What is the Best Daily Skincare Routine?

One look at the shelves of any store you might walk into or browse online, and you are bombarded with the never-ending claims and promises related to various beauty products that are available to us today — cleansers, scrubs, toners, masks, serums, moisturizers… … and the list goes on.

This not only adds to the confusion of what to apply when but also weighs heavily on our pockets, leaving us with the endless search for ‘that miracle topical’ that promises the ‘fountain of youth’ that everyone is after.

Forgive me if it seems exaggerated but I receive this question almost daily, if not multiple times in the day-

“What is the Best Daily Skincare Routine?”

Before we go any further, let me break your bubble at the very outset- There is NO best anything in the world. One man’s food is another man’s poison, remember?

The same is true when it comes to skincare and almost all facets of life. I want you to remember the concept of Bio-individuality always [I delve into its details in the post here- Do Diets work? Understanding Bio-individulality]

As to which products are best suited for your skin type, it is something that you need to assess for yourself or get assessed by a professional. In this post today, I will guide you toward understanding the basics so that you can design a great skincare routine for yourself.

What does an Ideal Skincare routine consist of?

If you are a skincare enthusiast, you are probably aware that some people spend up to an entire hour both morning and night, trying to look after their skin! At the other end of the spectrum, there are others who spend little to no time at all. Moderation is always the key and so it is true here as well.

An Ideal skincare routine includes 2 aspects-

1. What you apply to the skin and subject it to…
2. What you feed the skin (mind and body) from within…

Both of these are required in order to get the best results. Even if you spend a fortune applying the best topicals available today, you won’t see the desired results unless you nourish your skin and the associated organs with the right nutrition it requires.

Now that you are aware of the 2 fundamentals that we need to tackle, I’m sure you are ready to begin your holistic skincare journey. Let’s dive in…

Morning Skincare Routine

For those who are fully dedicated to maximizing their beauty routine, there are 7 steps toward taking care of the skin externally. These include:

• Cleansing
• Exfoliating 
• Facial masks
• Toning
• Serums
• Moisturizers
• Sunscreen

You do NOT have to follow all 7 steps every single day. I personally don’t. I’ll guide you through the essentials so that you can still achieve beautiful, healthy skin without needing to include every one of these steps.

If time allows, you might choose to pamper yourself with a face mask or a combination of more elaborate procedures about 1–2 times per week.

1. Cleanse

A successful skincare routine begins with gentle cleansing of your face. When you wake up, use a cleanser that will help remove any excess oil and products that you applied the night before. 

I have seen many cleanse too much or too often or use a cleanser that’s too harsh, which will actually break down your skin’s protective barrier. If you have extremely dry or sensitive skin, I suggest simply rinsing your face with water in the morning.

When opting for a cleanser, choose one that’s a good fit for your skin type… such as a foaming cleanser if you have oily skin or a cleansing oil or soap-free cream cleanser if your skin is dry. If you’re prone to breakouts, using a cleanser with clarifying ingredients added to it such as salicylic acid, or glycolic acid can help with occasional use.

Wash off your cleanser with warm water then use a clean towel to pat your face dry.

2. Moisturize

Contrary to popular belief, a moisturizer is needed by all skin types. Even if you don’t necessarily have dry skin, you can still benefit from applying a moisturizer every day.

If I had to choose the bare minimum to-do’s in any skincare routine, it would be to cleanse and moisturize + sun protection.

The type of moisturizer you use will depend on your skin type. I personally like using a combination of oils, creams, and serums based on the way my skin feels and the environment I am in.

If you are concerned about plumping your skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles, try to look out for certain ingredients that confer some benefit.

Some ingredients to look for include:

• Hyaluronic acid can plump and hydrate almost all skin types, including those focused on healthy aging.
• Botanical oils, most of which provide lightweight hydration, such as almond, olive, jojoba, marula, or argan oils. Coconut oil and sesame oil are good options as well but have the potential to occlude pores.
• Preferably choose those that are free of fragrances and alcohol.

My personal Favourites are:

• Anovite: Cream and Serum Duo
• Plant Therapy: Facial serum trio set
• Kora Organics: Noni Glow Face Oil
• KORA Organics Noni Night AHA Resurfacing Serum
• Annmarie Clean Beauty Trial Pack
• Essential Living: Witch Hazel Toner

3. Serum(s), Toner(s) and more

While cleaning and moisturizing your skin might be enough to keep it looking great when you’re young, as you age you’ll want to use more targeted products that help during that stage of life.  

This is where serums and toners come in handy since they can help maintain healthy microbial equilibrium, balance oil production, and fight dark spots and outward signs of aging.

You’ll want to choose these products carefully depending on your needs. Here are some examples of ingredients to consider using daily (or every other day at first if you have sensitive skin):

• A toner helps to remove dirt and balance the skin’s pH, such as witch hazel (try every other day) or a simple splash of rose water.
• Antioxidant serums that include vitamin C and vitamin E can help combat free radicals to support and maintain healthy skin. 
• Niacinamide (aka vitamin B3) can help support a healthy skin barrier and brighten skin.
• Peptides (or amino acids) help to build skin and contribute to healthy elasticity and tone.

4. Sunscreen

I often get questioned the most when I share my recommendation for sunscreen application.

Unless you have a specific condition or have been subjected to procedures that make your skin prone to ultraviolet light and its deleterious effects, you do NOT have to apply sunscreen every single day. When I say this, it obviously means, you have healthy skin, devoid of any serious skin conditions, and not subject to particular dermatological procedures.

I want you to be smart and attentive to your skin’s needs.

The sunscreens available today are packed with endocrine disrupters and hormone dysregulators and your skin absorbs almost everything you apply over it right within the bloodstream.

Furthermore, our skin is an excellent site to kickstart Vitamin D production for the body and you want to make use of this wonderful benefit as far as possible. Choose a physical sunscreen preferably (Tip- Choose those recommended for kids, they are relatively safer!) and one that is free of any irritants and fragrances.

You MUST apply sunscreen if –

• You are going to spend more than 10 minutes in the direct afternoon sun
• Your skin has been subjected to any procedure, including the use of chemical peels, lasers, etc
• You have sensitive skin that gets reddened and burns easily
• You are diagnosed with rosacea, melasma, and similar conditions
• You have a personal or family history of melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, or any other skin tumor
• You are applying or consuming retinoic acid/Vitamin A for the treatment of acne, anti-aging, etc

As always, consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your routine.

Evening Skincare Routine

Now, what is the correct skincare routine at night before bed you may ask?

As always, I like keeping it simple:

1. Cleanse well – Our skin comes in contact with environmental pollutants, dirt, and other factors each day that should be gently removed.
2. Treat with serums
3. Moisturize

Just like in the morning, you want to first cleanse your skin at night to get rid of built-up oil, makeup, and other debris that can negatively impact your skin.

After you’ve dried your clean skin, choose which serums and toners you want to apply. While you can use the same products you use in your morning routine, you may find the need to add that little extra something once in a while to take care of certain problem areas of the face and as we age:

• Alpha hydroxy acids are facial acids that have an exfoliating effect. These can be applied over clean skin to remove any grime from your pores, allowing other products to penetrate your skin more easily.

• Retinol/vitamin A is perhaps one of the best available topicals for reducing visible signs of aging, such as fine lines and dark spots. Make sure you moisturize the skin and stay protected from the sun throughout the day if you use one. Remember, if you are starting out or have sensitive skin, begin by only applying retinol every other day and gradually build it into your routine once your skin begins to tolerate it well.

What are the Best healthy skin-supporting supplements/foods?

Aside from taking care of your skin externally, it is essential to support your overall skin health by feeding your body the nutrients it needs to naturally help build and promote healthy skin cells. While the list below is not exhaustive, here are a few of my favorites and key essentials to get you vibrant from the inside out.

