Watch: Top tips for an everyday skincare routine

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Hyaluronic acid, peptides, probiotics, resveratrol… With a huge array of strange sounding ingredients, it’s no wonder that skincare can be confusing for some people. One report found that 74% of those surveyed lacked confidence in choosing the right moisturiser for their skin, with 84% say they hadn’t got a clue about the ingredients in the products they use daily.

Thankfully, Instagram ‘skinfluencer’ Lateef Saka is here to help with this simple three-step routine for all skin types - he says a morning routine needn’t be complicated at all.

“My morning routine consists of three main products I think everyone should actually be using,” he says.

What’s your skin type?

Before you can embark on a routine though, you need to know your skin type as using the wrong products for your skin can at worse cause irritation and at best, do nothing!

Normal/combination skin: Saka says this is generally “well balanced” skin but you may have an oily T-Zone. Generally, skin like this can use most products.

Oily skin: “Oily skin essentially is characterised by of course, shiny, maybe thick-looking skin, prone to blemishes and breakouts and very visible pores” explains Saka.

He says that this type of skin often needs water-based products to help get rid of dead skin cells and even though it is oily, it does still need moisturiser, to help get excess oil production under control.

Dry skin: “Dry skin is often extremely tight, flaky, easily irritated and it can result in patches,” says Saka.

“More often than not, what you do find with dry skin is that sometimes friction can easily just cause irritation.”

His tip is use products that are gentle on the skin and lock in moisture.

Your three-step routine

Now you’ve got your skin type sorted, it’s time to get cleaning, as the first product in any morning skincare routine is a cleanser sorted to your skin type.

Saka says: “A cleanser is important because this is what you use to get rid of all the oil, grime and bacteria on your face, and let your face have that nice glow shine and basically you just get ready to start your day.”

His main tip is to ensure that whatever cleanser you’re using is in contact with your skin for at least 60 seconds, otherwise you’re not really giving it a proper clean.

CeraVe Foaming Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin | £12.09 from Amazon

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser for Dry Skin | £7.99 from Boots

After thoroughly cleaning your face, it’s time to inject some moisture into it.

“The purpose of a moisturiser at an extremely high level is to hydrate, soften your skin and also kind of prevent water loss, as well as protecting you from everything else that's outside coming onto your face,” advises Saka.

Effaclar Mat Daily Moisturizer for oily skin | £14.79 (Was £15.40) from Amazon

ESPA 24-Hour Balancing Moisturiser | £42 from Espa Skincare

VICHY Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream | £20 from lookfantastic

The final step is one that can prevent ageing and also protect your skin from burning – sunscreen!

“A lot of people often think about sunscreen when they’re getting burnt or it's hot weather, but sunscreen is amazing for protecting your skin against ultraviolet rays, which actually increased the signs of ageing,” explains the skincare guru.

“So really, you want to ensure that you are wearing sunscreen all the time to protect your skin, especially your dermis.”

If you have oily skin, you can probably skip the second step and just use the sunscreen, especially as some products with SPF in them also include moisturising ingredients.

The key to using sunscreen is to reapply every two hours, and make sure you use two fingers’ worth of product.

“Use just two fingers – simple and easy,” says Saka. “Make sure with the sunscreen you get it on your ears, behind your neck and the front of your neck as well.”

SUPERGOOP! Unseen Sunscreen | £15 from Cult Beauty

Elizabeth Arden Prevage City Smart SPF50 Hydrating Shield | £36.30 from lookfantastic

Cetaphil Daily Facial SPF50+ for Sensitive Skin | £12.99 from ASOS

Watch: What skin type are you? And what products should you be using?