With a change of seasons on the horizon, there’s no time like the present to turn our skin health and our approach to skincare. Not only is our skin a reflection of our overall health — it is our biggest organ, after all — but great skin is also the ultimate confidence booster.
Whether it’s a luminous glow that you’ve got your sights set on, or you want the healthiest complexion possible, these expert-approved hacks will help you create the good habits you need for great skin.
Be real with yourself
If you’re serious about adopting good skincare habits, be realistic about what you can and can’t achieve. Changes to your routine become habits when they’re easy to stick with and don’t feel like a chore — your skincare regimen is no exception to the rule. “It all comes down to making them part of your daily routine and being consistent with it,” says Taryn Johnstone, national trainer at Caci.
To do this, Johnstone says that as well as having a specific goal in mind, you need to reframe how you think about habits. “Rather than saying, ‘I should be doing this’, you need to start thinking, ‘I get to do this’,” she says. “How lucky are we to be able to create unique skin rituals that work for us?” Starting small is often the best approach. “Even if it’s as simple as making the promise to cleanse your make-up off before you go to sleep each night, your skin will love you for it,” suggests Johnstone.
Get expert advice
Figuring out precisely what your skin needs and what habits will help you get glowing, healthy skin, is an art in itself. Johnstone suggests starting by writing down your goals before embarking on the journey of researching what can be done for your concerns. However, if the deluge of skincare advice available at the click of a mouse is bewildering, seeking expert advice is the best place to start. “Our friendly team at Caci is trained and here to help educate you in addressing your needs and concerns,” says Johnstone.
Skincare guru and national skincare trainer at Caci Linda Sharrem agrees and says that a professional skin consultation to diagnose your skin conditions empowers you with the knowledge to set achievable skin goals. “Your consultation will help you set skin goals, plus [it will educate you on how to personalise and use] a skincare regimen that will get you the best results,” she explains.
Keep it simple
To get the radiant complexion of your dreams, you’ll need serious skincare in your arsenal. Thanks to the mind-boggling myriad of game-changing skincare formulations at our disposal, it’s never been easier to create a routine that caters to your skin’s unique needs. However, anyone who’s spent time trying to decipher skincare ingredients will know the ever-expanding skincare world is somewhat of a double-edged sword. Revamping your routine can be a perplexing process.
“There are so many choices out there, it can be overwhelming,” commiserates Johnstone. So, before you consider parting with your hard-earned cash to get your hands on the latest must-have skincare craze doing the rounds on Instagram, press pause and reassess your skin’s needs. If you’re at a loss as to where to begin, Johnstone suggests simply figuring out what it is you’re trying to achieve with your skin. “Once you know this, you can start with baby steps.”
Easy does it
The adage ‘walk before you run’ isn’t lost on skin experts, and it’s something anyone who’s revamping their skincare routine should keep in mind. Overtreating skin and slathering on cocktails of active ingredients can do more damage than good. Forget about the 15-step routine and focus on the basics, suggest Sharrem and Johnstone. “Introduce two to three products to start a good routine,” says Johnstone. “Start with a cleanser, a serum to treat your concerns, and a moisturiser with SPF to hydrate and protect your skin.”
Once you’ve mastered the skincare basics, Sharrem says that it’s easy to build from there. Consider adding in an exfoliator, night cream, and eye cream formulated to target your specific concerns. “I do recommend going to a professional to have a skin consultation,” says Sharrem. “We can personalise a skincare regimen for you based on your specific needs — we want each step in your routine to be working hard!”
Make habits work for you
An effective skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated, and nor do your skin-related resolutions. “If you start incorporating one thing at a time, and make the promise to do this for yourself each day, it will get easier and become the norm,” says Johnstone. “It takes 28 days to create a habit!”
Johnstone’s advice is to keep everything simple. “This is the best way to introduce new habits and to make them part of your regular routine,” she says. “If you slowly introduce new skincare, keep it near your toothbrush to remind yourself to use it, or, better yet, set a reminder on your phone.” Before you know it, says Johnstone, you will love your skincare routine so much that no reminders will
be necessary.
Sharrem’s advice to those struggling with new skincare routines is also straightforward. “As long as you’re moisturising and using SPF in the morning, do everything else at night,” she advises. “Cleanse in the shower, use multi-functioning serums, and hydrate skin,” she says. Sharrem says there’s no need to overcomplicate things and your skincare routine shouldn’t feel like a chore. “Keep your regimen simple as long as you have the
base skincare.”
Johnstone says the most crucial healthy skin habit you can adopt is being consistent with your routine. “This can be a combination of treatments in-clinic and skincare at home — give your skin some regular love and attention.”
Visit caci.co.nz to book a free skin consultation and start your skin health journey today.
