Lately I've been really getting into my skincare and completely surprised myself with this new found obsession. I think it stems from realising just how important skincare is and how much it can affect other areas of your beauty regime like your makeup. I've also really enjoyed seeing the results of particular products on my skin and feeling pleased with the way my skin looks and feels. This all comes from having a good skincare routine in place, something a few years back I didn't even have nor did I bother with. But now I would never look back. 

Coming up with a skincare routine can be tricky when you're unsure of what products work best for you, when you should be using them and how to keep up your new routine without slacking behind with it out of laziness or time constraints. So today I'm going to be sharing with you some top tips on how to start a skincare routine and more importantly stick with it...

Know what products you'll need - Everyone has a skin type and with this said skin type comes certain products other than the basics that you'll need to use. It's also handy to have a think about any problems you may also have with your skin. Do you suffer from acne? Do you have any redness? Do you experience large pores? Do you need anti-aging products? Does your skin look dull? 

When you have a good idea as to what skin type you are and any problems you need to try manage, you will be able to suss out what products you're going to need to use within your routine. A cleanser, toner, exfoliant, serum, moisturiser and an eye cream is a good place to start. You can then add on according to any of the problems you want to try target, such as a skin lightening cream or an acne treatment. 

The basic routine - If you are after a straightforward skincare routine that treats the basic requirements your skin needs each morning and night, then a good basic routine would include having a morning routine that consists of you using a cleanser, a toner and then moisturiser. Using these three products as your base/must do products can ensure a good morning routine. From there, you can add products into your routine to treat any other problems you might have, such as an eye cream to wake up any tired eyes or a spot treatment to minimise spots throughout the day. 

In terms of your night routine, because you will tend to have more time without having the morning rush to get ready for the day, you can add more products and care into your routine. Repeat the same steps as before with your base products, a cleanser, a toner and a moisturiser. Then follow up with any other treatments, like an exfoliator or a serum, anything to give your skin that extra boost before bed. You might also want to throw in a face mask a couple of times a week to give your skin that extra love.

Trial and error - Remember finding that 'perfect' skincare routine that works 100% round for you may take sometime to achieve and might not always be so perfect. But having a good solid routine that you have the time for and gives you the benefits and results you are after is essential. Trialing and error different products and different ways to do your skincare routine is great for finding what does work for you. Think about the quickness of your routine. 

Is it easy to carry out during the morning when you're in a rush or are you skipping out products because you don't have the time to do it all? Maybe strip it back to the basics and focus more on your treatments at night to save yourself time. Are you getting the results you hoped for? If not, then try out some new products. Maybe not all at once. But swap out your current moisturiser for example for a new one and see how that goes. When you find the best one for you, then you can continue to swap out different products according to when you feel you're ready for something new or to find one that works best for you. 

Have fun with it and never see it as a chore! It can be fun and rewarding when you see amazing results. 

Keep everything together in one place - Having all your skincare products that you are going to use within your routine in one place can easily ensure you are going to stick with your routine. If you find yourself going from room to room, carrying products to mirror from all over the place, then you're going to find it tiresome and not efficient. Instead have all your skincare products in one place in one room with a mirror so you can see what you're doing. This might be at your dresser, in your bathroom or in a draw etc. 

Make your products look like you actually want to use them - If your products don't look aesthetically pleasing enough to make you even want to look at them, then it's unlikely you'll find yourself reaching for them either. Instead make them look like you want to use them and can't put them down. There are so many products in my collection I'm always reaching for because they just look good. 

To make them look more pleasing to the eye, a good step to take first is to ensure they're organised. Wherever you plan to store them, make sure they're organised and neatly in one place, whether that's by category or even product order within routine. Make them look welcoming and like they want to be used. Ensure there is good lighting coming into the area or room they are being stored in. Add pretty decor around them or place them onto pretty decoration, like a jewellery tray or some acrylic storage. You could even place some fake flowers beside them to make them look even more pretty and inviting. 

Set yourself some reminders - It can be hard to remember to carry out your skincare routine, especially if you're tired from a hard day at work. Setting yourself reminders to carry out your routine can help massively. You could do this by placing sticky notes up around the house telling you to do your routine or setting reminder alters on your phone for a specific time. If you are setting it to alert you at a certain time, ensure you're doing it as a reasonable hour, when you're not going to get too comfy on the sofa or can't be bothered to move out of bed later on in the night. Also think about the time within the morning, never leave it too late and end up having to rush, especially if you apply makeup afterwards. This will help to motivate you to do so and also remind you if you do have poor memory. 

Commit to the basics - If you do find it hard to keep up with a routine or even to find the time to do it, then always ensure you commit to the basics no matter what. If you are in a rush in the morning or too tired at night, then carry out the basics and remember to go back to other treatments at a later date. Sometimes you might have to force yourself to even carry out the basics, but try your best to because it will soon become a habit not a chore the more you do it. Also remember that the basics will give you more benefits all around, so doing them will give you beneficial results anyway. And always remember to remove your makeup at night. Do not leave that on whatever you do!!!!!

Don't give up - Do not whatever you do give up straight away. As mentioned before, it's all about trial and error, whether that's the products you use or finding the more efficient routine in the time you have spare. You won't always find instant results with your products or routine either. When testing out products, I like to give a minimum of two weeks before I start to analyse the results. The benefits can happen anytime after then, so don't give up and jump to conclusions before you've given your skin a chance to get the full effects of the product. Plus you'll find that routine that works best for you and it will all become a habit that you carry out daily with no problems.

How do you stick to a skincare routine?

Lauren x

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