A Rundown of Skin Care Products

By Isabella Tarrant

There are thousands of different skin care products available in today's market. It is incredibly overwhelming to an outsider or someone wanting to create their own routine. I’ll be telling you about the different types of products available and what they do.

Eye Make-up Remover

- Eye Make-up Remover is exactly what is sounds like. If you wear a lot of eye make-up, waterproof mascara or long-lasting eye make-up a good remover will help you to wipe away the majority of it gently and easily.

- They can come in the variety of types such as simply eye make-up remover, micellar waters or bi phase product that is normally an oil mixed with something else that needs to be shaken to work. They are essentially the same thing, with the same goal to be achieved.

- Used on a cotton pad and held over the eye area before being gently swept away to remove the product.

Cleansers

- Cleansers are what you use to remove the rest of your make-up.

- They come in a variety of formulas: oils, balms, gels and creams. The consistency is made to match what your skin likes the feel of and what skin type you have. They’re made to melt away the rest of your makeup and cleanse the skin.

- If you wear a lot of makeup or a high sun protection factor (SPF) daily, then you should double cleanse your skin, to ensure it is thoroughly cleaned.

- Used with your hands on a dry face of make-up and wiped gently all over the face. Work it carefully over the eye area and massaged in with some warm water. After, remove with a face cloth and warm water.

Face Wash

- Another pretty self-explanatory product.

- Has a couple of formulas, gels and creams or sometimes even an oil-in-gel formula. However, the type of one you use will depend on what you like the feel of and your skin type.

- These ensure that any excess makeup or SPF has been cleared from your skin and open up your pores to remove dirt or grease.

- Used with your hands and swept all over a damp face, avoiding the eye area. Worked in for about 30 seconds and then removed with a face cloth and warm water.

Physical Exfoliators

- These are products that will help with the texture or your skin. These contain small pieces that you can feel on your skin.

- Designed to be used two or three times a week, depending on the type of exfoliator, on damp skin. Worked in well over areas of concern: dry, flakey skin or areas with blackheads. Removed with warm water and a face cloth.

Toners

- Toners are really important and often overlooked. They close your pores to avoid dirt or grease getting into them.

- They are used to remove any excess product and balance the pH of your skin.

- Used on a dry face with cotton pads. Can be used on the eyes and swept over the entire face and neck.

Exfoliating Toners

- The other type of exfoliators is and acid-based toner.

- Not necessarily for everyone and the opposite to physical exfoliators.

- The acid exfoliates the skin by lifting away dead skin cells and normally aids with skin texture. They essentially eat away at skin cells and encourage new skin cells to generate.

- These are to be used all over a dry face with a cotton pad, but never on the eye area.

- Different acids are used in exfoliating toners but essentially all deliver the same result.

Serums

- Serums are another overlooked product. They boost whatever moisturising product you put on after them to penetrate deeper levels of your skin.

- Really hydrating on the skin.

- Different formulas for different skin types and preferences: very thin liquids or oils or more gel-type consistencies. They also tend to be quite lightweight.

- Used after a toner on dry skin all over the face, avoiding the eye area.

- A small amount is needed and should be pressed into the skin. I suggest taking a 20 pence sized amount and rubbed between the palms of your hands. Then pressed over the skin to allow your skin to absorb it.

Essences

- Essences do a very similar thing to serums but are much lighter in consistency.

- Allow your moisturiser and any other products to sink in deeper to the skin and hydrate it.

- They can feel like water and should be used in the same way as a serum.

- Can be used as a serum dependant on the texture you prefer and what you feel your skin needs.

Eye Cream

- Eye cream is a really important product and should be used from the age of about 20.

- The skin under the eyes is much thinner and more delicate than the skin on the rest of your face.

- A couple of formulas, depending on the type of skin you have around your eyes and preference in formula. Creams and gels.

- Creams are richer and more nourishing – take longer to sink in.

- Gels are lighter and more hydrating – sink in faster.

- The best way to apply an eye cream is by taking a really small amount, rubbed between your fourth fingers and patted under the eye, along the orbital bone. (The bone you can feel around your eye, the socket..) Moisturisers

- Moisturisers hydrate, moisturise and nourish the skin. They lock in all the other products you have used before and protect your skin's natural moisture barrier.

- Lots of different formulas for different skin types and needs. Rich creams, thinner creams, gel-creams and gels.

- The amount will vary, depending on the skin type and the formula.

- Applied all over the face, avoiding the eye are and swept up the neck.

Oils

- Facial Oils are amazing at healing, protecting, nourishing and treating the skin.

