A Beginner’s Guide to Building Your Ultimate Skincare Routine

If there’s one thing we know about skin care, it’s that the perfect skincare routine looks different for everyone. Each of us has our own unique canvas, and while this can make it a tad difficult to know where to start, we’re here to help guide you. COSMEDIX is here to share our clean and clinical skincare expertise that will help you put your best face forward.

SKINCARE STAPLES

As you first begin your skincare routine, keep it simple! These are the basic skincare steps we recommend in a beginners level skincare routine.

1) Cleanse

Rinsing your face is an ultra-refreshing way to wake up or wind down, and washing off daily impurities, excess oil, makeup and dead skin from your face is one of the best ways you can care for your skin.

We recommend cleansing twice a day, as part of your AM/PM skincare routine. The type of cleanser best fit for your skin depends on your skin type and skin concerns, though you should be on the lookout for a cleanser that gently removes daily impurities without stripping the skin of essential oils. While we want skin to be as clean as possible, we don’t want that to come at the expense of possibly dehydrating skin.

TRY: Benefit Clean Gentle Cleanser

This gentle gel-based cleanser helps gently lift off dirt, oil and makeup while also penetrating deep into the skin to aid in drawing out pore-clogging impurities. Lightweight and non-foaming, this gentle cleanser is ideal for even the most sensitive of skin, as it leaves the complexion feeling soft and hydrated.

2) Moisturize

The second step we recommend in a beginner’s skincare routine is using a moisturizer that indulges skin with much-needed hydration. Because there are so many moisturizer products out there, it’s important to find one specifically tailored to your skin type and concerns, as moisturizer can vary in moisture level, skincare ingredients and SPF.

For Oily Skin: Shineless Oil-Free Moisturizer

For Dry Skin: Emulsion Intense Hydrator

For Normal/Combination Skin: Skin Thirst Moisturizing Hyaluronic Acid Cream

For Mature Skin: Humidify Deep Moisture Cream

For Sun Protection: Peptide Rich Defense Moisturizer with Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen

3) SPF

At COSMEDIX, we’re passionate about wearing SPF all year-round—not just in the summer—because even on cloudy days, as much as 80% of the sun’s broad spectrum UV rays can make it through to your skin. Applying an SPF with broad spectrum protection as the final layer of defense in your AM skincare routine will help prevent sunburn and future skin damage as well as help protect your complexion from environmental stressors.

TRY: Protect UV Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Moisturizing Spray

This gentle, multipurpose Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Moisturizing Spray provides daily, head-to-toe UV protection and hydration with an undetectable sheer finish. Plus, the silky smooth, oil-free formula won’t clog pores!

SKINCARE UPGRADES

Now that you’ve got your basic skincare routine down pat, here are some ways you can expand your routine to even better address your skin care concerns.

1) Double Cleanse

Double cleansing, or beginning your PM skincare routine by rinsing skin with two cleansers of different base types (i.e. oil-based cleanser & water-based cleanser), helps to remove makeup, dirt and excess oil with the first cleanser, while also drawing out pore-clogging impurities with the second cleanser.

TRY: Clean & Condition 2-Step Double Cleanse Duo

Featuring best selling Benefit Clean Gentle Cleanser and hydrating Purity Solution Nourishing Deep Cleansing Oil, this 2-Step Double Cleanse Duo washes away daily impurities while helping skin retain hydration for a softer, radiant-looking complexion.

2) Exfoliate

~Exfoliate~ is quite the buzz word within skin care these days, but we chalk that up to the skin-loving benefits and visible results of weekly exfoliation. By exfoliating a few times a week, you’ll see an improved look of skin tone and texture for a softer, smoother-looking complexion.

