to help restore the skin.
• Take extra care of your lips – they suffer the most in winter.

Skin care during pregnancy
Pregnancy is a time of change – and your skin is often the first to show it. Hormonal fluctuations can cause your skin to become drier, itchier, more sensitive or develop pigment spots. Some skin conditions worsen during pregnancy. These include eczema, psoriasis and acne.
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day to prevent pigmentation from worsening. Avoid strong sunlight and enjoy the shade instead.
Instead of regular soap, use a moisturising soap that does not dry out the skin. Avoid aggressive bath foams and scrubbing the skin – during this period, the skin needs rest rather than exfoliation. Don't forget to get enough vitamins and calcium – the condition of the skin is often related to nutrition.

Skin care for men
Men usually have thicker and oilier skin than women and often start taking care of it too late. However, all it takes is a few simple steps that only take a few minutes, and the difference is immediately visible. Modern men's cosmetics are designed to be effective, simple and tailored to male skin. 

Your skin remembers more than you think
How you care for your skin today will affect how it looks in a few years. The most effective skin care is regularity. Cleansing, moisturising and SPF may seem like small things, but in the long run, they will do more than any miracle cream.

Source:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/skin-care/art-20048237
https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/routine/healthier-looking-skin
https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/tips-better-skin.html