10 of the most common skincare questions answered by the BC pros

We all have those burning questions we want answered when it comes to looking after our skin the best we can but with the plethora of information out there, thanks to today’s countless number of beauty bloggers, vloggers, editors and influencers alike, it’s easy to get a little overwhelmed when it comes to the abundance of beauty advice. From what you should be using to how to best care for your skin concern, the BC experts have answered 10 of the most common skincare questions asked, and not only by our BC customers but the majority of people globally too!

 

Q 1. What products should everyone have in their skincare routine?

A. The basic steps of a skin-care routine are a gentle cleanser, an exfoliator, a moisturizer, and a sunscreen. But for optimum results it’s a great idea to build in a toner, serum, eye cream, face mask and face oil too!

 

Q 2. What order should I apply my products?

A. While skincare is very much a personal choice and depends on your skin type and concern, when it comes to the order of application there is a right way and a wrong way! Applying your skincare products in the proper order will ensure your skin receives the full benefits of each product.

Every product is formulated with a number of key ingredients to help our skin but only a very small amount of these ingredients can properly penetrate to the deeper layers of the dermis which is why the order we apply them is paramount! If you don’t apply them in the correct order, you will not see the best results from your skincare routine.

Here is the order in which you should apply your products to get the most out of them. And remember to really see a difference in your skin, you should follow this routine both morning and night.

1. It goes without saying that your skincare routine has to start with a clean face. A gentle, natural cleanser that also takes off make-up is definitely your best choice. For more info on cleansing click here.
2. After cleansing it’s a good idea to use a toner or otherwise known as a lotion, but there is a lot of hype around whether a toner is really necessary. It’s a personal choice at the end of the day but today’s toners do everything from protect the skin, to controlling excess oil to adding additional moisturising benefits. In fact, they help prepare the skin so that when you put your moisturizer on, it works even more effectively.
3. An imperative part of any skincare routine is to exfoliate. But an exfoliator should only be used once or twice a week depending on your skin type. Exfoliators are paramount when it comes to keeping your skin silky soft and smooth by buffing away and removing unwanted dead skin cells and debris. They keep pores clean and in turn prevent skin from becoming blocked leading to breakouts! To learn all about the benefits of exfoliating click here.
4. Next comes the serum. Serums may seem a little “extra,” but given how much it does for the skin—from evening skin tone, to brightening your complexion, reducing dark spots to softening the appearance of fine lines—there really isn’t a single reason why you wouldn’t want to incorporate one into your skin care routine. I’m personally obsessed with my serums. To learn more about why you need a serum in your skincare routine as well as the best anti-ageing serums for every skin type click here.
5. Moisturiser. Hydrating your skin is one of the best ways to fend off aging and keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay. To really get the maximum effect of a moisturiser, try to find one that not only provides moisture but locks it in too! To read all about the top selling moisturisers on BC click here.
6. An eye cream. The area around the eye is extraordinarily delicate and ages very, very quickly, so treat it with care by incorporating a really good eye cream or gel into your skin care routine. You won’t be sorry you did!
7. Sunscreen. We all know my stance on sunscreen! Protecting your skin from the sun with a good sunscreen should be as vital a part of your skin care regime as washing your face! In fact, it is THE no. 1 preventative skincare for ageing! And we all NEED to be using it daily come rain, hale or shine!

 

Q 3. Should I be using different products for morning and night?

A. Obviously, there is no need to apply sunscreen at night but using a face oil nightly before bed (and as the last product in your skincare routine) will do wonders for your skin! Click here for the 6 reasons why you should start using face oils!

It’s also a great idea to incorporate a face mask at night, once a week. If you want to know more about why you should use a face mask too, click here.

 

 

Q 4. Do I really need a separate eye cream or can I use my moisturiser?

A. You’ve been told to invest in an eye cream but you aren’t sure why you should fork out the extra dollars, after all do you really need to use a separate cream for your eyes? Will your moisturiser not suffice?

You could indeed use your moisturiser as an eye cream but it’s definitely not advised and we are here to explain why.