For Total Body Exfoliation: Salted Peppermint 2-in-1 Peppermint Sea Salt Scrub

For Gentle Exfoliation: Purity Clean Exfoliating Cleanser

For Mature Skin: Defy Triply Hydroxy Acid Age-Defying Treatment

3) Night Cream

Usually heavier in moisture and skin care ingredients, a night cream helps deeply hydrate and revitalize skin overnight. Often, a night cream will include Retinol, a derivative of Vitamin A, to help firm and smooth the look of skin. While we recommend Retinol for mature skin and those who hope to address fine lines & wrinkles, Retinol may be a bit much for sensitive skin. In its place, we recommend Bakuchiol, a gentle, plant-based Retinol alternative. No matter your skin type, it’s important to supplement your evening Retinol with an AM SPF, as it may increase sun sensitivity.

With Retinol: Define Age-Defying Treatment with Hydroxy Acids & Retinol

For Deep Hydration: Resync Revitalizing Night Cream

TARGETED TREATMENT

Now that you’ve got the hang of things, it’s time to have fun! Experiment with a different serum, mask and eye cream for a range of targeted skin care benefits that will help address your skin concerns.

1) Serum

A serum is typically a highly concentrated delivery system of antioxidants and skincare ingredients that’s designed to help address specific skin concerns—whether hydration, signs of aging, dark spots or brightening. Applied after cleansing and toning, but before moisturizing, you can keep it simple with one serum or you can try your hand at serum cocktailing, which involves mixing and matching one or more serum products for maximum skincare benefits.

For Brightening: BrillianCy Vitamin C Brightening Face Oil AM/PM

For Firming: Affirm Antioxidant Firming Serum

For Deep Hydration: Surge Hyaluronic Acid Booster

2) Eye Cream

Address the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness with a skin-indulging eye cream. Intensely hydrating and formulated with potent skincare ingredients like skin-loving peptides, eye cream can help soothe tired-looking eyes for a more rested appearance.

TRY: Opti Crystal Liquid Crystal Eye Serum

Opti Crystal is our #1 bestselling, luxurious Liquid Crystal Eye Serum that is specially formulated with powerhouse ingredients to radically reduce the look of dark circles and improve the look of fine lines, wrinkles and sagging around the eyes. Its results, along with the rainbow iridescent color, have led to the beloved nickname “Unicorn Tears.”

3) Skincare Face Mask

Whether charcoal or clay, serum or botanical hydration, a face mask is the perfect way to pamper your skin with a concentrated, more intense dose of skincare ingredients for a more radiant-looking complexion. Plus, face masks allow ingredients to better penetrate into your skin in a shorter amount of time.

For Brightening: Glow Bamboo Brightening Mask

For Firming: Bio-Shape Firming Face Mask

For Purifying: Detox Activated Charcoal Mask

COSMEDIX Skincare Starter Kits

Take the guesswork out of skincare with these expertly curated skincare starter kits designed with the beginner (whether to skincare or COSMEDIX) in mind. Choose a kit based on your skin type (i.e. combination, sensitive, normal) or skin concern (i.e. age-defiance, clarifying, brightening) for luxurious, specialized care.

Try Your Starter Kit Today:

Should You Switch up Your Skincare Routine from Fall to Winter?

The change from fall to winter feels like it happens in an instant. The leaves drop and, often, the humidity levels with them, leaving our skin feeling dry and dull. But just because the cooler weather gives us the chills doesn’t mean we can’t indulge our complexions with a few skincare pro tips to promote healthy-looking hydration! These COSMEDIX skincare tips and must-haves will help you make the seasonal skincare swap-out—turning  “Let it snow” into “Let it glow.”

1. Switch to a hydrating cleanser.

Proactive hydration in each step of your winter skincare routine will help reduce feelings of dryness and make for more radiant-looking skin! You need a cleanser that will wash away dirt, oil and other daily impurities without stripping the skin of much-needed hydration. We recommend Crystal Cleanse, a velvety Hydrating Cleansing Cream that simultaneously delivers hydration deep into the skin while also washing away dirt, oil and makeup to refresh the look of your complexion.

