How to Build the Ideal Skincare Routine
Your journey to glowing skin shouldn't feel like a maze of confusing choices. At IMAGE, we believe the simpler your routine, the better.
In this guide, we'll share pro recommended essentials to build your skincare foundation. We’ll also share advanced steps to maximize results so you can achieve your best skin, faster. Our goal is to create personalized, effective, accessible routines that are easy to adopt and maintain.
Identify Your Skin Type
The first step in determining your ideal routine is knowing your skin type. Oily, dry, sensitive, or combination—each type requires specific care.
Observe your skin to understand its type, condition, and issues. If you need assistance, try our regimen builder or make an appointment with a local IMAGE esthetician. Once identified, you can choose products that cater to your skin's unique needs.
Essential vs. Advanced Skincare Routines
Great skin starts with the right routine and targeted products for your skin type and concerns. Your products and treatments should play nicely together. We've taken the guesswork out of deciphering the ideal skincare strategy by creating the Core 4 and Advanced 8. With good habits and consistency, adopting these routines will reveal skin's radiance without the fuss.
The Core 4
The Core 4 is the IMAGE Skincare philosophy—4 essential steps that make up your foundation for healthy skin. They include the following:
- Cleanse (am/pm): Create a clean canvas for your skincare products. Remove dirt, makeup, excess oil and impurities with a gentle cleanser.
- Treat (am/pm): This step is comprised of serums and spot treatments. They target specific skin conditions like pigmentation, blemishes, dryness and wrinkles. Serums contain high concentrations of powerful ingredients that address multiple issues at once.
- Protect (am): Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen during the day to protect skin against UV rays that accelerate skin aging.
- Repair (pm): You skin repairs itself in the evening. Support this process by adding a layer of moisture to lock in hydration and optimize skin health with nutrients.
The Advanced 8
The Advanced 8 will take your skincare results to the next level. Building upon the Core 4, these additional steps round out your routine with beneficial products and intensive weekly treatments.
STEP 1: Cleanse (AM/PM): An effective regimen starts with a great cleanser. It's the first step in your image skincare routine. This is going to remove dirt, debris, makeup, all while prepping the skin for your serum or skincare treatment. Use a grape-sized amount twice daily.
STEP 2: Exfoliate (regularly or 1x to 2x per week): Exfoliation is a crucial skincare step. Our formulas gently buff away dead skin cells to make way for treatments to follow. Nutrients will be absorbed easily and quickly at this stage. Do this after cleansing, 2-3 times per week.
STEP 3: Treat (AM/PM): Your serum is the second step in your routine. Serums are skincare powerhouses that provide targeted results. Use a coffee bean-sized amount twice daily and apply after cleansing.
STEP 4: Protect (AM): Our lightweight broad-spectrum sunscreen will protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays. Apply a generous amount daily to the face, neck, chest, and don't forget the ears.
STEP 5: Eye Care (AM/PM): IMAGE eye creams reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles. Apply a pea-sized amount on your finger and dot the cream under your eye moving from inner to outer corner. Then gently glide along the orbital bone.
STEP 6: Lip Care (AM/PM): Your lips need nourishment too. Take care of them by applying a moisturizing treatment for long lasting hydration, and a plump, healthy appearance.
STEP 7: Repair (PM): A repair crème is an essential step in your evening routine. Filled with vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, ceramides and peptides, these cremes help repair, quench and nourish the skin. Use a raspberry-size and apply to the face, neck and chest every evening.
STEP 8: Mask (1x or 2x per week): Masks provide a physical barrier to lock in powerful ingredients. They address your skin concerns by staying on the face aided by time for maximum absorption. They go beyond your everyday essentials to infuse skin with beneficial ingredients.
Once you've established the basics, enhance your skincare routine with more intensive treatments. Rest assured, when done with patience and consistency, peels, masks, and professional treatments will bolster your glow significantly.
Skincare Should Be Simple
Achieving healthy skin is easier than you think. IMAGE pros have taken the guesswork out of skincare by curating Skincare Solution Sets. Championed by beauty editors and IMAGE fans alike, each set features physician formulated products known for their clinical results. Consider it your esthetician in a box.
IMAGE offers nine unique skincare sets to choose from. Each addresses specific skin concerns with pro-recommended products.
Dark Spots & Uneven Tone Set - Brightens and refines complexion
Blemish Defense Set - Prevents and treats breakouts
Environmental Stress Set - Helps soothe and protect skin after treatments and peels
Oily Skin Set - Minimizes sebum production and shine
SHOP NOW >Loss of Firmness Set - Helps restore the look of firmness and suppleness
SHOP NOW >Fine Lines & Wrinkles Set - Reduces the appearance of lines
SHOP NOW >Dryness & Hydration Set - Intensely hydrates thirsty skin
SHOP NOW >Redness & Sensitivity Set - Gently soothes sensitive skin
SHOP NOW >Give Your Routine Time
Patience is key in skincare. Noticeable results may take at least six weeks. Allow your skin to complete its renewal cycle.
Caring for your skin should be simple. With a little time, patience and diligence, your healthiest skin will emerge. Maintain it with IMAGE's Core 4 and level up with the Advanced 8, and look forward to glowing skin for years to come.
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