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Skin care simplified

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skincare tips

De-clutter your anti-ageing beauty routine

It's a jungle out there what with a slew of BB creams, serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, primers, CC creams, pigmentation formulas and foundations popping up every other day. There's a host of powerhouse products out there you're excused if you stare at that bewildering array lining your dressing table every morning not quite knowing where to start.

Navigate the maze of 'miracle' skin care products

Advertising can be enticing. It’s easy to pick up one then another ‘miracle’ skin care products. But if you’ve just bought a new sensational moisturizer don’t rush out to pick up the matching cleanser, exfoliator, serum and sunscreen. Rule of thumb: Use a new product for at least two weeks before introducing more items to your skin care arsenal. This way you’ll know if the product is working and whether you’re sensitive to any specific ingredients.

1. Too many products can backfire

In fact, Dr. Dhimant Goleria, Nykaa skin care expert says that “using too many lotions can irritate skin, making it hard to pinpoint what’s causing the problem.” Ingredients like vitamins A and C, Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), glycolic acid and retinol can cause allergies and sensitivity so do a patch test before slathering on potions containing them. “Vitamin C and AHAs are acid based and can cause redness, peeling and itching while retinol and benzoyl peroxide can cause excessive dryness and photo sensitivity,” he adds. He also suggests using a sunscreen with SPF 30+++ (try Biotique Aloe Vera Face & Body Sun Lotion Spf 30 Uva/Uvb Sunscreen) if you’re using a retinoid cream like St.Botanica Retinol 2.5% + Vitamin E & Hyaluronic Acid Professional Facial Serum to lighten pigmentation.
skin care products - biotique
Advertising can be enticing. It’s easy to pick up one then another ‘miracle’ skin care products. But if you’ve just bought a new sensational moisturizer don’t rush out to pick up the matching cleanser, exfoliator, serum and sunscreen. Rule of thumb: Use a new product for at least two weeks before introducing more items to your skin care arsenal. This way you’ll know if the product is working and whether you’re sensitive to any specific ingredients.
skin care products - globus

2. Oily skin

It's always best to use only the products you really need. If pimples are the bane of your life, use a cleanser containing salicyclic acid like Globus Remedies Glycolic Acid And Salicylic Acid Face Wash or Kama Ayurveda Anti Acne Cleansing Foam to remove oil, and a glycolic product like Aroma Magic Glycolic Concentrate to unclog pores. Top that with an oil-free moisturizer with a built-in sunscreen like Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturiser SPF15 .

3. Normal to combination skin

For normal to combination skin, a cleanser and anti-ageing serum containing peptides, hylaraunic acid or vitamin B is enough. Nykaa recommends The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Rice Bran Cleansing Foam and Plum Bright Years Cell Renewal Serum. Complete your routine with an oil-free moisturizer like Natio Daily Protection SPF 15 Oil Free Moisturiser with a sunscreen like Lotus Herbals Safe Sun - Sun Block Cream PA++ SPF-30 (Indian Summer Formula). It's also a good idea to use a mild exfoliator such as Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Scrub twice or thrice a week to prevent breakouts.
skin care products - 3
skin care products – seba med

4. Sensitive skin

Avoid using a cleanser containing sodium laurel sulphate if you have sensitive skin because it can cause irritation. Always use a fragrance and paraben-free, moisturizing face wash like Sebamed Clear Face Cleansing Foam, a sunscreen with SPF 50 like O3+ Age Lock SPF 40 Multi-Vitamin and a weekly enzyme mask like Himalaya Herbals Almond & Cucumber Peel-off Mask to hydrate and protect skin.
In what order should products be applied?
Now the question everyone wants to ask! In what order should serum, sunscreen, moisturizer, primer, BB/CC creams be applied? Ideally sunscreen should go on first if it's a chemical formulation says Dr. Goleria. Check the list of ingredients to know if its physical or chemical; if its lists parsol, mexoryl, oxybenzone or avebenzone as an ingredient, the formula is chemical. Meanwhile zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are commonly found in physical sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens need to sink into skin so need to be applied first to clean, dry skin. Follow that up with a serum and moisturizer (in that order). Meanwhile physical sun blocks don't allow other product to work effectively over them so apply your moisturizer or serum first and top it with the physical sun block. Start with a serum, then the moisturizer and finally the sunscreen.

5. Serums for best results

Serums are thinner and contain higher concentrations of ingredients especially formulated to penetrate deeper. Thus doctors recommend applying serums to skin first to ensure maximum penetration. Nykaa recommends Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum and Neutrogena Hydro Boost Capsule In Serum. Follow that with a moisturizer before applying makeup. These are designed to keep skin hydrated and protect it from pollution and sun.
skin care products - innisfree
skin care products - dermalogica

6. Primer to fix makeup

After the moisturizer but before foundation, apply a thin layer of primer like Dermalogica Skinperfect Primer Spf 30. This is especially recommended if you have an oily skin and foundation tends to ‘slide off’ in a few hours. Primers allow makeup to go on smoothly and even out the skin tone.   

7. Tinted moisturizers for a wash of color

If you're one of the lucky ones with an even skin tone, ditch foundation and follow this with a tinted moisturizer like theBalm BalmShelter Tinted Moisturizer SPF18 or Faces Ultime Pro Peaches N Tinted Moisturizer for a sheer wash of color. For greater coverage and added SPF benefit apply a layer of BB cream or CC cream over the primer. 
skin care products – balm shelter
Finally for all over coverage skip the tinted moisturizer and/or BB cream and blend a foundation all over face. To find Foundations for flawless coverage take your pick of powder, liquid, mineral or mousse formulations. Now go wow everyone with your flawless complexion and breezy routine.
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