Skin care and in particular adopting a skin care routine can be seen as a form of self-care. The problem is that with a dizzying array of products available all telling you in no uncertain terms that they hold the key to eternal youth and beauty. While this remains a pipe dream, with a clear, consistent plan and the right range of products applied in the right order, you can build a routine that serves not only as self-care but will also yield highly impressive results.

First, let's start as all good guides must – at the beginning. It's time to:

Identify your skin type

Most of us, with a bit of thought, should be capable of determining our own skin type. Have a look at the explanation of each skin type below and pick the one that most closely describes your own skin.

Normal skin: No complications arising from products. No dryness, oiliness, or sensitivity [this is a rare skin type!]

Dry skin: Rough, dry skin that flakes or scales

Oily skin: Large pores and skin that feels greasy to the touch. Your face shines easily and breakouts are common.

Combination skin: A combination of dry and oily skin. You may have drier patches on the cheeks and oilier patches on the so-called T-Zone of the nose, chin and forehead.

Sensitive skin: You will have an adverse reaction to skin products, face-wash and/or makeup, with effects like burning, redness or itchiness.

[In a study referenced in Frontiers in Medicine, nearly 70% of women and around 60% of men stated they had sensitive skin].

Once you have identified your skin type, you will be able to consult a wealth of information available on this site as to the products that will be best suited to your individual needs. There is a whole host of information as to ingredients that will benefit your skin type. For instance, for sensitive skin you should look for the likes of: Derma Membrane Complex, D-Panthenol and Evening Primrose Oil among other ingredients.

Establish a morning and evening routine

Your skin care routine in the morning should go:

Cleanser > Moisturiser > Suncream

Your skin care routine in the evening should go:

Cleanser (including makeup remover if needed) > Balancing Toner > Serum or night cream

Key tips:

• For a healthier skin care routine you should layer from the lightest to the heavier products in that order, as the skin is more able to absorb the lightweight products, leaving room for the big guns.
• Use a weekly exfoliation treatment as advised.
• Sleep well. Do not ignore the skin-ageing impact of low quality sleep. Keep your evening stress levels low – banish those blue screens from the bed for a great start!
• Reduce hot bath and hot shower times. Hot showers and baths for longer periods can remove those natural skin oils. Even washing your face with cold water can make a big difference to skin health.