Skin care can be overwhelming, right? Do I need a foaming or oil-based cleanser? Aren’t toners full of alcohol and make my skin feel tight? Do I really need to add oil onto my face?! Do I need to start eye cream now or later in life?
When I started out my skin care routine, I had all those thoughts, and many more, go through my head. With information overload and all the products available, it’s overwhelming. Plus, products cost a pretty penny.
For all three products we’ll discuss that build out your skin care foundation, you’ll spend under $100. Or under $45 if you opt for the travel size for testing instead!
If you’re just starting out and need help knowing where to start, today’s blog post is for you. To make starting your skin care routine less overwhelming and more financially feasible, this will be a three part series! Once you have phase 1 under your belt and feel confident in the products that support your skin, move onto phase two and then three.
Note – my blog is my sharing my personal learnings. Always seek professional advice from your dermatologist.
Before we hop into what products you’ll need to build the foundation of your skincare routine, you need to understand what skin type you have.
WHAT IS YOUR SKIN TYPE?
Normal skin: This skin type has a proper balance of moisture, oil and durability.
Oily skin: Does your face look shiny, greasy or oily a few hours after washing it? OR do you have large pores?
Dry skin: Dry skin features facial pores that are hard to see a few hours after being washed.
Sensitive skin: This skin type often feels tight or itchy, and experiences allergic reactions and flushing when put into contact with certain chemicals.
Combination skin: If some parts of your face are oily while others are dry or sensitive, you have combination skin.
*This is my skin type. I have large pores around my nose [large pores = oily], but I struggle with dryness everywhere else. It’s also sensitive. I NEVER thought I was considered oily, but I learned at my MedSpa that large pores = oily skin!
PHASE 1: HOW TO BUILD A SKINCARE ROUTINE
1.CLEANSER
Cleansers are vital for cleaning off make up, dirt and debris from both the day and night. I use my cleanser in the morning while in the shower and then at night before bed.
To keep it simple at first, find one cleaner that is good for every day use. This may look different for each person, but keep reading because I have an easy solution for you below.
If you have oily skin you may want a cleanser with a low pH level, which will be more effective for gently washing away excess oil. For dry skin, you’ll want to avoid products with alcohol which increases dryness. If you have sensitive skin, you will want to avoid heavy fragranced cleansers.
As a beginner, I suggest this cleanser for many reasons, but one being that it works for all skin types.
Tula means balance. This entire product line works to balance your skin’s pH levels which in turn will reduce any skin issues ranging from both ends of the spectrum – oil and/or acne to dry and/or wrinkles.
If you find a different cleanser to try, just ensure it is not exfoliating. An exfoliating cleanser should not be used every day and it’s something you add into rotation down the line!
SHOP: TULA PURIFYING CLEANSER – $28, BUT ONLY $23 AFTER USING CODE ‘MINDY’ AT CHECKOUT
2.TONER
Toner’s have a bad rap. We all probably used some sort of alcohol-filled toner in our teenage years to blast blemishes. Due to this, toner’s have a bad reputation of being too harsh and super drying. Neither of these results lead to a glowing complexion.
Due to this, many of us have deemed toner’s as unnecessary, but guys.. toners have changed and they are definitely a skin care foundation in my book.
Old alcohol heavy toners are a thing of the past. The newest generation of toners have healthier properties and can address many skin care concerns, rather than just acne or oil.
Use toner daily after you cleanse to guy your pores, clear off dead skin and remove any excess oil that your cleanser didn’t catch.
If you’re looking for a toner to try, this is my favorite because
- Probiotics and glycolic acid tone and exfoliate skin and removes excess oil and debris
- Hydrates skin and locks in moisture with natural mushroom and beet extract
- Reduces inflammation with turmeric extract
- Skin feels smoother and 94% of women in a 4 week clinical study agree.
- Balances your pH levels to the ideal state.Low pH levels result in acidic skin that’s prone to breakouts, redness and irritation. High scoring pH levels bring you to the alkaline or “basic” area where you’re more prone to wrinkles. You want to be at a 4 or 5 pH level out of 14.
Apply toner right after cleansing while pores are still open from the warm water which will help get the product into your skin. You can apply via your fingers tips [since this one is a gel] or a cotton ball. Finger will use less product, but applying with a cotton ball will also help remove even more junk from your skin.
SHOP: TULA PRO-GLYCOLIC 10% PH RESURFACING GEL – $34, BUT ONLY $27 AFTER USING CODE ‘MINDY’ AT CHECKOUT
3.MOISTURIZER
A great moisturizer is a key product for a skin care foundation. After clearing all the dirt, grim and excess oil off your skin, now you need something to replenish your skin’s hydration, prevent against wrinkles and reduce trouble areas like dark spots, redness or dullness.
I suggest Tula’s Hydrating Day and Night Cream because
- It work to balance your skin’s pH, making it ideal for all skin types.
- It’s gentle and great for sensitive skin.
- It’s light enough to wear under make up, but thick enough to actually hydrate.. the perfect consistency!
- It soaks into skin super quickly
- It has retinol (Vitamin A) built in which helps improve tone & texture and reduce the appearance of wrinkles
- It has chicory root which is a natural anti-inflammatory prebiotic that helps boost the appearance of firmer skin
- Inside you’ll find Watermelon Fruit Extract which is rich in antioxidants and is deeply hydrating
SHOP: TULA’S HYDRATING DAY AND NIGHT CREAM, $52, BUT $42 AFTER USING CODE ‘MINDY’ AT CHECKOUT
Another face cream I love that would be great for all skin types is theBeautycounter Adaptive Moisture Lotion. I’ve tested it over the last four months and will be repurchasing.
It could work for all skin types because, as noted below, one REALLY cool thing about this moisturizer is that is adjusts the hydration it give your skin depending on what your skin needs. So whether you’re super dry or lean oily, the product will customize the moisture your skin receives.
- 100% CLEAN! [Join my clean beauty list here].
- Super lightweight, but effective
- Soaks in very quickly so you can wear under make up
- Continuously provides hydration up to 24-hours
- Adjusts hydration levels throughout the day depending on what amount your skin needs!
SHOP – BEAUTYCOUNTER ADAPTIVE MOISTURE LOTION, $49
So there you have it! Your skin care routine foundation. Just tree products all for under $100 [when you use code ‘MINDY’ at checkout].
1.CLEANSER
2.TONER
If you want to buy travel size to test all three out, here is an awesome bundle! With my code ‘MINDY’, you’ll get $86 worth of product for $42.It also includes their amazing Illuminating Serum that you can start using or wait until we rotate that in during phase 2 🙂
Once you have found a product you really enjoy for all three, you’re ready to move onto phase 2. In phase 2, we will build from this foundation and add in some other key products.
Also check out this blog post where I walk you though how to apply your skin care products in the most efficient and effective order and this blog post where I dive into the science behind skin pH levels and why they are the root cause of almost all skin issues.
Don’t forget you can use code ‘MINDY’ to receive 20% off Tula’s entire site. Xo Mindy
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