In short, eye treatments whether it be creams, gels or serums are specifically formulated to target and care for the delicate area around the eyes, the thinnest layer of skin on our entire bodies! In fact, the skin under our eyes is up to 1/10 thinner than other facial skin so it’s crucial to care delicately for this area to avoid any damage.

Like a moisturiser, an eye cream’s main objective is to deliver brightening and anti-ageing ingredients, however in a milder, gentler, safer dose.  Moisturisers tend to have a much richer consistency in comparison to their counterpart which if applied under the eyes can prove too much, resulting in irritation, allergic reactions and milia.

Eye treatments also tend to be targeted to specific eye concerns – crow’s feet, under eye bags, dark circles instead of the huge array of facials concerns a moisturiser is targeted too, so it actually saves time and money in the long run! Also some ingredients that often appear in eye treatments, not so much face moisturisers (for example Ginkgo Biloba, caffeine…) can offer quick and temporary fixes to problems specific to just the eye area.

The bottom line is that eye creams are essentially facial moisturisers that are modified for use on the more delicate skin around the eyes and let’s not forget this skin ages faster than the rest of your face so there is no time like the present to start looking after it correctly!

 

Q 5. How often should you exfoliate?

A. While there isn’t a hard and fast rule when it comes to exfoliating, generally if you have normal to oily skin exfoliating 2 to 3 times a week is good. However, if you have dry skin 1-2 times a week is advisable. Even those suffering with sensitive or acne prone skin need to exfoliate, you just need to steer clear of physical exfoliators which contain granules which can further irritate the skin, instead opt for enzyme exfoliators. To learn more about exfoliating and then best exfoliators for your skin type click here.

 

Q 6. How can you prevent your skin from ageing?

A. Unfortunately, aging skin is a natural part of getting older, but there are some things you can do to help stop your skin from ageing prematurely. First and foremost, apply sunscreen every single day whether it’s sunny, overcast or raining, to protect your skin against harmful sun damage. The sun’s powerful UV rays even have the ability to penetrate glass, so wearing it at all times is best! Sun damage can lead to the formation of wrinkles and dark spots. It is also recommended that you use gentle cleansers to avoid unnecessary dryness or irritation, which can cause the skin to become inflamed.

Ensuring you follow a comprehensive skincare routine is also paramount. Make sure you look out for products containing the top 5 skincare ingredients too!

 

Q 7. What age should you start using anti-ageing skincare products/products designed specifically for ageing?

A. This is one of the most common skincare questions. Many experts advise that you begin using anti-aging products in your 20s and continue to incorporate them as part of your daily skincare routine. This is because your skin stops producing collagen in your 20s. Resultantly, anti-aging products offer preventative measures against the visible signs of aging.

 

Q 8. How can you get rid of my acne?

A. If you are suffering from acne but nothing seems to be improving it, we are here to help. Firstly, though you need to understand which acne you are suffering from and then you can understand how to best treat it. For more information click here.

 

Q 9. Can you use retinol if you have sensitive skin?

A. In short, the answer to this is yes! And retinol is one of THE best skincare ingredients going, in fact it’s hailed by most of us skincare experts as the Holy Grail of the skincare world! But those with sensitive or easily irritated skin should approach retinol use with caution as it can cause skin irritation if used at the wrong time and incorrectly. For your guide to this superhero ingredient read more here.

 

Q 10. What is the best moisturiser for dry skin?

A. There is a multitude of moisturisers on the market targeted at dry skin. When deciding what might be best for you though, it’s important to look at the key ingredients in the cream. You want a deeply nourishing moisturiser for your dry skin so hydrating ingredients are a must. These include;

Shea Butter

Hyaluronic Acid

Vitamin E

Glycerin

Squalane

Aloe

Pevonia’s Dry Skin Cream is a dream for those parched complexions just turning for a moisturising boost. It is formulated with shea butter, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe and collagen and counteracts dryness while diminishing fine lines and wrinkles for a rejuvenated, hydrated appearance!

If you still have unanswered beauty questions, please search our blog for tips, tricks and expert knowledge when it comes to skin concerns, steps, products, ingredients and more. Also feel free to contact us at Beauty Collective.