Glowing skin is simple! 

You read that right. The biggest mistake that people make with skincare is slapping the equivalent of a chemistry lab on their face every night before sleep in order to achieve the elusive “glowing skin”. But when it comes to skincare, just like most things in life, less is more, and the key to success is simplicity. 

That being said, there are a few basics you need in your skincare kit to ensure that glowing skin is within your grasp. We have crystallised this knowledge into 3 steps for glowing skin that will make sure this process is as easy for you as possible. 

1. Cleanse

The first, and the most basic, step of any skincare routine is related to basic hygiene: cleansing! But what is the best face wash for glowing skin? 

That was a trick question because guess what, the real answer is that a double cleanse is essential for glowing skin!

 

If you’re not familiar with the Korean system of double cleansing, it’s time you explored it. What it essentially includes is first cleansing your face and neck with an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser. 

The logic behind the double cleanse is that the first cleanser, rich in oil, will trap all the dirt, makeup, residual sunscreen and other cosmetics from your face and remove it thoroughly. Following it up with a water-based cleanser is just as important though, as oil has a tendency to linger on your face, block your pores and sebaceous glands, and ultimately lead to acne. The water-based cleanser will break down the oil-based cleanser’s residue and by the time you are done with both, your face will be ready to serve as a clean, fresh slate for perfect glass skin. 

The DermDoc Skin Glowing Face Wash with Alpha Arbutin as a good water-based cleanser to be incorporated within the double cleanse plan. Alpha Arbutin is an antioxidant derived from bearberry. Its primary benefit is the reduction of melanin formation. 

Why is this important? Because, of course, melanin is the element within the skin that is responsible for tanning and other forms of skin darkening. It is also the reason why we form dark spots, acne pigmentation, sun-induced freckles and other marks etc. 

Alpha Arbutin in your skincare routine will reduce the appearance and severity of these marks and spots, which will pave the way for glowing skin. 

1. Moisturise 

Using a water-based cleanser leaves your skin dry and stripped of its natural oils, which would cause not just a dry, uncomfortable feeling, but also premature ageing as your skin stretches during the day and doesn’t have moisture to help it bounce back to its natural shape. 

Moisturisation also reduces long-term appearance of acne as one of the main causes of acne formation is the lack of moisture on your face. Yes, it’s shocking, but it’s true. 

The reason why you may get acne if you don’t moisturise is because your skin naturally needs that moisture, and if you are not providing it through your own efforts, then the skin will try to produce it naturally by flooding your face with naturally-produced oils through the sebaceous glands. This may lead to overproduction of facial oils, which would come together and clog your pores, leading to acne and other skin issues. 

So, hopefully now it’s clear why moisturisation is a preventive measure and a necessary, even though often overlooked, step to glowing skin. 

You can use a different day skin glow cream and a night skin glow cream in order to moisturise your skin the a.m and the p.m as, often, certain active ingredients in your p.m routine might make your skin overly sensitive if used under sunlight. It is advisable to try and keep active ingredients that make your skin photosensitive towards the hours that there is no sunlight outside and you are likely to sleep, during which time your skin repairs and regenerates and makes use of the ingredients you have put on it. 

The DermDoc 4% Niacinamide Day Cream for your a.m routine and the DermDoc 2% Kojic Acid Night Cream for your p.m routine would do wonders.  

Niacinamide is an essential vitamin, a subtype of Vitamin B. When applied on dark spots, scars and other marks, it has the tendency to lighten and help them fade over time in addition to giving your skin a natural glow from within. 

On the other hand, kojic acid is extracted from different types of fungi, and also helps brighten dark spots. It is, however, prone to making your skin photosensitive (sensitive to sunlight) so if you are using kojic acid cream, make sure it’s done at night, and you use ample sunscreen the right way in the morning (Unsure about how to properly apply sunscreen? Check out this article)!

Another way you can use kojic acid is in a kojic acid serum. This also helps your skin achieve the same benefits as kojic acid cream would, but the concentration of the acid within the kojic acid serum is much higher. 

Any time you start using an active skincare in your routine, your skin is bound to go through a period of adjustment. During this time, it may be possible that your skin will break out or have a bad reaction if the ingredient is not introduced gradually. This is why it’s advisable to begin first with a kojic acid cream and then work your way up to a kojic acid serum once your skin becomes sensitised to kojic acid as an active skincare ingredient. 

DermDoc Damage Recovery Face Serum with Kojic Acid  is best for those interested in experimenting with kojic acid serum, but it is recommended that this step is limited to the skincare veterans!

1. Pack Up! 

So many of us make the mistake of using masks and face packs for glowing skin without truly understanding the science behind it. But you have to keep in mind that the only reason they work is because of the active ingredients that are able to seep into the skin and give you the desired effects. 

The best facial kit of glowing skin will include ingredients that lighten dark spots and scarring to give you that flawless finish. 

The following facial kit is for those looking for glowing skin: Skin Brightening Facial Kit with Ascorbic Acid. 

Ascorbic acid is a form of vitamin C found naturally in citrus fruits like oranges and limes. Remember how your mother always told you that fruits were good for your skin? Well, she was right! But the best part is that ascorbic acid is not just beneficial upon ingestion, it can work wonders even when applied topically. It can be used to treat medical conditions like melasma as well as help repair wrinkles and prevent premature ageing, due to it having natural antioxidants. It also helps fight bacterial infections, which is what acne essentially is. 

Hope these 3 simple steps to glowing skin help you on your journey to achieve that flawless complexion. Do check out this article on the benefits of SPF, which will help you protect that baby-soft skin that you have now achieved.