Do you follow a beauty routine? Millions of people around the world do, and we all have our own ideas about what’s right and what’s wrong when it comes to taking care of our skin and perfecting a ‘look’. As such, you can hear a lot of conflicting information about the best thing to do to keep your face looking healthy with a glow – with all these trends, it’s often hard to keep up!
Which is why it’s best to focus on you. Block out the noise and ensure you’re only thinking about what works for you and what doesn’t. This way you’ll waste far less money, and you can even end up feeling far more secure in your own body! And often enough this means making your own mind up about what you want to look like, and whether a product is really good or bad.
Indeed, a beauty routine should be flexible. It should be something you change as and when you need to, and should never get in the way of living a healthy and happy life! And if your beauty routine isn’t quite cutting it at the moment, now’s the time to do some research and make those much needed changes.
Your beauty routine can complement you to no end, as long as you know what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. So, let’s go through some of the most common questions surrounding skincare and makeup below to see whether you’re doing the right thing for the largest organ in your body, both inside and out.
Is it Drying Your Skin Out?
Sometimes a beauty routine can do a lot more damage than good. And a lot of that damage involves drying your skin out, which in turn could make your skin more oily and uncomfortable over time. It’s a long cycle that starts with a little too much exfoliation! And if you’re layering up various non-complementary products on top of that, your skin could be reacting negatively even further.
Always double check the chemicals used in any products you’d like to experiment with. Something harsh (like an alcohol base in any form) can dry you out due to the penetrating nature of the liquid involved, even if other people have recommended you try to use creams, toners, and even makeup products using it.
If you don’t have super oily skin already, something like this isn’t going to do much for you. Try something lighter, that’s either water or oil based, and you may notice your skin reacting more normally.
Does it Take Too Long?
A beauty routine that takes too long is one that doesn’t work, simple as! You don’t have to spend upwards of 10 minutes in front of the mirror morning and night – that’s super inconvenient. And if you’re trying to force yourself to commit to a multi-step routine that has you there for over half an hour, your love for your skin isn’t going to last long.
Plus, a super long beauty routine rarely works anyway. You don’t need to use multiple layers of similar products to try and achieve the right look; a lot of the work is done in the first couple applications! Think about this and try to cut back where you can; your beauty routine must be super expensive as well, and your bank account will definitely thank you here too!
Does it Move with the Trends?
If you follow a routine that’s changing all the time, that might be the very thing that needs to change. After all, trends come and go and often we find they didn’t even work in the first place! But social media has a lot of power over our lives, especially when it comes to the way we look, and sometimes that pressure is hard to escape. However, keeping this in mind will definitely give you some power over what’s being blasted at you 24/7!
What does this mean for you? Well, if you’ve noticed that your beauty routine changes every time someone recommends a new product, or there’s a new skincare method getting popular on Instagram, think about what it means for your skin in the long term. This is especially true if you’re thinking about getting cosmetic surgery due to its reputation online; any lip filler expert physician out there would tell you to think carefully and weigh up the pros and cons at length!
Is it Effective in all Weathers?
What’s going on outside should also inform the way you look after your skin. A winter weather set isn’t going to affect your pores in the same way the summer will, so change things around depending on what the weather report says. For example, a cold and dry day can help wick away the skin’s oils for you, so you won’t need to exfoliate as heavily, or even at all. On the other hand, a hot and humid day can bring the sweat out in full force, so start off right by encouraging as much of those oils out of your face as you can before the sun hits.
You should also think about the makeup you wear when it’s cold versus when it’s hot. Once again, go with your own skin type here and make a good decision for you. After all, a glossy foundation that’s water based is fine for some, but you may want to wear a more mattifying, oil based type if you’re someone who has very visible pores in hot weather.
Can You See Any Changes?
When all is said and done, do you think your beauty routine is actually working? Do you see any results, or any changes in the way your skin behaves? And we mean good ones here, such as less oil, less dry patches, and less acne. Any changes you don’t want to see can mean you’re not using the right products. But if you’re not noticing any changes at all, it could be because your current beauty steps aren’t impactful enough.
Maybe you’re mixing products wrong, or maybe you’re not doing the steps in the right order? Or maybe the skin toner isn’t right, or the contour cream you use isn’t thick enough? If you can go through your routine and note down the parts that don’t feel like they’re doing anything, you’re more likely to make a positive change.
Is Your Skin Becoming More ‘Difficult’?
It’s not just dryness that can affect you. A beauty routine can also make your skin more spotty and blemished, and even flaky in areas already prone to being dry, such as between your eyebrows. And if you’ve noticed that your skin is becoming more ‘difficult’ in ways like this, it could be a sign that you’re overindulging or even using something you’re allergic to.
Has this change been recent? If so, think about the products and/or steps you’ve added to your beauty routine, as it’s likely something new you’re using just doesn’t agree with you. And preventing anything else from happening is easy – just reverse engineer the process!
You can also speak to a dermatologist if need be, if the problem is getting serious or your skin is getting itchy or feeling like it’s burning. They can advise you on ways to fix the problem, soothe your skin, and even do an allergy test if they feel it’s necessary. Be sure to tell them all about the products you use, and even bring them in to show.
Are You Caring From the Inside as Well?
As we said above, the skin is the biggest organ in the body. That means you need to look after it from the inside as well. So, if your beauty routine doesn’t involve eating the right foods that are packed with nutrients, or there are no ‘deep hydration’ steps, it’s time to add them in! Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is key to a healthy life anyway, but be sure to start early, and get a few mouthfuls in before you begin with any topical treatments.
And yes, your diet may need to be tweaked just slightly as well. Some healthy fats may need to be slipped in, such as fish and nuts, and it’s never a bad idea to load up on proteins where you can either. A good chicken dinner that comes with plenty of veggies at least two times a week will do wonders for your skin. The more color that’s on your plate, the better your skin is going to function when it comes to looking after itself.
Your beauty routine should change as soon as you realize it doesn’t work for you. Take your time finding new products, ignore trends as they come and go, and don’t be afraid to skip a few steps if you feel they’re doing nothing for you. A good beauty routine looks after you in every way, so don’t let the stress of following one get you down!
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at Blufashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2018. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
