The Importance of Skincare

In these times, it may seem trivial to talk about skincare when we are in the midst of a pandemic with a virus that terrifies the whole world. But no, it’s not trivial; I would dare say it’s necessary. You might be thinking, "Yeah, right!" The reason for this is not that skincare will cure any virus or counteract its physical effects; if anyone says otherwise, they are lying. The reason is that it can provide an opportunity for a moment of respite amidst all the turmoil.

Several studies show that maintaining personal hygiene is part of maintaining good mental health. Therefore, it may be especially important in these times to continue with your skincare routines. After all, it provides a brief pause from the chaos and gives you something to do if you’re one of those who need to stay home more than usual.

What can a skincare routine look like? What does it include? What steps do you need? The answers to these questions are very individual, but it’s possible to break down a routine into a few simple steps that most people can follow.

1. Cleansing – In my opinion, cleansing is the most important step. Make sure to cleanse your skin before applying any other products. This ensures that makeup (if you wear it), dirt, pollutants, excess oil from pores (which makes you shiny), and dead skin particles are removed, leaving clean skin that can better absorb upcoming products.
   These cleansers I like: All Clean Balm from Heimish, Cleansing Duo from Huxley, Cleansing Bar from Gallineé.

2. Essence/Toner/Facial Water/Mists – Right after cleansing, you can use some form of essence, toner, facial water, or mist. I believe they are essentially the same, regardless of what you use. It’s often a light liquid that can have various functions. Some use products that provide extra moisture, a toner that works to tighten pores, or a facial water containing some form of acid for a gentle exfoliation of the skin. What type of essence, toner, or facial water you need depends on your skin type and what you want to achieve.
   These I like: For gentle exfoliation, AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid by CosRx. When my skin is a bit oily, Face Vinegar by Gallineé, and when I want an extra kick in my cleansing routine, I mist with Hydra Mist Purify from Odacité.

3. Serum – The job of serums is to provide targeted treatment for a specific issue. This could be countering signs of aging, preventing or eliminating pigmentation changes, reducing oil production, or working preventively against acne. For each skin concern, there’s a serum, so think about what you want from your skincare and find a serum that helps you achieve it.
   These I like: I want to highlight Odacité’s many super serums that can be mixed and customized to suit your skin.

4. Face Cream – The last step in the routine should be the face cream. This should also be chosen with your skin type in mind. The cream's job is to "lock in" the previous products so they don’t evaporate and to provide moisture to the skin so it doesn’t dry out during the day/night. Remember that the morning routine should include a face cream with SPF. In the evening, you should avoid this simply because you’re not exposed to the sun while you sleep.
   These I like: SkinFood from Weleda is a classic that works for most, Hyaluronic Hydra Intensive Cream from CosRx is an excellent night cream, and when I’m dry and flaky, I love Goji Goddess Beauty Balm from Rawgaia.

Once a week, it’s nice to take a moment and use a mask. Here too, you should consider what your skin needs. Remember that skin changes not only with age but also with the seasons. Now that spring is here, a mask with a peeling effect might be the way to go. Masks are a great way to complement your skincare routine without having to buy a lot of new products. With the boom of Korean products in Sweden, there are now many good and affordable sheet masks available, allowing you to easily complement your regular skincare routine without breaking the bank.

My favorites right now are: Bioactive Rose Gommage from Odacité, Lavender Sleeping Mask from Laneige, and if you want to try a bunch of fun and effective sheet masks, I can recommend The Ultimate Sheet Mask Kit – it contains 15 different sheet masks to try.

These steps will not protect you from the virus or solve the world crisis, but they can help strengthen your mental resilience so that you can better handle the chaos.