Written by Menswear Style in Beauty on the 17th April 2018

Achieving a glowing, healthy complexion can appear to be a complicated and time-consuming process. Given that most of us don’t have a dermatological background, or the desire to spend endless hours in the bathroom, the number of products on offer can seem daunting. When in fact a simpler, more straightforward routine can give you the best results. Not only is it quicker, letting you maximise your time, but it’s also the best way to treat your skin and keep it looking its best.

The simpler the routine, the easier it is to stick to and being consistent is the best way to get results. The other major benefit is that it won’t overload your skin with so many different product ingredients. This is especially important if you have problem-prone or sensitive skin. The more products your skin is exposed to the more risk there is of chemical overload causing major sensitivity and breakouts. Below, we’ve narrowed it down to the three essential skincare steps that lead to good skin, no matter what your skin type is.

Step 1: Clean 

Clean skin is the basis of everything and the first step to clear, healthy skin. Cleaning your face every day will not only wash away dirt and excess oil - especially important in an urban environment - but it also unclogs your pores. But simply washing your face is not as easy as it sounds. Using just soap and water can dry out your skin, leaving it feeling tight. Paradoxically this causes your skin to produce even more oil than before, resulting in irritation and breakouts. A ph-balanced face wash is better and won’t leave your skin feeling itchy and tight. Try using one that includes a high level of glycerin, such as OTIS Daily Face Wash. It will clean your skin without drying it out and was created with men’s skin in mind. So, it also includes Tea Tree Oil to help regulate excess sebum, and Lactic Acid to gently exfoliate the skin, stimulating cell renewal and improving the texture of your skin too. Alternatively, MALIN + GOETZ grapefruit face cleanser includes grapefruit extract to naturally cleanse and exfoliate, and glycerin to hydrate, and is especially suitable if you have sensitive skin.

Step 2: Exfoliate 

Exfoliation is the next step, the one that will really make your skin glow - eliminating dead skin cells, accelerating cell renewal and stimulating your skin’s natural repair mechanism. Since it’s the build-up of dead skin cells that can lead to unsightly razor bumps and ingrown hairs, exfoliating can go a long way to improving the texture of your skin. But exfoliation isn’t only limited to grainy facial scrubs, which can be too harsh for skin, especially sensitive skin, causing damage and irritation. A chemical exfoliant, and a policy of ‘little and often’ is a much kinder way to go. Gently exfoliating everyday using a mild Alpha-Hydroxy Acid, like Glycolic or Lactic Acid, could be a better option for your skin. Many face washes, like the ones from OTIS and MALIN + GOETZ already include natural exfoliants so they do double-duty, washing and exfoliating in one step. But if you prefer the satisfying ritual of manually sloughing of dead skin cells then Aesop Purifying Facial Exfoliant Paste is a great option as it is cream-based and suitable for mildly sensitive skin too. The thing to remember with an exfoliating scrub is that it should only be used once or twice a week maximum. Over-exfoliating will dry out and irritate the surface of your skin, ultimately causing it to produce more oil to compensate. Once your skin is nice and clean, it’s on to step 3.

Step 3: Hydrate 

Keeping your skin well hydrated not only makes it feel more comfortable, it will improve elasticity and help slow down the ageing process too. Using a moisturiser every day makes your skin more supple and resilient, reduces fine lines and gives your skin a much healthier look. Ideally choose one that provides anti-ageing benefits and improves the texture of your skin as well. With active ingredients, like Hyaluronic Acid and the anti-ageing peptide Matrixyl® OTIS Daily Hydrating Moisturiser will increase the skin’s hydration level, promote collagen production, restore elasticity and reduce fine lines. But no matter how many great benefits a moisturiser has, the most important thing is that it is comfortable to wear. So, the way that it leaves your skin and the texture of the product are things to consider when deciding on which one to use. If you like the way a product feels on your skin you’re more likely to use it every day – and therefore get the most benefits. There are now more products available than ever that will moisturise, so you may like to experiment. A lightweight serum can be a great alternative, either under a moisturiser or in place of one. Made up of smaller molecules, serums are absorbed quickly and can penetrate deep into the skin to address specific skin concerns. For example, to brighten your complexion and even out skin tone you could use a Vitamin C based serum like Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Combination Antioxidant Treatment. Layering this serum under your moisturiser would then give you the best of both worlds.

Otis Skincare, Aesop and Malin + Goetz are both recommended in this article why explains Why the Simplest Skincare Routine is the Best One.