Most people say that dealing with heartbreak after a long-term relationship is one of the saddest things they’ve ever experienced. However, I feel the same way when I spend a small fortune on a skincare product only to find out that it’s not a match for me. Finding a skincare routine that works for you can be tricky AF. Reading reviews and getting recommendations from your friends, colleagues and family can be helpful, but you shouldn’t only rely on them when it comes to your skin. Visit a trusted dermatologist and get recommendations from them. Additionally, you can also follow this handy list while buying new products so that you can save your money and your skin:
1. Figure Out Your Skin Type
Before you go out shopping for skincare, make sure you know what your skin type is. If you’re not sure how to go about determining your skin type, then here what you’ll need to find it out—blotting paper. Take a few sheets of blotting paper and press them on your forehead, cheeks and nose.
- Forehead + Nose: If the blotting sheets on your forehead and nose turn greasy then you have combination skin.
- Forehead + Nose + Cheeks: If all the blotting sheets you placed on your face turned oily then you have oily skin.
- Neither: If neither of the blotting sheets turned greasy, then you have dry skin.
2. Shop According To Your Concerns
Once you’ve figured out your skin type, then you can start selecting what kind of products you want to shop. Here are some ingredients that are beneficial according to your skin type:
- Oily Skin: BHAs like salicylic acid, AHAs like glycolic acid and lactic acid and hyaluronic acid to lightly hydrate your skin.
- Dry Skin: Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides and peptides.
- Combination Skin: Hyaluronic acid and lactic acid.
3. Study The Ingredient List
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s get one thing straight; the ingredient list on the back of the skincare products are written in descending order. That means the first ingredient is always the one with the highest concentration and the last ingredient has the least concentration. So now that we’ve spoken about that, here are a few ingredients that you should avoid:
- Fragrances (both synthetic and natural)
- Alcohol
- Parabens
- SLS & SLES
If you’re still unsure about a few ingredients, then you can find out everything about it here.
4. Pay Close Attention To Acids
If you’re using quite a few skincare products, then make sure that the ingredients don’t counteract with each other. If you’re confused about what ingredients not to mix, then have a look at this.
5. Figure Out The Expiration Date
On the back of all your skincare products, there will be a small symbol indicating the amount of time you can use the product after opening it. Pay close attention to this number and don’t use the product after the specified amount of time.
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