A vibrant glow, and even color, a silky smooth texture – all these are hallmarks of beautiful skin. If that’s what you’re after, you should develop a skincare routine that involves the best skin care products that are right for your skin and your needs.

Finding the best skin care products can be a little bit intimidating at first. You don’t know if you have enough or if you need more, from fancy creams to serums to face scrubs to toners to masks and moisturizers. And when you go to the drugstore, beauty shop, or online, there are many options just waiting for us. Unfortunately, this and the many beauty influencers promoting expensive and recently-launched products leave us more confused.

Buying the right products that nourish your skin must not be a battle and a source of stress. If you follow your skin’s requirements and read the labels of different products, you will get the products that were made for you. Here are some tips for finding the best skin care products for you:

1. Know your skin type and choose products accordingly.

Getting to know your skin type is the best place to start when considering building a skincare routine. Figure out your skin type and add products to your regimen designed for your specific skin type for best results.

Let’s say if you have dry skin and you chose a product designed for oily skin – you’ll only make your dry skin worse. It’s hard to choose the right products without knowing the type of skin you’re working with. Here are some guidelines on how to choose according to your skin type:

• Dry skin – Look for products that contain moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and lactic acid. These ingredients provide hydration and mild exfoliation to keep your skin looking radiant. Choose creams and ointments instead of lotion – these are less irritating.
• Oily skin – Oily skin has excess sebum production, and to control this, look for products containing benzoyl peroxide, hyaluronic acid, or alpha hydroxy acids (salicylic acid or glycolic acid). These ingredients help control excess sebum production, while hyaluronic acid helps hydrate only the areas where it’s needed. Choose lightweight moisturizers with a non-comedogenic formula and sunscreen.
• Sensitive skin – When it comes to sensitive skin, the lesser ingredients, the better. Look for products that contain aloe vera, green tea, chamomile, oatmeal, and shea butter. These are great moisturizing agents that usually don’t break anyone out.

If you’re not 100% sure what skin type you have, you can consult a dermatologist to confirm. Once you understand your skin type, you can start choosing your products with a little more precision if you have normal skin and don’t have issues – good for you! There would be lots of products that would suit your skin.

In addition, take some time to think about what your skin needs. Perhaps you have persistent acne that is not responding to your usual routine, or fine lines that you want to diminish, or large pores that you want to minimize. The products you choose must address the issue you’re most concerned about.

2. Know the basics.

Clueless about what kinds of skincare products you must have to start a good skin care regimen? Here are the four skincare commandments that form the basis of every good regimen. Have at least one product that will do all these, and you’ll have your basic skincare regimen. Build on it as needed, but you don’t really need to have a lot. Here are the basic commandments of skincare:

• Cleanse.

No matter what type of skin you have, you must have a basic cleanser that won’t strip off your skin. Your face and skin accumulate dirt, sweat, bacteria, and other pollutants throughout the day. A good cleanser can help remove built-up dirt, oil, dead skin cells, and other impurities to leave your skin feeling fresh. A toner can also be a great adjunct to cleanser, as it can remove any last traces of dirt, grime, and impurities stuck in your pores after washing your face. It’s not necessary, but it can help people with oily skin or markedly plugged pores.

• Hydrate.

Well-hydrated skin looks healthy, plump, and vibrant. Plus, it’s more resilient to aging issues like wrinkles. This is why a quality moisturizer is an essential part of every skincare regimen. The upper layers of the skin rely on a steady supply of water, so when you’re on the hunt for hydrating products, look for ingredients that attract moisture on the skin and keep it there.

• Protect.

From the sun’s harmful rays to extreme humidity, nature can cause damage to your skin. Weather can make your skin look dull and lifeless, and it can also irritate some skin sensitivities that can accelerate aging. A skincare regimen must always contain a product that protects the skin from the elements of the daily grind. A broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or higher is essential, and add to it some fail-safe ingredients like antioxidants and essential fatty acids to keep your skin looking radiant all day.

• Treat.

A treatment addresses your skin’s most pressing issues. Whether you’re targeting anti-aging or fading discoloration, investing in the daily health of your skin is a must.

