When it comes to building a solid skincare routine, simplicity and consistency are key. One of the most effective and foundational routines you can adopt is the 3-step skincare process: cleanse, hydrate/nourish, and protect. Each step serves a crucial purpose in ensuring your skin remains healthy, balanced, and radiant.
Looking at products and their ingredients can be so intimidating and overwhelming… but here is a breakdown of what each step does for your skin and the types of products that fall under each category.
Step 1: Cleanse – The Foundation of Healthy Skin
Cleansing is the first and most important step in any skincare routine. It removes dirt, oil, makeup, and environmental pollutants that accumulate on your skin throughout the day. Without proper cleansing, pores can become clogged, leading to breakouts, dullness, and irritation. Cleansing should be gentle, leaving your pores open and ready for the delicious nutrients you will apply in the next step.
What it does:
- Removes impurities: A good cleanser eliminates sweat, dirt, and excess oils, leaving your skin feeling fresh.
- Prepares the skin for the next steps: Cleansing ensures that your skin is free of any barriers that could prevent other products from penetrating properly.
Recommended products:
- Gel cleansers: Ideal for oily or acne-prone skin as they effectively remove oil and impurities without stripping moisture.
- Cream cleansers: Great for dry or sensitive skin as they cleanse while providing hydration.
Yummy – No Soap, Hydrating Cleanser
- Oil-based cleansers: Best for removing makeup and sunscreen while maintaining the skin’s natural oils.
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Macado CleanserKSh 1,890.00
Step 2: Hydrate/Nourish – Boosting Skin’s Moisture
Once your skin is clean, it’s time to replenish and restore moisture. Hydration is essential for keeping your skin soft, plump, and resilient. In this step, you should focus on hydrating with serums, moisturizers, or both, depending on your skin’s needs. This step also involves nourishing the skin with essential vitamins and active ingredients to address concerns like acne, hyperpigmentation, or signs of aging.
African skin tends to lose moisture faster than that of other races. Humectants are molecules that absorb water from the air and deposit it into our skin; they include hyaluronic acid, honey, glycerin and panthenol (vitamin B5). We recommend that moisturizers for African women have at least one humectant.
What hydrating does:
- Maintains moisture balance: Hydrating products lock in moisture, ensuring your skin remains supple and hydrated throughout the day.
- Addresses skin concerns: Depending on the ingredients used, this step can help combat issues like dryness, aging, or uneven skin tone.
Recommended products:
- Serums: Lightweight but potent, serums containing hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and other vitamins, or ceramides are great for targeting specific concerns.
- Moisturizers: Creams or gels that provide hydration based on your skin type – lighter formulas for oily skin and richer ones for dry skin.
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Radiant by DayKSh 1,880.00
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Twilight TreatKSh 1,900.00
Step 3: Protect – The Final Layer of Defense
The final step in your skincare routine is to protect your skin from environmental damage, particularly from harmful UV rays. The Sun (UV rays) is singularly the most damaging thing to our skin. You will find that many skincare products actually seek to correct Sun damage. In Kenya, you will find many women with freckles and darkened sin in their cheekbones and this is caused by wind-burn on frosty mornings.
Sun damage and windburn are leading causes for premature aging, hyperpigmentation for African women.
While we are fine-tuning our Yummy Sunscreen, we recommend that you look for one that has SPF30+ (Sun Protection Factor) and apply it daily even on days when you are not in direct sunlight. Applying sunscreen daily ensures that your skin remains youthful and healthy in the long run.
Our Yummy Facial Oil:
- Creates a physical barrier to windburn and frost
- Heals dry and chapped skin
- Irons out fine lines & wrinkles
By following this simple but effective 3-step routine, you can maintain healthy, glowing skin while addressing specific concerns. Cleanse to purify, hydrate to nourish, and protect to defend your skin – it’s that easy!