Featuring our signature COSMEDIX Liquid Crystal Technology—the very same as seen in #1 best selling Opti Crystal and fan-favorite Lumi Crystal—Crystal Cleanse pampers skin with unprecedented hydration, even after rinse-off. A botanical blend of hydrating key ingredients like Prickly Pear Extract and Coconut Oil help soften the look of skin for a more radiant look. Gentle and soothing, this cleanser is ideal for all skin types.

2. Opt for a thicker moisturizer.

A summer moisturizer is normally very lightweight, as your skin also grabs moisture from the humid air to help stay hydrated throughout the day. As winter weather rolls in, make up for the difference in humidity by either switching out your moisturizer or supplementing it with a thicker, more lavish formula. We recommend Emulsion Intense Hydrator to help skin stay hydrated and healthy-looking.

Just because your winter skin may be dry or dehydrated, it doesn’t have to stay that way. Enter: Emulsion Intense Hydrator. This silky smooth, luxurious face moisturizing cream helps hydrate and replenish dry skin for total moisture restoration and a healthy-looking glow. It features an all-star cast of clean ingredients like Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Spin Trap and Liquid Crystals to not only deeply hydrate skin, but help it retain moisture better over time. A gorgeous mauve, this intense hydrating crème is just the winter wonder your skin needs to feel moisturized all season long.

3. Try a skin-pampering at-home peel.

Exfoliation is ultra-important in the winter due to the season’s aridity, which can cause dry, dull or dead skin (you name it) to cloud the surface of your complexion and dampen your glow. Gently polish away the dead skin to help improve the look of skin tone and texture with an at-home peel treatment! We recommend our long-awaited PHA Hydration Peel Refining Exfoliator, as it helps reveal the next layer of skin with a hydrating exfoliation experience.

Formulated with a gentle, skin-loving blend of polyhydroxy and alpha hydroxy acids, the PHA Hydration Peel helps soften, smooth and brighten the appearance of skin for a more even-looking complexion. Combining gentle exfoliation and hydration, this easy-to-use Refining Exfoliator helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for age-defying results. Some winter days, there is absolutely nothing more tempting than staying bundled up in front of the fireplace with hot cocoa in hand. Take 10 minutes for self-care with this illuminating at-home peel that’s gentle enough for all skin types.

4. Coat lips in lavish hydration.

There is nothing worse than dry, chapped or cracked lips that are all-too-common in the dry winter months. While a lip balm can help soothe lips, sometimes you need a heavy duty hydrator to help keep dry lips at bay. We recommend indulging your pout in an ultra-hydrating lip treatment, like Lumi Crystal Liquid Crystal Lip Hydrator, to help hydrate and replenish lips with essential moisture.

Featuring deeply hydrating Liquid Crystal Technology and a plumping peptide, Lumi Crystal Lip Hydrator instantly transforms the look of lips and deeply conditions for a rejuvenated, softer-looking pout. Unlike a basic balm or gloss, this prismatic iridescent lip topper also helps soften and plump the look of fine lines and wrinkles—sealing in long-lasting moisture with a high-shine finish.

5. Invest in a moisturizing hand cream.

Hands are one of the first places to feel dry as the weather gets chillier outside. While you likely have a bottle of lotion hanging around your bathroom counter somewhere, what you need is an intensely hydrating cream that truly conditions the tough skin on your hands—not just for a few minute’s relief, but for long-lasting hydration… especially after all this hand washing. We recommend Replenish Hand Cream, the Intensely Nourishing Hand Treatment packed with potent skin care ingredients to deeply hydrate dry hands.

Formulated with a ceramide, niacinamide, nutrient-rich Almond Oil and a powerhouse peptide, Replenish Hand Cream is designed to deeply hydrate dry hands while restoring the appearance of firmer-looking, more even-toned skin. The velvety formula of this Intensely Nourishing Hand Treatment leaves skin feeling uber-hydrated and soft—never greasy—for fast-absorbing moisture that visibly brightens the look of dark spots, helping hands to feel soothed and smoothed.

Skincare Gift Guide for the Holidays 2021

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! With our clean, clinical and luxurious collection of skincare staples, you can stock up on the perfect holiday gifts for all your friends and loved ones in a way that makes gift-giving fun! We’ve rounded up some of our favorite COSMEDIX gift ideas that will help inspire self-care and provide gentle, effective skin care for everyone on your gift list this holiday season.

FOR THE SKINCARE LOVER

PHA Hydration Peel

The skincare lover has tried it all, and now it’s time to take their skin care to the next level by bringing home aesthetician-level results with the PHA Hydration Peel! This previously spa-exclusive product is now available for purchase online to bring home just in time for the holidays. A multi-acid Level 1 exfoliant, this Refining Exfoliator helps soften, smooth and brighten the appearance of skin for a more even-looking complexion. Formulated with gentle skincare superstars like PHA, Lactobionic Acid and Phytic Acid, this easy-to-use rinse-off peel helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for age-defying skin and a more radiant-looking complexion with each use.

Bakuchiol Complete

The skincare lover always needs to be up-to-date on the latest game-changing skincare ingredients that help address skin concerns and pamper the complexion. Bakuchiol, the gentle plant-based alternative to Retinol, has absolutely exploded in popularity this year for its vegan, age-defying qualities. Bakuchiol Complete, the Plant-Based Retinol Alternative Serum, is the perfect addition to your (or their) serum cocktailing, helping to firm, smooth and brighten the look of skin—a truly special present for “New Year, New Skin.”

STAPLES FOR THE SKINCARE STARTER

Starter Kits

Every skincare lover was once a beginner, so we all know the process of wanting to establish a skincare routine, but not knowing where to start. Luckily, COSMEDIX has created expertly tailored skincare bundles for a variety of skin types (normal skin type, combination skin, sensitive skin, etc.) and skincare concerns (age-defying, even skin tone, clarifying) that will help steer you on the right path for a streamlined skincare routine. These cleansing, hydrating starter kits are not just a fantastic present, but an amazing skincare investment that will keep on giving all year-long.

The COSMEDIX Edit

Get five holy grail COSMEDIX skincare bestsellers in one collection to see what the buzz (from press, clients and celebs alike) is all about. Featuring an ultra-conditioning oil cleanser, exfoliating cleanser and skin-loving serum, along with a liquid crystal eye serum and lip hydrator, this skincare collection is the ultimate secret for skincare starters to put their best face forward. This vault includes our #1 best-selling Opti Crystal Liquid Crystal Eye Serum—the luxe, iridescent serum commonly referred to as “unicorn tears” that helps dramatically reduce the appearance of dark circles, wrinkles and crow’s feet around the delicate under eye area. No matter the gift recipient’s experience with skincare, this bestsellers vault is an incredibly pampering, all-around treat for skin.

FOR THE RELAXATION REVELER

COSMEDIX X Kasey Boone Skincare Roller

Enhance your evening’s skincare routine with the COSMEDIX x Kasey Boone Skincare Roller, a refresh & roll skincare duo featuring Resync Revitalizing Night Cream and Kasey Boone’s coveted Glow Skincare Cold Roller! To make the most of this 2-Step Skincare Bundle, first apply Resync—an ultra-hydrating night cream that quenches skin with long-lasting moisture and antioxidants while you sleep. Then, help further absorb Resync’s skin-loving benefits with Kasey Boone’s Glow Skincare Cold Roller, a luxe facial tool designed to massage your favorite skincare products into skin with an indulgent cooling effect.

Unwind & Restore

Moisturize and condition skin in need of some holiday R&R with Unwind & Restore. This specially curated Self Care 2-Step Skincare Duo utilizes Cannabis Sativa Oil (CBD) to help improve skin comfort. Curated by an elite team of chemists, this multipurpose Face & Body CBD Lotion (Recovery) and CBD Targeted Relief Rollerball (Serenity) help deliver a feeling of total body relief from occasional or temporary discomfort for an overall sense of relaxation and well-being in your daily skincare routine.