3. Don’t quickly buy into the hype.

It’s essential to seek out the products that will benefit you. You may get carried away with the packaging, the glowing reviews, and the recommendation of your favorite celebrities, influencers, or trusted friends. But you should ignore how good their skin looks now – they may have a different skin type and needs than you. If you know what type of skin they were dealing with, then you may consider it.

Only the most suitable will do when it comes to your skin, and it doesn’t have to match what’s trending and popular. Check the products you’re eyeing and look for the ingredients. From there, determine how effective it will be for your skin type to get the optimum results.

4. Check the ingredients.

Know what ingredients can contribute to the betterment of your skin.

Here are some ingredients you may want to seek out:

• Glycerin – This is the backbone of moisturizing products. It acts as a humectant, allowing the skin to retain moisture. It can also help soften the skin.
• Ceramides – A naturally occurring compound found in the skin, ceramides help preserve the skin by providing a protective layer that prevents moisture loss. It also shields the skin from environmental aggressors – keeping dryness, dehydration, and premature signs of aging at bay.
• Hyaluronic acid – Also naturally found in the skin, hyaluronic acid acts as a humectant. It helps hydrate the outer layer of the skin, making it look more radiant and youthful-looking.
• Retinol – A key anti-aging ingredient, retinol works to turn over skin cells and stimulate collagen.
• Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) – A stable vitamin that offers a wide range of topical benefits like controlling oil, hydrating skin, evening out skin tone, preventing aging effects, and treating acne and other skin conditions.
• L-Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) – It’s an antioxidant that promotes collagen production, thickens the dermis, diminishes fine lines, and is essential for firm and youthful skin. It also works to reverse damage caused by UV radiation.
• Tocopherol (Vitamin E) – Also an antioxidant, tocopherol is effective at reducing UV damage and can help nourish and protect skin from damage caused by free radicals.

Meanwhile, here are some ingredients you may want (or need) to avoid:

• Fragrance – Added fragrance or perfume can cause skin allergies and irritation for people with sensitive skin.
• Sulfates – Sulfates, which are cleansing agents often found in shampoo and body washes, can strip the hair and skin of their natural oils and cause irritation.
• Parabens – Parabens are typically used in products as a chemical preservative to prevent bacterial growth. They are known to also function as estrogen mimickers, and they can have a harmful effect on the body over time by throwing off a hormonal imbalance.

Once you know what ingredients you’re looking after or seeking to avoid, pay attention to where they fall on the ingredients list. As a good rule of thumb, check the first five ingredients since that will most often account for about 80% of the product’s makeup.

Ingredients are often listed in order of highest to lowest concentration. So, if there’s a problematic or potentially irritating ingredient at the first five listed, you must steer clear of that product. In the same way, if you’re looking for a specific ingredient that would help your skin, make sure that ingredient is listed at the top five. If those ingredients are listed at the end, then that product won’t be worth your money as it only comes in a small percentage.

5. Natural doesn’t always mean better for you.

Seeing familiar words in the ingredient list can be comforting, but it isn’t always the safest route to take. People can have allergic reactions even with natural ingredients, which can worsen any skin issue or condition that you have. Some patients visit their dermatologists due to reactions to natural essential oils.

Also, the terms “organic” and “natural” on a product label are more often a marketing trick than anything else. Since those terms are not regulated, and there are not any specific industry standards for them, they can empty promises. Sometimes, a product will be labeled as “natural” just because of one or two ingredients it contains.

6. Always do a patch test.

When it comes to skincare products, it’s best to buy from the store so you can test them out. Then, if it works for you, you can buy restock online. Doing a patch test is necessary because it can give you an idea of how effective it will be. If it irritates your skin, causes allergic reactions, or clogs your pores, then it’s not the right product for you.

If testing is not possible, go for a less quantity first. If you’re trying out a product for the first time, buy the smallest packaging it comes in so you won’t end up wasting a lot in case it doesn’t work for you.

7. Consult a dermatologist.

Of course, you can always consult a dermatologist who can best guide you in choosing the right skincare product than a medical expert who specializes in all things related to the skin. A qualified dermatologist is someone you can ask for expert advice on if you’re serious about having healthy skin. Dermatologists understand the complexities of the skin, and they also have extensive knowledge about different skincare products.