Remember back in lockdown, when lots of people attempted to cut their own or their partner’s hair? It resulted in some surprisingly decent ‘dos – and some absolute disasters.
According to experts, something similar happened thanks to the hours spent in front of the bathroom mirror pampering our complexions.
“Lockdown allowed consumers to really get into self-care, specifically skincare. It gave consumers the opportunity to assess their skincare routines – or lack of! – and discover new products,” says Superdrug skincare ambassador, Dr Ewoma Ukeleghe. “Equally, it’s been a time when [people] have completely ruined their skin, compromising their skin barrier in the process.”
Dr Ukeleghe is working with the retailer on the launch of its Skin School online hub (superdrug.com/skincare-advice), which aims to educate consumers about how to look after their complexions, after research found that 73% of shoppers don’t always understand the ingredients in the products they’re using.
Whether you’re a newbie or a self-confessed ‘skintellectual’, sometimes it helps to go back to basics for a reminder of how to keep your skin looking and feeling healthy.
Golden rules of skincare everyone needs to know
Here, Dr Ukeleghe schools us on her five golden rules of skincare…
1. Always wear sunscreen
View this post on Instagram
The ultimate non-negotiable when it comes to your morning beauty routine, SPF30 (or higher) is a must.
“The sun is the top factor in ageing of the skin, so regular sunscreen use is key in limiting the negative effects of the sun,” says Dr Ukeleghe. “My current favourite is the Me+ SPF Booster that I drop into my daily moisturiser.
Me+ Anti- Oxidant SPF Booster, £8.99, Superdrug
Caudalie Vinosun Ocean Protect Lightweight Cream SPF50+, £19
2. Don’t follow skincare trends
Just because you see someone on Instagram slathering their face in Vaseline before bed – known as ‘slugging’ – or completing a 12-step Korean skincare routine, doesn’t mean you have to do the same. It’s more important to understand your skin’s individual needs, than simply follow the latest fad.
“This is a common skincare sin committed by consumers,” says Dr Ukeleghe. “Doing this can be detrimental to the skin, as you aren’t addressing its needs and concerns. This can manifest as skin sensitivity, dermatitis and breakouts. Be led by what your skin needs.”
3. Keep it simple
“There is a trend in skincare of trying to use as many actives as possible in one sitting,” says Dr Ukeleghe, which she says could “cause more harm than good to the skin” in some cases.
Plus, you might struggle to find which ingredient is the most effective for you particular concerns if you use multiple actives at once. Serums formulated around one key ingredient by brands like The Ordinary and The Inkey List can help you effectively tailor your routine.
4. Use a retinoid
“Retinoids are a must within a skincare routine – unless contraindicated [ie they don’t agree with your skin type],” says Dr Ukeleghe. The vitamin A derivatives are “clinically proven to treat and prevent fine lines/wrinkles and it improves the health of the skin in various ways”, adds the expert.
However, even if you don’t usually have sensitive skin, retinoid or retinol serums can cause redness or dryness. So start by mixing a small amount with your moisturiser then work your way up to direct application, and only ever use it at night. Follow up the next morning with golden rule number one.
Selfless by Hyram Retinol and Rainbow Algae Repair Serum, £28, Cult Beauty
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6, £62
5. Try a treatment
View this post on Instagram
If you want to target issues like acne scarring, pigmentation or wrinkles, it’s important to know your limits in terms of at-home skincare and seek professional guidance before trying any harsh treatments.
Dr Ukeleghe says: “Skincare products, particularly non-prescriptive, can only take your skin so far. Treatments such as microneedling and radiofrequency are great options to consider to take your skin to another level.”
Best-selling skincare
Need to revamp your skincare? Check out our list of best-selling skincare on Amazon.
- TARGETS BLEMISHES & LARGE PORES: Using two skin-friendly ingredients, Niacinamide and Zinc, this lightweight and gentle serum helps to tackle blemishes and minimise the appearance of large pores
- NIACINAMIDE & ZINC SERUM: The ingredients in this serum regulate the skin’s natural oil production to help prevent further congestion, while zinc has calming and soothing properties, which reduces...
- VEGAN: This serum does not contain any animal derived ingredients
- Package includes: You will received 1 piece of coral fleece hair band, which design with cute Palm and Snail, looking adorable, also comfortable to wear, helping to fix your hair.
- Creative design: Our headband with a lovely Palm and Snail at the top, which will keep your hair neat and tidy and at the same time make you look extremely sweet and adorable, a necessary hair...
- Soft material: The headband Made of good quality coral fleece, soft and durable , provides outstanding touch feeling and hygroscopicity. The soft loop headband cover is comfortable and you'll want to...
- Formulated with 96% Snail Secretion Filtrate, this moisturiser protects the skin from dryness and aging by repairing the skin's moisture. This snail serum improves the skin's vitality by reducing...
- Our Advanced Skin Snail Essence features a lightweight texture that immediately seeps in to the skin upon application and delivers multiple effects. The snail essence will leave your skin hydrated and...
- Snail 96 Mucin Essence contains 96% Snail Mucin, which helps repair and soothe red, sensitized skin after breakouts by replenishing moisture deep into your skin while also improving skin elasticity....
- THE REAL DEAL - The one-step, easy to use, innovative and effective way to target your acne. Hydrocolloid patches create a moist environment and optimum conditions for your spot to heal.
- ULTRA-THIN AND TRANSLUCENT - Each one of our mighty zit patches is translucent, ultra-thin, and has tapered edges to seamlessly blend with all skin tones so you can proudly wear them day or night.
- VISIBLE RESULTS - Dots for Spots pimple patches act as a protective cover to prevent picking, touching or popping, while also working to minimize the appearance of redness and active breakouts.
- INCLUDING - Our hyaluronic acid and vitamin E watermelon moisturiser, blueberry & oat extract cleansing gel, green-tea cactus toner and finally our collagen & pineapple extract face serum. Vitamin E...
- HOW TO USE - We recommend using this 4 step regime daily, starting with the gel cleanser to unclog pores and clear dirt. After washing, use the toner to restore ph. Next, apply the serum to help...
- PERFECT GIFT - This gift set contains full-sized products and is ideal for beginners, young adults, women and anyone who loves professional skincare products. This set is also great for those new to...
Last update on 2024-04-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
You may be interested in…
This article may include affiliate links to products and services where we may receive a small fee to support the running of this site if you make a purchase or is a sponsored article from one of our select editorial partners providing valuable advice and information to our readers.