1. Colostrum
2. Hydrolyzed Collagen Protein
3. Vitamin C-rich foods

1. Colostrum

Colostrum is a loaded whole food with over 700+ constituents that naturally balance and regenerate the body and has:
?87+ Natural Growth Factors
?100+ Natural Immune Factors
?All Essential Factors
?Metabolic Factors
?Vitamins & Minerals
?Amino Acids & Protein

It is a perfect combination and true whole food with wonderful benefits for the body and especially the skin.

Now I am very skeptical about the ones available in the market today. I am very happy with Anovite’s Colostrum6. It is Whole Colostrum, not extracted & it is independently third-party tested. To avoid paying the retail price remember to log in as a customer or associate (if you wish to share this wonderful resource & make a small earning) to unlock the wholesale price. Alternatively, send me a message, and I’ll be happy to guide you to get this brilliant and wonderful resource.

2. Hydrolyzed Collagen

Collagen is the most abundant type of protein in the body, so it plays a huge role in forming healthy skin (not to mention healthy hair, nails, joints, and your gut lining, too). 

I always prefer sourcing Hydrolyzed Collagen from reputable sources.

Hydrolyzed simply means that an all-natural enzyme process is used to break down the very long-chain collagen, into shorter-chain collagen peptides. Why do this? Because shorter-chain collagen peptides, with a lower molecular weight than gelatin or standard collagen, are much easier for the body to absorb.

You can either choose to get your collagen through whole foods or consume Hydrolyzed Collagen regularly to provide your body with amino acids that support skin elasticity, meaning those that can target crow’s feet and promote the appearance of healthy skin tone. This will also promote healthy hair thickness and growth in addition. 

If you choose not to opt for collagen, there is a wonderful plant-based protein alternative, but I cannot equate the usefulness of the two.

3. Vitamin C

Did you know that skin health is tied to gut health and overall immune system health?

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that acts as an antioxidant, meaning it supports healthy immune system function, gut-related immunity, digestion, and nutrient absorption. Consuming adequate amounts of this vitamin is an intelligent way to support cellular health and take care of your body in multiple ways.

Including Vitamin C-rich foods in your diet are a great way to reap all the benefits. But it just isn’t possible to get enough required regularly. For this reason, I source 100 % Pure Acerola– one of my favorite ways to get the required Vitamin C I need to give that extra glow to my inner skin.

Most whole-food-based vitamin C powders are a blend of different fruits like acerola, camu camu, and amla. But it has been observed that when you try blending acerola with other fruits, either the nutrient levels decrease or purity is compromised.

The only fruit that makes the cut and delivers what is promised is acerola, and I trust the one from Perfect Supplements. It is:

• Sourced exclusively from food
• Organic
• Naturally abundant in Vitamin C 
• Free of added ascorbic acid
• Freeze-dried to keep nutrients intact 
• Lab tested for purity
• Free of fillers, flow agents, and other ingredients
• Pleasant tasting
• Affordable 

Sometimes less really is more, isn’t it?

Ultimately, caring for your skin is simply a matter of preference and needs to be judged according to your own bio-individual skin needs.

I hope I could give you some clarity on this important topic and sorted through all the noise. 

Being mindful of what products you choose and what ingredients they contain can help you tremendously in your journey towards clear skin, healthy hair, and achieving your health goals.

Being proactive in our choices today can ensure better overall health for years.

Want me to create a Skincare/ Haircare Routine for you or review your current one?

I’ve been getting an overwhelming amount of people asking me to tell them what to use on their skin or help with preventing hair loss. I wish I could create a video and give everyone the same answer, but I can’t because your skin, hair, and body are UNIQUE to YOU! 

If you are serious about getting a phenomenal skincare/ hair care routine that HEALS and PROTECTS your skin/hair. That makes your skin GLOW from health and glory!

Then I’ll see you on the other side of the call. ​

Till then,

Continue to glow, thrive, and shine as always.

Sending lots of healthy and happy wishes your way. ?

P.S.- If you like what I share, consider Subscribing to stay connected. I do NOT spam. Promise!