- Loads of different facial oils that benefit the skin in a number of ways.

- They are predominantly for nourishing and protecting the skin, they lock in moisture and help to regulate the skins production of sebum (oil).

- Can be used like a serum, a few drops and patted into the skin. The concentration of them means they can disturb your skin's texture if wiped on to the skin. Can be followed by a moisturiser or used as the last step of the routine and have no moisturiser followed. Can also apply it after your moisturiser to lock in previous products.

SPF

- Sun Protection Factor: one of the most overlooked and forgotten products. In as few words as possible – you need to wear SPF every day.

- It might not make sense to a lot of people, especially in the UK because it’s barely every sunny or hot, but SPF protects from more than just sunburn.

- SPF protects your skin from UV Rays. UVA and UVB rays are emitted every day, even overcast or cloudy days and they are what can cause premature ageing and skin cancer.

- By wearing an SPF every day, you are protecting yourself from the damage that these rays do as well as getting sunburnt. Nowadays a lot of moisturisers or make-up products contain SPF so remembering to wear it should be really easy. If not then some good lightweight, non-sticky and invisible SPFs are; The Body Shop Skin Defence SPF 50, Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defence SPF 50 and the La Roche-Posay Anthelios AC Anti-Shine Matte Fluid SPF 30.

- Wearing an SPF every day will protect your skin and help it to look its best for longer.

Extras:

Face Masks

- There are hundreds of different types of face masks that will all do different things for your skin.

- These are a treatment for your skin and should be used two or sometimes three times a week.

- If you are using a purifying mask then be advised that, if you have an event or something happening, do this a few days before the event as they may draw out impurities that could result in a spot coming to a head.

- I would suggest using these after you have cleansed (or double cleansed) if they are exfoliating. If they are moisturising or energising then after exfoliating if you are doing so.

- Application with a brush ensures the most even application and will help you to not overuse your product and waste any. Muslin/ Microfibre Cloths

- Muslin cloths are ideal for gentle exfoliation. If you don’t want to use a physical exfoliator or an acid-based exfoliating toner, then a muslin cloth dampened with warm water is a really gentle and easy way to exfoliate your skin. Can also be used on your lips to remove any chapped skin there too. They’re perfect for removing face masks and exfoliators.

- Microfibre cloths are like very soft flannels. These are ideal for removing cleansers as they’re really gentle and don’t exfoliate the skin.

Face Mists

- Face mists come in different forms for the skin type you have.

- They are really good at refreshing the skin and can help to quickly hydrate your skin.

- Use whenever, read the label as some may interfere with make-up.

Face Massagers/ Jade Rollers

- Facial massagers come in a variety of shapes, sizes and forms– they might help to de-puff the skin, tighten the muscles in the face or aid in absorption of your moisturiser. Depends on the type of massager you get.

- When to use it depends on the type of massager you have.

- Jade rollers are used to de-puff the skin. They might come in a roller form or as large stones. These are best kept in the fridge so they will stay super cold and feel really refreshing. They are used to drain lymphatic fluid from your face. The spiritual belief surrounding jade as a crystal is that jade has its own healing powers.

- Use in the morning, after your skincare routine.

Spots, Acne and Breakouts

- Spots will differ for each individual; you might get hormonal spots; you might have breakouts quite regularly; you might suffer from acne or you might be left with scars. The annoying thing about the different types of spots is that there are a million and one different products that claim they’re the best.

- Because there is so much within how to treat breakouts and help fight acne I will do an entire post about it. However, to avoid not including it at all, I’ll cover a couple of the best spot fighting ingredients.

- Tea Tree Oil: this stuff is what I recommend to anyone who has spot prone skin. You may have tried it before and not seen results but The Body Shop’s is something that has changed the game for me and any customers or friends I have recommended it to. Tea Tree Oil is an ingredient that is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory so is perfect for spots because it prevents the bacteria from spreading and dries the spot out to get rid of it. I’ve found that the Tea Tree Clay mask and the Tea Tree Oil 15%* is the best combination.

*The percentage is important because if it has not already been diluted then you will need to dilute it, otherwise it will be too intense for your skin and damage it.

- Salicylic Acid: it’s an exfoliating acid that encourages skin cell turnover and in turn opening up and cleaning out your pores. It is such a powerful ingredient that it is used at a minimal percentage. It also helps with skin texture and is less irritating on the skin than other products.

- La Roche-Posay – this is a brand that specialises in acne and spot prone skin care. It is a brand that comes highly recommended. You can find out more about their products here.