Surely your mother, grandmother, or chic aunt had some important advice and tips on beauty routines. They might have taught you that washing your face is a must or that you should hydrate your skin with a mask once a week. For the record, we agree! But no matter the specifics, most of us got passed down from our beauty forebears that some form of a skincare regimen is important.
So we're sure by now, more or less consciously, you've already created a beauty routine. But is it doing all it could be for you and your skin? Read below for our tips on how to create, adapt and maintain an efficient beauty routine.
What are the steps of an efficient beauty routine?
Advances in research and technology have exponentially increased the efficiency of dermo-cosmetics. But the key principles still stand! Following the right steps, in the right order is as paramount as high-quality ingredients.
Here are the key steps you should follow and our advice for every skin type.
1. Cleansing
The cornerstone of every beauty routine should be cleansing. There’s simply no better way to benefit from all cosmetic products than applying them to a clean skin. We’re so adamant about it that our advice is to do it in two steps. Remove make-up and oil-based debris first, using a cream, balm or gel. Then use a water-based cleanser for a deep cleansing of impurities and excess sebum.
Here are the Miriam Quevedo cleansers we recommend, according to skin type.
For dry or mature skin - the Glacial White Caviar Cleanser Crème. The soothing, creamy texture melts away even waterproof makeup.
For oily skin - the A-Helix Advanced Renewal Primer Cleansing Gel. Its light texture penetrates pores for a deep cleansing.
For normal skin - the Black Baccara Global Cleansing Milk. With bio-adaptative properties, it adjusts to your skin's needs.
2. Toning
The next step in an efficient beauty routine is a toner, to soothe and perfect the skin. No need to fear irritation, no matter your skin type. Good quality toners nowadays are far from the harsh, astringent mixes of yesteryear.
There's a Miriam Quevedo toner for any skin need:
For dry or mature skin - the Glacial White Caviar Toning Lotion. This soothing and hydrating micellar toner refreshes the skin without irritating.
For oily skin - the A-Helix Advanced Renewal Primer Lotion. It balances pH and boosts skin cell regeneration.
For normal skin - the Black Baccara Global Revitalizing Toner. It provides a cooling touch without over-drying the skin.
After cleansing and toning, get ready to treat and nourish your complexion.
3. Treating & boosting
The rule of thumb is applying products according to thickness: building up from light to rich textures. Treatments and serums are not only light in texture, but they also tend to have the highest concentration of active ingredients. So they should go first on a clean skin for best results.
Looking for the perfect serum for your skin type?
For dry or mature skin - the Black Baccara Dynamic Youth Booster. The hyaluronic acid and marine collagen in this formula make it a true anti-aging and hydrating miracle worker.
For oily skin - the Black Baccara Dynamic Energizing Booster. With our proprietary Tissue Respiratory Factor and Active Oxygen it increases cellular respiration.
For normal skin - the Glacial White Caviar Recovery Serum. It contains a powerful combination of multi-protective and detoxifying ingredients.
4. Moisturizing
The hydrating properties of serums don't cancel the need for a moisturizer. It won't just hydrate, but it will also seal in all the active ingredients from previous steps in your beauty routine.
We recommend you use a dedicated hydrator for the skin around the eyes. Being thinner, it's more sensitive and exposed to signs of aging and pigmentation. So, if you haven't already, add an eye cream to your beauty routine.
Follow it with a moisturizing cream that will keep your skin hydrated throughout the day and night.
For dry or mature skin - the Glacial White Caviar Precious Cream. It's rich in regenerative active ingredients to instantly smooth and repair skin.
For oily skin - the A-Helix Intense Renewal Gel Cream. Hydrate while also perfecting pores and regulating sebum.
For normal skin - the Black Baccara Moisturizing Bio-Adaptative Soft Cream. Lightweight but still powerful enough to provide deep hydration.
So here we are: the 4 key steps that should be part of your beauty routine. And when we say key, we mean it! We have a few tips that will help you follow through every day and night, in case you're struggling with consistency.
Beauty routine consistency tips
Even the most spontaneous of us can't help but form some routines- our human brains are just wired that way. And more often than not, we tend to create them for starting and ending the day.
So, a sure way to stick to your beauty routine is to incorporate it in the larger rituals of starting off in the morning and winding down for the night. You can sip your coffee while waiting for your serum to work its way into your skin in the morning. Or keep your moisturizer on your night stand and apply it right before diving into reading a few pages before sleep.
Another tip is to set up the products on your shelf or vanity table in the order that you should use them. With them all at your fingertips it's easier to follow your beauty routine even if you have to be ready in a hurry. That is important, because the most important advice we can give you when it comes to beauty routines is to stick to them!