88 Great Skincare Tips, Tricks & Hacks

88 Great Skincare Tips, Tricks & Hacks you need to know

Navigating the world of skincare on social media can be a challenge. It’s difficult to discern what TikTok influencer is sharing really great tips or fads that will be discarded next week. Here is a selection of my favourite skincare tips and tricks that I learned over the years as editor of Cosmetics magazine and a Cityline beauty expert.

September is the perfect month to review your skincare regime. Are you getting the results you want from your products? If not, maybe it is time to change them up.

Gently exfoliating your skin once a week can help remove a buildup of dead skin cells, unclog pores, and improve skin texture. Remember to use a very gentle circular massaging motion.

Today’s facial cleansers are formulated and tested thoroughly to gently remove regular makeup, impurities and excess sebum without stripping the moisture barrier. You only need to double cleanse if you like to wear heavy, waterproof makeup.

Did you know that the skin absorbs most of its moisture from the environment? That’s why if you have very dry skin, you might want to add a room humidifier to boost humidity levels in fall & winter.

Warm your skincare product in the palm of your hand before applying. Using it at body temperature facilitates its ability to penetrate the skin.

There are five skin types: oily, dry, normal, combination and sensitive. What’s interesting is your skin type can change from season-to-season. You can have combination skin in summer, but dry skin in winter.

The body repairs skin primarily at night. The peak time for cell renewal is between 1 am and 3 am in the morning.

Thermal shock is a phenomenon skin experiences when it is exposed to rapid changes in temperature – typically in winter. When you go from a warm apartment or office to cold outdoors and then back to a warm car or streetcar. This can cause skin irritation.

Oily skin produces an excess of sebum that causes skin to appear shiny and feel greasy – especially through the T-Zone (forehead, nose and chin) The upside is oily skin tends to show the signs of skin aging much later than dry skin.

Dry skin is when the skin doesn’t produce enough sebum leaving it feeling tight or less elastic. It can appear dull and flaky. And it can be prone to showing more visible lines.

Combination skin features areas that are both dry and oily. The T-Zone, forehead, nose and chin, can be oily while the cheeks, forehead and neck can be dry.

To determine your current skin type, wash your face with a gentle cleanser and gently pat dry. Allow it to rest for 30 minutes. If your skin feels tight, you have dry skin. If you notice some shine, you are oily. If your skin is comfortable, you have normal skin.

If you have sensitive skin, look for products without fragrance. Scent is the number one irritant for sensitive skin. Fragrance can actually pull moisture from your skin.

Never pull or tug at your skin. Skin is like a rubber band, the more your pull it, the more it stretches. And that is when wrinkles set in.

Skin cells renew themselves constantly so there is no risk of your skin getting too accustomed to the same cream. Every day, new skin cells benefit from the active elements of a care product.

Why isn’t there one skincare product that does everything? That’s because synergistically, it’s impossible for any single product to contain all of the active ingredients necessary for all skincare needs.

I’ve just seen a study from France that concluded spending time to gently massage your products into your skin can improve their efficacy. That is because massage stimulates micro-circulation in your skin and helps the products to absorb.

Another good reason to cleanse at night is environmental pollution can settle on your skin during the day and actually sticks to the epidermis. You want to wash away the particles and nourish with a good moisturizer.

Did you know that your skin is more receptive to treatments at night because the secretion of sebum decreases during sleep, so the epidermis absorbs products better? It also isn’t fighting UV attacks and can focus on skin repair.

When choosing a treatment product, focus on one skincare concern at a time. Skin can get overwhelmed with too many active ingredients. To brighten skin, look for niacinamide, kojic acid or vitamin C. To hydrate, opt for ceramides, squalane, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid.

If you are noticing acne breakouts, be sure to disinfect your phone regularly. Your phone can hold bacteria, oils and impurities that can cause blemishes. It’s the same for glasses and sunglasses.

Dry or dehydrated? Dry skin is a skin type that doesn’t produce enough oils to keep skin hydrated naturally. Dehydrated skin simply doesn’t have enough water in the uppermost layer of skin.

If you have dry skin, you might want to mist your skin after cleansing but before applying moisturizer. There are some good thermal spring water sprays and this will lock the moisture into the skin.

If you find your makeup disappears by midday, it is likely your skin is dehydrated. Skin will actually draw in moisture from the makeup making it vanish on skin. You’ll want to add a moisturizer for very dry skin with added humectants. A primer will also help.

Don’t forget to exfoliate your lips each week. Gently brushing them with a dry soft toothbrush will remove any excess skin cells and leave smooth lips. Your lip colour will look better on a smooth canvas.

If you have dry skin, you might want to switch to a hypoallergenic detergent to help prevent irritating your dry skin.

