Whether it’s a brand-new sparkly ring, a milestone birthday or simply that moment when you decide it’s time for a glow-up, your skincare journey is completely personal. There’s no right or wrong way to do it - whether you stick to two simple steps or enjoy a full ten-step routine, the choice is entirely yours.
So let’s take it back to basics. When it comes to skincare, what do we actually need? What should we use? And how do we apply it properly? Keeping things as simple and effective as possible, here’s where to start.
Skincare means different things to different people. For some, it’s about problem-solving - fixing what bothers them, improving on what age throws at us, or preparing specifically for a big event. For others, it’s a moment of self-care. One person may see skincare as purely functional, no frills, while another sees it as luxurious and indulgent. What one person spends, how many products/steps another takes, how invested an individual is in their appearance will differ greatly from one to another - and that’s absolutely okay.
What matters is finding what works, for you.
Skincare isn’t magic. It’s chemistry. It’s science. Your skin — the largest organ in your body — reacts to what you put on it and in it. Anyone promising a miracle in a tube is simply being dishonest. But it's also a variety of what you put onto your skin, what you put into your body, supplements, lifestyle and also where you live (in the sun, by the coast) that contributes to the overall condition of your skin. And truly it’s the energy that you put into the care of your skin that will give you the results.
Whether your goal is to smooth texture, boost glow, lift, sculpt or address specific concerns, results are achievable with the right treatments, the right products and the right tools.
SO LET’S BREAK IT DOWN…
Let’s look at what skincare can truly do and how we can treat different concerns, different areas and different skin needs — realistically, effectively and intelligently.
If we were to keep skincare as basic as humanly possible, it really comes down to just two things: cleanse and moisturise, morning and evening (no sleeping in makeup, cardinal sin!!!).
Cleanse even if you haven’t worn makeup! Throughout the day your skin is still exposed to bacteria, dirt, pollution and grime. Cleansing in the morning helps wake up the skin, cleansing at night removes the day, and moisturising helps maintain balance. During the day, your moisturiser should always include or be followed by an SPF, this one is a non-negotiable.
This is the most basic way to look after your skin, and it’s where most people — especially men and teenagers — start their skincare journey.
Understanding your skin's needs...
The first step here is understanding your skin.
What is your skin type?
Is it normal, oily, dry, combination or sensitive?
A simple breakdown…
• Normal: No concerns and everything is fabulous! Lucky you!
• Oily: Skin looks shiny and prone to enlarged pores and breakouts.
• Dry: Skin feels tight, flaky, or rough, especially after cleansing.
• Combination: Oily through the T-zone with drier or normal cheeks.
• Sensitive: Skin reacts easily with redness, stinging or irritation.
• What are your skin concerns? Ageing, dullness, pigmentation, loss of firmness?
Once you know what you’re treating, you can choose ingredients that work for your skin.
ALL HAIL HYALURONIC ACID…
That said, there is one ingredient every skin type needs for basic function and that is water.
Water is what our bodies are made of and it’s essential for daily function. The same applies to your skin. Whether your skin is dry or oily, prone to redness or rosacea, dehydration is almost always playing a role
In skincare, water delivery comes in the form of hyaluronic acid—one of the most important and fundamental ingredients for healthy, bouncy, luminous skin. Pro-tip: For the best results, always apply your HA to slightly damp skin to help lock that moisture in!
So if you’re keeping things simple but effective ensure you have hyaluronic acid somewhere in your routine. Just to note HA can be added into any skincare routine regardless of skin type, age or sex. It’s that beautiful all rounder and everyone needs it (from about 16 up!).
SKINCARE STEPS, LAYERING TECHNIQUES AND ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
At this stage, we’ve identified our skin type and we understand that hydration is essential. We know we need to cleanse, we need water content in the skin and we need to moisturise.
So, if we talk steps, here’s a simple breakdown of what your skincare routine should look like morning and evening:
• Step one: Cleanser — morning and evening
• Step two: Eye Cream (if you choose to use one)
• Step three: Serum (you can use multiple serums if you wish)
• Step four: Moisturiser (add spf AM)
That’s your basic, day-to-day routine, step by step.
If you want exfoliation, use a cleanser with AHA or PHA a few times a week to remove dull skin and keep skin bright. Not exfoliating your skin is the key contributor to dead skin build up also known as ‘textured skin’.
Key active ingredients and what they do based on skin concerns:
• Hyaluronic Acid – Hydration, plumps skin, boosts glow
• Vitamin C – Brightening, pigmentation, antioxidant protection
• Niacinamide – Balances oil, reduces redness, strengthens skin barrier
• Salicylic Acid – Clears pores, treats breakouts and oily skin
• Lactic/Glycolic Acid (AHA) – Smooths texture, improves dullness
• Retinol (PM only) – Anti-ageing, smooths lines, improves skin tone
• Ceramides – Repair and protect the skin barrier
Note: If you are using "actives" like Retinol or AHAs, your daily SPF becomes even more critical as these ingredients can make your skin more sensitive to the sun!
Well done - You've gotten this far! Some last points to note:
So now you know the steps, you understand layering and you know that if you have a concern, find it on the ingredient list and choose a product that contains it.
You can spend big or spend small — it’s completely up to you. Brands like The Inkey List, The Ordinary, Aveeno, Avène and La Roche-Posay all work perfectly and are easily accessible. Good skincare exists at every budget.
If you’re young, keep it simple. Avoid piling on active ingredients — the only universal one is hyaluronic acid, which everyone can use.
When adding actives, introduce them gradually. Never start multiple new products at once — if your skin reacts (or improves), you won’t know what caused it.
Retinol should be introduced gradually to the skin and only ever at night. Start twice weekly, move to 3 times and eventually every second night.
Once the basic understanding is covered, you can explore textures. The fun part! Oils can be more effective than creams and can still be used on oily skin.
Multi-use products exist so you don’t need lots of serums. Masks can be used once weekly to give some pep to your skin's step. Before that event, treat yourself to a facial.
K-Beauty brands take skin care to the next level with 7/8/9 step routines and that can be fun too - once you’ve got the basics covered, or could be bothered! It’s totally your call. You do you, boo!
The key is this:
Find products you like — based on texture, scent and results — and stick to them.
Skincare isn’t magic, it’s maintenance.
It doesn’t need to be complicated.
It’s consistency - cleanse, hydrate, treat, protect and repeat.
Do it daily, stay patient and the results will come. promise!
For more beauty tip, hacks and tricks follow me on Instagram at @thisisnima.ie
As always, hope you enjoyed and thanks for stopping by! Love, Nima x
