PPS: Developing Your Skincare Routine

I believe the key to every endeavour is to establish a routine or a game plan, and stick to it. If you're planning to be better at tennis, you wouldn't want to be flailing around, training irregularly, and making techniques up on the fly now, would you? No. You develop a training schedule, and a fitness plan. You stick to it. Then, you'll get there.

You want your nice, plump and perky Pre-Pubescent Skin? Same thing goes. Develop a good skincare routine, stick to it, and you'll get there.

We've already talked about skin types HERE , and you're probably more aware (I hope) of what your skin type is. The next step to achieving PPS is to curate a good skincare routine.

Your skincare routine should consist of at least 6 items: cleanser, toner, moisturiser, sunscreen, eye cream, and exfoliant.

Regardless of what type of skin you have (oily, dry, combination or ideal), these 6 items are your absolute essentials. Your skin type only influences the brands or types of the 6 items you purchase and use. For example, people with oily skin should be using the same 6 products, but ones with certain key ingredients (like hyaluronic acid) in them to complement their skin type. Similarly, dry skin calls for the same 6 products, but ones that are moisturising and specially formulated to prevent the excessive stripping of natural oils from the skin.

Also, it is perfectly okay to add extra items/steps to your routine depending on your skin type. Skin too oily and causing you to break out more? Use acne spot treatment as necessary. Skin too dry and taut? Soothe it with a rich, moisturising serum.

But what if I've been using nothing but body wash to clean my face for all my life, and yet I still have the legendary, widely-acclaimed PPS?

Well goodie, aren't you just the luckiest guy/girl. I hate you.

... I'm kidding (I think).

Okay, really. Like I mentioned previously, how expensive your skincare products are depends on your own skin condition, and great for you if you have low-maintenance skin; it means you also have a low-cost skincare regimen. Congrats! BUT do keep a close eye on your skin - as you age, your skin ages as well, and high chances are you'll need to tweak your routine to maintain a healthy complexion. Sometimes, skin damage may not manifest itself immediately, but when it does, deterioration can happen drastically and quickly, which means it can be a lot harder to manage and care for.

Y'know what them parents like to say: better to be safe than sorry hor.

Did I ever mention I love gifs? So effective, so succinct.

Now that we're all clear on the 6 indispensable keys to unlocking the metaphorical box that is your PPS, let's get down to some basic information about the different types of products, and the order in which to use them.

Step 1: (Daily, Morning & Night) Cleanser - Cleans skin, removes impurities and prevents dirt buildup in pores.

Step 2: (1-2 times a week, usually night) Exfoliant - Helps to strip away dead skin, which often prevent your skin from fully absorbing moisturiser or other products. It also helps to lighten dark spots caused by acne scars.

Step 3: (Daily, Morning & Night) Toner - After cleansing and exfoliation, your skin is in a fragile state, and toner helps to prepare skin for hydration by returning your skin to the right pH balance, tightening cell gaps and shrinking pores so that impurities and environmental contaminants don't reenter the skin.

Step 4: (Daily, Morning & Night) Moisturiser - After cleansing and exfoliation, your skin is bound to have been stripped of some natural moisture, so using a moisturising lotion or cream helps to replenish and lock moisture in your skin. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP. I've had many friends skip moisturising altogether because they assume that a moisturiser causes their skin to be even more oily than normal. In actual fact, if you do not moisturise at all, your skin condition will worsen, as your sebaceous glands go into overdrive to produce more and more oil to compensate for the dehydration.

Step 5: (Daily, Morning/Daytime Only) Sunscreen - UV rays from the sun are harmful for the skin, especially in Singapore, where the intensity of the sun can be staggering at times. No matter the duration of exposure to the sun, sunscreen has a significant part to play in keeping your skin in tip-top condition. If you are expecting slight exposure to the sun, go for one with at least SPF15. If you plan to be out and about in the sun for a prolonged period of time, aim for SPF30 and above. Do note that sunscreen can cause clogged pores, so be more precise with the amount of SPF you require for your day, and use a heavier or lighter one accordingly. You can also purchase sunscreen products which are labeled 'non-comedogenic', as they contain gentler ingredients that are much less likely to cause a breakout.

Step 6: (Daily, Night) Eye cream - The skin around your eye is the most sensitive part of your face, and the most prone to wrinkles and dark spots. Using an eye cream helps to smoothen out fine lines, lighten dark spots, and to maintain the skin health of your eye area. As eye creams can be rich and cause difficulty in applying makeup, or even running makeup, it is best to use it at night.

These are the optional items you can choose to include or exclude from your routine, depending on your skin condition and your personal preference:

Serum/Essence (Use after toner, before moisturiser) - Serums and essences are similar products - both of them are specifically formulated to target certain concerns (dark spots, dull skin, wrinkles, brightening, lifting, etc.), however, serums tend to carry more active ingredients than essences. As such, serums are heavier and richer than essences, and may not be a great idea for you if your skin tends to break out after you use overly rich products.

Face Cream (Use in place of a moisturiser) - Creams contain more oil than a regular moisturiser, which makes them thicker and more emollient. They can be used if you have particularly dry skin, or when you are in a country which has low humidity. This product is not for you if you already have oily or combination skin, as it is too rich and may clog your pores, leading to breakouts.

Face Mask (Use in place of an exfoliant, or after exfoliating, 1-2 times a week) - Depending on the type you get, face masks are rich in nutrients and active ingredients that deliver longer lasting effects and benefits at one go. They are also relaxing and a good way to pamper yourself after a long work week. Be careful though, if you aren't already accustomed to doing face masks, starting on them all at once can be too stressful for your skin, and yes, also lead to breakouts.

&&& Of course, if you wear makeup, don't forget to add these into your routine...

Makeup Remover (before your nightly skincare routine, every time you decide to wear makeup) - Removes makeup and prevents makeup from collecting in your pores and clogging them.

Primer (after your morning skincare routine, before you start putting on makeup) - Forms a barrier between your skin and all makeup products you put on your face, so that the makeup doesn't seep into your pores and screw up your complexion. Some types have extra benefits like reducing the size of your pores and smoothening the fine lines on your face.

...TLDR? Is okeh. I'm very nice.

Here's a handy infographic summarising the essential and optional skincare products, when to use them, and how often to use them.

And here's one with my own skincare routine, which you can use as a sample.

*Many beauty writers and experts have differing views on using exfoliants and masks on the same day. Some say exfoliating before doing a mask helps the mask to penetrate better into your skin. Others say doing both in the same day can overload and shock your skin. It's really up to you to experiment and decide which works best for you. As for me, I prefer to do them on alternate days, or use a product which is 2-in-1 (exfoliating mask), purely because I'm a lazy fuck and I can't be bothered to spend 30 minutes doing both all in one day unless I have nothing better to do.

Phew, that was long! For some reason, people like to be compensated for idk what after scrolling through a long-ass post, so... here's a makeup potato—yes, I literally googled 'makeup potato' and this came out: