Building a Routine: where the hell do you start?!
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If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the endless product choices and conflicting advice out there— no worries, you’re not alone and we're here to help. At Narcyss, we believe you don’t need a degree to take care of your skin, but understanding the “why” behind your routine can make all the difference.
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Building a routine: the basics |
Consistency is king. Like fitness, skincare is all about what you do daily—not occasional shock treatments. A basic routine involves three simple steps:
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Cleanse: Your skin acts as a shield against the outside world, collecting dirt, pollution, and dead skin cells. Start by washing off the gunk with water and a gentle cleanser. Avoid harsh soaps that strip natural oils (the good stuff); opt for products formulated for your face. Check out our gentle gel cleanser L'EAU BRUT or the heavy duty POOL SUITE to find something that agrees with your skin type. Wet your face, apply some cleanser, and massage it in for 10-20s.
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Treat: This step targets specific skin concerns—acne, dryness, rosacea, aging, you name it. Serums and toners are your go-to (scroll down for our serum explainer).
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Moisturize: Always finish your routine by sealing in hydration and any serums with a solid moisturizer. Our AMPM moisturiser is great for a quick, all-in-one solution. Struggling with dry skin and sensitivity? Try something thicker like SUEDE L´ÉCLAT
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BONUS MORNING STEP: Did you know UVA rays from the sun are one the primary causes for skin aging? Protect your skin from these invisible rays with a solid sunscreen (aka SPF). While we’re working on something special at Narcyss, in the meantime, we love Unseen from SuperGoop
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Morning vs. Night: What's that all about? |
- Morning Routine: Keep it simple. While "big skincare" will insist on washing your face with cleanser both day and night, that's not true for most people. A quick rinse with water will suffice, unless your skin is oily or you’ve worked out. It's also okay to skip serums if you're not feeling it. Moisturizing is non-negotiable—AMPM is a great choice (bonus points for applying SPF)
- Night Routine: This is when your skincare does the heavy lifting. Cleanse thoroughly, apply a targeted serum, and lock in hydration with a thick moisturizer or even an overnight cream like BEACH GRASS that will help your skin restore itself.
WTF is a serum?!? |
Think of serums as highly concentrated elixirs to treat specific skin concerns. Unlike moisturizers, serums have a lightweight, fast-absorbing formula that allow ingredients penetrate deeper into your skin. They usually come in droppers or in an emulsion (essentially a lightweight cream).
Why use them? Because they supercharge your routine and help you address your specific needs. Suffer from dry skin? Find a glycerin or Hylauronic acid serum. Want anti ageing benefits? look in to peptides of Vitamin C. Want to restore glow? look into exfoliating acids (more on that below
Some brands (not naming any names here) have dozens of hyper-focused serums with a single active ingredient in their lineups. At Narcyss we keep things simple. Our multipurpose ACID HOUSE serum combines citric acid for gentle exfoliation, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and vitamin E for anti-oxident protection. If you only use one serum, this is it.
Polish your Knowledge: why you should exfoliate |
Your skin cells continuously renew themselves, but as we age this process slows down, and dead skin cells get stuck on your skin leaaving it looking dull and dry. Your skin needs a helping hand in getting rid of dead cells through exfoliating products once or twice a week. There are two types of exfoliants:
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Chemical Exfoliants: Acids like those found in ACID HOUSE break down the bonds (for advanced and curious learners, the scientific name of this compound is desmosomes) holding dead skin cells, helping them shed naturally.
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Physical Exfoliants: Scrubs like our ASH exfoliating facial scrub use gritty particle, like volcanic sand, to physically remove the dead skin cells. Packed with antioxidants it will leave your skin reinvigorated
While you should be skeptical of any product or treatment that promises instant results, exfoliation is one area where you’ll see immediate benefits. Getting rid of the dead skin cells reveals smoother, fresher skin beneath giving you a visible glow.
For a deeper dive, check out this article from Men's Health on exfoliation.
That's it for this edition of The Narcyssist! Be sure to sign up for our newsletter through this link or at checkout for more educational content straight into your inbox!
