What content and methods does the skin care process include

In fact, there is no unified standard answer to the skin care process. The core needs are always the three steps of cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection. The rest of the exfoliation, functional essences, facial masks, etc. are all optional items that can be added on demand. There is really no need to impose a burden on your skin by forcing a dozen-step "standard process" uploaded online.

A while ago, I helped my cousin with oily skin who just went to college to adjust her skin care routine. She followed the instructions of a beauty blogger and she had to apply foundation, whitening essence, anti-inflammatory essence, lotion, and cream in the morning and evening before applying makeup. Her chin and forehead were all stuffy. She kept her mouth shut, and then she changed her routine to morning amino acid cleansing + oil control essence + sunscreen, and evening cleansing + repairing essence + refreshing lotion. In just over half a month, the face she showed me was mostly smooth, and even the oiliness was much reduced.

If you have dry skin and your face becomes taut in autumn and winter, you can apply multiple layers of soft toner after cleansing, then layer a skin care oil and finally apply a cream to lock in moisture. If you have mixed oils in summer and feel sticky when applying multiple layers, it is perfectly fine to apply essence and sunscreen directly after washing your face. You don’t have to be constrained by the so-called "correct sequence".

Speaking of toners, there has been a lot of quarrel in the skin care circles in the past two years. One group says that toners are IQ taxes, with a low proportion of active ingredients, or are added with alcohol and fragrance. It is better to save money and go directly to effective essences; the other group believes that toners can quickly infiltrate the stratum corneum, soften old dead skin cells, and make subsequent skin care products absorbed faster. My own experience after using it is that in the summer when the T-zone is oily, applying a refreshing oil-controlling toner is indeed more comfortable than applying essence directly, and the makeup is not so easy to come off afterward. In winter, when the skin is dry and cracked, there is really not much difference whether to use a toner or not. To put it bluntly, it depends on your own skin texture and needs.

As for the commonly mentioned cleansing mask, exfoliation, and facial mask, they do not need to be included in the daily routine. I used to have oily skin in the summer, and blackheads appeared quickly in my T-zone. I applied a salicylic acid mud mask once a week, and it was indeed able to remove a lot of the blackheads that emerged. However, my best friend with dry skin tried this once, and her face became red and sensitive for less than half a month. Now she applies a moisturizing mask once every half a month at most, and her skin condition has always been stable. Those with sensitive skin should pay more attention. Don’t follow the exfoliation trend. The stratum corneum itself is thin, and the probability of a sore face is particularly high if you use it too much.

If you need whitening or anti-aging effects, you don’t need to worry about the term “essence before water and essence after water” when adding essence. Except for highly irritating ingredients such as retinoids, fruit acids, and salicylic acid, it is recommended to use them after moisturizing products to reduce irritation to the skin.

By the way, don’t underestimate the step of sunscreen. Many people think that there is no need to apply sunscreen in winter or on cloudy days, even at home. My mother thought so two years ago. She didn’t even wear a hat when going out in winter, and the sun spots on her cheekbones were more obvious than those in summer. Later, she insisted on applying sun screen every day and wearing a hat when going out. Now the spots are so light that they are almost invisible. Ultraviolet rays exist all year round. Even if you sit by the window and work, you will have photoaging problems over time. This step is really unavoidable.

Actually speaking, there are not so many rules for skin care. You feel comfortable after applying it, your skin is in stable condition, and you don’t get acne or redness. The process that you can stick to is the most suitable for you. There is really no need to copy other people’s dozens of steps. The process that suits you is the best.