If you are anything like us, you hate long skincare routines. If you believe you can achieve healthy, even and luminous skin without a 10 step regimen, you've come to the right place. Read on to find out what steps are truly essential to good skin health and what steps you can leave out. Here are the Amoke keys to a simple skincare routine.

Cleansing 

This is one of the two most important steps in any skincare routine. Unless skin is clean and free of dirt, debris and blockages, products applied cannot penetrate or be absorbed by the skin, read you are wasting your money. A good cleanse should not be rushed. if you must time it, sound at least 60 seconds. Otherwise, ensure you gently move across all parts of your face, neck and décolleté covering it with cleanser. Then ensure you rinse off thoroughly so the surfactants do not remain on the skin's surface - read rinse t=until your face no longer feels slippery.

Treating

In your morning routine, treatment typically looks like Vitamin C Serum (or your preferred antioxidant). The concentration depends on the tolerance level of your skin. This is important, as Vitamin C increase cell turnover and can cause purging. if you start with too high a concentration, you will likely purge and think you are breaking out or reacting to the product. For Vitamin c newbies, w e recommend a formulation of no more than 10%. For the Vitamin C pros you can do ahead with circa 20% formulations. 

In the AM and PM, you should also hydrate. Healthy, plump, soft skin is well hydrated. This part is unavoidable. Even if you drink a lot of water, you need to supplement with topical application of a hydrating product. In the AM hydrate before or after Vitamin C depending on the thickness of each serum (the thicker one goes second). In the PM hydrate after cleansing or after exfoliating on exfoliation night.

Other treatment products will depend on the skin concerns you are facing. If you have hyperpigmentation, use a depigmenting serum at night. Spot/acne treatments can be used in the AM or PM depending on the ingredient and whether rinse off or leave on. 

Retinoids! A sentence on its own. If you are over the age of 25, this should be a part of PM routine. Yes, retinoids (think retinol, retin-A, adapelene) can be irritating but this can be managed. The benefits are well worth it; improving hyperpigmentation, treating acne and improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The products recommended for evening use typically have actives that sensitise your skin to the sun and as such are better used at night. Skin also works to regenerate overnight so your actives do their best work overnight. 

Moisturising

Regardless of your skin type, we recommend the use of a multi-tasking moisturiser that hydrates, adds antioxidants therefore protecting from free radicals and doesn't clog the pores (is non-comedogenic). I wonder which moisturiser has these qualities - check the Amoke Skincare Even Tone Facial Moisturiser

Protecting 

Use of a broad spectrum (UVA and UVB) sunscreen is a non-negotiable when it comes to good skin health. Sun damage is the biggest cause of premature ageing and skin cancer and is very much avoidable with proper care. Did you know that we are exposed to 80% of sun for our whole lifetime but the time we are 18 years old. This means, sun protection should begin with your children.

What tips do we recommend for proper sun care? Using a broad spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of SPF30. Wearing protective clothing (cover your shoulders, arms and legs). Lastly, sun avoidance - try to avoid being outside during the hours of 11am and 3pm. If you must be, try and wear a cap, scarf or use an umbrella. 

We hear complaints that sunscreen leaves a caste, sunscreen makes you darker (these contain tanning agents) but there are so many types of sunscreen that there will definitely be one suited to your skin. 

For more in-depth tailored skincare advice and routines based on your skin type, struggles and goals, book a Skincare Consultation with us.