If you have dry skin on your hands, look for hand cream that is water-resistant, non-greasy, fast-absorbing and one that contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid. Niacinamide can help calm the skin.

Vitamin C is used in skincare to help brighten, fade hyperpigmentation (dark spots) and reduce oxidative stress caused by sun damage. Apply it in the morning and then wear a good sunscreen.

What cleanser is best for you? If you have dry or sensitive skin, try a cream cleanser. Foaming, mousse or gel formulas work best for oily skin. And oil-based cleansers are ideal for removing heavy makeup.

Eye creams work to stimulate blood and lymphatic circulation during the night to reduce puffiness and dark circles.

When shopping for skincare, remember an anti-wrinkle product will specifically work on fine lines. An anti-aging product is more general, addressing all the signs of skin aging such as sagging, dullness, age spots, etc.

Pay attention to how skincare products feel on your skin. If you notice any redness, itching or stinging, stop using a product immediately. This is the skin’s way of trying to protect itself.

Don’t forget your neck and décolleté when cleansing at night. The skin on the neck is thinner and more fragile which can show the signs of skin aging faster. You want to cleanse and moisturize there as well.

When applying eye cream, you want to gently pat the product on the skin under the eye. Never rub as this just wipes away the product where you need it most.

Here’s a simple skincare tip that really works. Always wash your hands thoroughly before applying any products or makeup. That is because it is very easy to spread bacteria from your hands. Keeping them clean will help reduce breakouts and irritation.

Did you know that sitting too close to heaters or a fireplace can irritate skin? The heat can cause inflammation and add to collagen breakdown. It’s best to stay 10 feet away from a direct heat source in winter.

This may sound like common sense, but most consumers don’t read the instructions on skincare packaging. One skin scientist said taking the time to follow the instructions exactly will give you much better results.

Did you know that all the skincare products within a particular brand are formulated to work together synergistically? When you mix and match different products, the ingredients in each can clash reducing their effectiveness.

Good skin requires patience. Most people give up on a product before it has had time to show the best results. You need to use a product daily for at least 4 weeks to show results. Give your products a chance to really work.

If you deal with acne breakouts regularly, remember to switch your pillowcases regularly. That is because they can hang onto bacteria, oil and dirt from our faces and hair.

Your skin is a fragile vital organ and the body’s first line of defense against external aggressors. It regulates body temperature, responds to touch and acts as surveillance for the body.

Exercising regularly helps increase blood flow and nutrients to your skin, eliminating toxins that can disrupt your skin’s metabolism.

When you apply your nighttime serums and creams in the evening, wait a good 15 minutes before you actually go to bed. You want to give skin time to absorb the products into skin, and not end up on your sheets.

One of the most important skincare tips you can follow is consistency. So many skin scientists have told me cleansing and protecting your skin daily pays off over time. You’ll look younger, longer.

Your skin consists of three different superimposed layers: epidermis (top layer), dermis (middle layer) and hypodermis (lower layer)

Did you know that skin loses 3% of its elasticity per decade during our entire life. Both the epidermis and dermis skin layers get thinner.

Did you know that skin has natural defense mechanisms against cold weather? The first is cutaneous thermal isolation, the lowering of skin’s temperature by slowing blood circulation. The second is an inflammatory reaction of blood vessels which pumps the blood’s input into the skin (rosy cheeks in winter)

Skin cells have a regenerating capacity. This capacity varies from person-to-person; it diminishes over the years and with sun exposure.

What are the biggest skin concerns consumers have today? Lines/wrinkles, uneven skin tone, dark spots, acne

Best order of skincare products in morning: cleanser, toner/essence, serum, moisturizer, spot treatment, eye cream, sunscreen

Best order of skincare products at night: makeup remover, cleanser, eye cream, toner/essence,  night serum, retinol, moisturizer or night cream

The order you use your skincare products is important because the correct order improves penetration of the products and maximizes their efficacy. Cleansing removes impurities, while serums can penetrate deeply when applied before moisturizer. Moisturizer then seals in hydration and sunscreen provides essential UV protection.

Sensitive skin is naturally vulnerable to external aggressors, to which it reacts excessively with stinging, tightness, itching, burning sensations or redness. This hyper-reactivity is directly related to the over-activity of the nerve endings that branch into upper epidermal layers.

Anytime you have less than 10% water in your stratum corneum, your skin is dehydrated. Humectants bind moisture to the skin.

The most powerful anti-aging product you can buy and use is a good sunscreen. That’s because 85% of the signs of skin aging such as wrinkles, lines, sagging and uneven skin tone is caused by UV damage.

SPF 30 blocks out 98% of UVB rays, while SPF 60 shields skin from 99% of UVB. Be sure any sunscreen you buy protects you from both UVB and UVA rays.

How much sunscreen to apply? About half a tablespoon for the face and a golf ball-sized for the entire body. Don’t forget behind the legs and between toes.

