Everyone has a different vision of what their ‘ideal’ skin might look like. While some may be searching for a clearer, less congested complexion—others might want to target ageing or simply achieve a more consistent daily glow.
No matter the skin woe, however, the steps to achieving radiant, resilient skin begin with solid skincare. It’s also important to remember that keeping things simple and taking your skincare back to basics may be just what your skin needs. But like with everything desirable in life, good skin takes time and results won’t happen overnight.
The good news though, is that you can speed up results by taking a science-based solutions approach to your skincare routine and ensuring you use the best products available. While what you choose to incorporate into your daily skincare regimen over and above these essentials will depend on your specific skin concerns, these simple steps will lay the foundation for your ideal skin.
Step One: Cleanse
We regularly emphasise the importance of cleansing—at least once both morning and night—but in case you’re still willing to tempt fate and sleep in your makeup, we urge you to keep reading… Put simply, cleansing your face is about much more than simply rinsing away the day—it’s literally creating a blank canvas for all the nourishing skincare products that are to come after it. In the same way you wouldn’t dream of placing a freshly cooked meal on top of a dirty plate, you also wouldn’t slap a full face of makeup over dirty skin. Although seemingly obvious, cleansing is arguably the most important step in your skincare regime and should be considered with care. Choose a cleanser specifically formulated for your skin type and primary skin concerns and think of it as the first step in nourishing your skin with all the vital antioxidants, vitamins and minerals it needs to thrive.
For sensitive skin: LCA fx110 Gentle Cleanser
For acne-prone skin: Q+SOD fx210 Active Cleanser
Step Two: Exfoliate
While our skin cells are constantly shedding and regenerating, this process slows down significantly as we age. Any dead cells hanging out on the surface of our skin can therefore lead to clogged pores, dullness or unwanted congestion. By exfoliating regularly, however, we can quickly show off that fresh, radiant skin underneath! Furthermore, effective exfoliation also ensures that the rest of your skincare products—including your serums, masks and moisturisers—are able to penetrate more deeply, leading to optimal results. Without this crucial step, your skincare products—no matter how expensive—really aren’t able to do their job. Whether you opt for a physical or chemical exfoliant is up to your personal preference, but either way, it’s important not to skip this step.
Chemical exfoliant: LCA Smart Peel Pads
Physical exfoliant: LCA fx160 2xFoliant Peel & Scrub
Step Three: Moisturise
The first thing to remember is that moisturising is not just for those with dry skin—every skin type needs this crucial step. Moisturising also has two key functions—providing a fresh, dewy canvas to apply any remaining products to (including your makeup!) and as a final barrier to lock in moisturise and avoid dryness or excess oil. An easy way to tell if your skin isn’t hydrated enough is to look at how your makeup is sitting on your face. If it’s seeping into fine lines or sticking to dry spots, you need all the moisture you can get. A final tip? Always wait a few minutes after applying moisturiser before you start applying your makeup to ensure it’s fully absorbed.
For dry skin: TTC fx341 - Luxuriant Crème
For oily skin: LCA fx140 Barrier Restore Complexe
Bonus Step: SPF
Noticeably missing from this list is SPF—and no, we’re not overlooking it! By this stage, we should all know how important it is to wear sunscreen—especially when you live Down Under where the sun’s rays are particularly harsh. This is a MUST and every single day, applying SPF after your moisturiser and before your makeup should be a given.
Find out more about our science-based skincare by clicking here.