1. Consistency is key. Think of skincare like fitness. You won’t see results if you don’t stick to the regimen every day, and the ultimate goal is lifetime wellness. The more work you put into your skincare routine on a daily basis, the better you’ll look over time. Yes, you might fall short on any random day, but the fact that you’re putting in the effort and following your plan will ensure that you achieve your goals. It might take months to notice certain results, and even then, the routine needs to be maintained.
2. Your lifestyle impacts your skin. Don’t divorce your skin from the rest of your body. Your skin can be a reliable indicator of your general health. Look to the principles of overall wellness to maintain healthy skin: get lots of sleep, stay hydrated, cut back on vices, exercise regularly, and so forth. Your skincare regimen may need to evolve based on some habits—and we’ll get into that later. But don’t go into thinking that a moisturizer and eye cream will wipe away countless sleepless nights nor counter a nutrient-deficient diet.
3. Play defense as much as offense. Many people think of skincare as “having a good offense”. However, it’s actually the reverse: Much of skincare is a response to the environment around you, and the situations you put yourself in (like hitting the gym, traveling frequently, working long hours etc). You want to prevent moisture loss in your skin, and prevent harmful toxins from entering. Thus, you need to adjust your regimen to counter the changes, especially keeping in mind the sun, air pollution, and humidity/dryness. (If you want the simplest skincare defense strategy, then here goes: After cleansing, apply an SPF moisturizer every morning year round, and swap in a nighttime moisturizer before bed. You can do a lot better than that, but you should also do no less.)