What shortens the lifespan of a sunscreen? Leaving the bottle open for an extended time, freezing, high temperatures (like on the dash of a car in summer)

What’s the difference between children’s and adults sunscreens? The percentage of physical filters is higher in children’s sunscreens which makes them more sticky in texture and whiter in colour.

What’s the difference between waterproof and water resistant sunscreens? Waterproof formulas have met their SPF test ratings even after 80 minutes of immersion in bathwater. For water resistant products, it’s after 40 minutes.

A serum is a light gel-like textured product with a high concentration of active ingredients that can help address specific skin concerns. Due to their lightweight texture, serums are fast-absorbing & their ingredients can penetrate the top layers of the skin more easily.

Serums can produce immediate visible results due to their concentrated nature.

Yes, you can layer face serums thanks to the extra-fine instantly-penetrating nature of the treatment formula. Just apply the most basic serum first (like moisturizing) and the more complex ones like firming & anti-aging.

Do you need a specialized product to remove makeup? Yes! That’s because you need a formula that will specifically dissolve mascara, powder and eyeliner gently.

The time it takes for a new skin cell to form and make its way to the surface is roughly your age in days. That’s why you need to use your anti-aging products daily and give them time to work for best results.

Regular sleep is an effective beauty tip. Eight hours of sleep helps your skin renew itself and eliminate toxins more effectively.

What purpose doe preservatives serve in products? They limit microbial growth such as bacteria, fungus, yeast in cosmetic products and are approved by various regulatory bodies.

If you are prone to getting dark circles under your eyes, store your products in the refrigerator to benefit from the effects of the cold.

Don’t buy anti-aging creams and serums if you aren’t wearing sunscreen daily. That is because UV damage during the day can wipe out all the skin repair the body has done the night before. You want to protect all the repair work.

Did you know that wrinkling your face, such as frowning and scowling can cause lines and wrinkles?

Antioxidants, such as Vitamin C & E help stabilize free radicals from causing more damage within the skin.

Hyaluronic acid can hold 1,000 times its weight in water. Humectins draw in moisture and binds it to the skin.

Heavy smokers can age 10 years faster than non-smokers. That is because smoking creates an enzyme that breaks down collagen within the skin. It also depletes Vitamin C.

Myoaging is aging caused by the natural and repeated movements of the face such as blinking, laughing or frowning. It triggers the onset of the first wrinkles and determines their shape, position and number.

When hiding a blemish, apply a little oil-free moisturizer on the pimple first. This will smooth the blemish’s rough surface before you disguise it.

When using a concealer to hide a blemish, always set it with translucent powder as a last step. This will ensure it holds up throughout the day.

Did you know that American Academy of Dermatology recommends limiting showers to 5 – 10 minutes and avoiding cleansing with water that is excessively hot? Overly warm water can disrupt your skin’s protective moisture barrier.

Never skip cleansing your face before bed. This can cause pore-clogging dirt and oil to build up on your skin and cause breakouts, excess shine and an overall dull appearance.

Your choice of face towel can influence your skin. Rubbing or scrubbing your face with an abrasive towel can actually cause redness or irritation. You want to use a clean towel and gently pat dry after cleansing.

Did you know that lotions have a slightly creamy texture but contain more water than creams? A cream moisturizer typically has a richer consistency and features a higher oil content which is ideal for dryer skin.

When buying and opening an new skincare product, write the date on the bottom of the product or on the box. This help you know how long the formula will remain ‘fresh’ and ‘effective’.

If you wear lip oils in summer, be sure to apply a lip balm with spf first. The oil can actually intensify the sun’s ray on lips result in burning and blistering.

Always apply body lotion and moisturizers on damp skin – never dry skin. This allows the products to ‘lock in’ moisture and better hydrate skin

At the beginning of each season, run your cosmetics bag (where you keep all your travel skincare) through the dishwasher. This will clean it and remove any bacteria that has built up.

Here’s an important skincare fact: using powerful anti-aging products in your teens will not prevent the signs of skin aging. Many teens are using products designed for mature skin when all they need is a good cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen.

“Open Formula” is a process whereby skincare scientists update favourite products with new ingredients and technologies. This makes your beloved products become even better as new technologies are developed.

There really is “beauty sleep”. That’s because getting 7 – 8 hours of sleep each night gives your body the time to repair skin damage and rejuvenate. The bulk of skin repair is done while you sleep.

When cleansing your face at night, be sure to work the product up into the hairline as makeup and sebum can accumulate there. This can lead to breakouts.

Why do beauty companies offer skincare products with pumps? This keeps the risk of bacteria and germs entering the product to a minimum. Using your fingers in a jar of cream can easily introduce bacteria shortening the lifespan of the product.