FOR THE HYDRATION HUNTER

Hydrating Mist Kit

Keep skin hydrated in the cold, dry air of the holiday season with this limited-edition Hydrating Fruit Mist Kit! This Moisture-Locking Apple & Cranberry Facial Mist Duo instantly refreshes fatigued skin as it helps seal in hydration with each spritz. Rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin E, each facial mist essence is designed to moisturize skin throughout the day as needed, helping to condition, balance and firm the appearance of your complexion. Formulated for all skin types and an easy addition to your AM or PM skincare routine, the Hydrating Fruit Mist Kit can be used after cleansing and toning—as well as for a pre-moisture treat before applying serum to help lock in all the skin-loving benefits.

Emulsion

Gift yourself (or a friend) an ultra thick and creamy moisturizer this holiday season with Emulsion! A vibrant mauve, this intense hydrator is the silky smooth and luxurious facial moisturizer you need to help bring dry skin back to life. Featuring skincare superstars like Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Spin Trap and Liquid Crystals, this deeply conditioning skin treatment is the perfect finishing touch to an evening skincare routine, helping the complexion look refreshed and renewed.

MEN’S SKINCARE COLLECTION

Men’s Oil Control Bundle

Help get oil under control with this three-piece skincare bundle featuring powerhouse ingredients that work together to cleanse, exfoliate and hydrate the complexion. This easy-to-use grooming bundle features a best-selling facial cleanser, a brightening skincare face mask and a refreshing face mist designed to help take control of combination and oily skin. The holidays are the perfect time to invest in self-care and a skincare routine upgrade. Boost the appearance of skin with this must-have skincare bundle curated especially for men.

Salted Peppermint

Soften up with Salted Peppermint, the 2-in-1 Peppermint Sea Salt Scrub that gently exfoliates away dull, dead skin from head-to-toe to help reveal softer, smoother-looking skin. Infused with Himalayan Pink Salt, this polishing skincare treatment can be used on the body, hair or scalp to gently exfoliate and condition the skin with a burst of hydration for an improved look of skin tone and texture.

Stressed this Holiday Season? Let COSMEDIX Bring the Spa Serenity Home to You

With today’s constant connectivity that always has us moving from one thing to the next, it can be hard to truly decompress and take the time to do something just for you. After all, your skin’s not the only one that faces daily stressors! You deserve rest and COSMEDIX is here to help. In recognition of National Stress Awareness Day, a holiday focused on identifying and reducing the stress factors in your life, we want to share five of our favorite tips for creating a “me moment” in your day. Relaxation might not be as far away as you think.

1. Roll Away the Stress with COSMEDIX Rose Quartz Roller

As the day goes on, we tend to hold tension within our facial muscles. Let go of that stress by pampering yourself with a facial massage using the Rose Quartz Roller. This invigorating beauty massage tool helps refresh the look of skin by helping to increase the absorption of skincare products, reduce the appearance of puffiness and improve the look of skin texture for a more radiant-looking complexion.

We recommend using upward motions to massage an age-defying COSMEDIX serum like Affirm Antioxidant Firming Serum into skin. Not only will this simple practice show your skin some love, but it can better hydrate skin to help create a glowing, more sculpted appearance for your complexion.

Pro Tip: Stick your Rose Quartz Roller in the refrigerator in between uses for an enhanced cooling experience that will leave your skin looking—and feeling—refreshed!

2. Clear Your Day with COSMEDIX Detox Activated Charcoal Mask

Sometimes there is nothing more relaxing after a long day than feeling clean. Let Detox Activated Charcoal Mask do the dirty work by acting like a magnet to help draw out pore-clogging dirt, oil and daily impurities. It simultaneously helps cleanse away pollutants for a smoother-looking and more clarified-looking complexion. Plus, it’s formulated with skin-loving skin care ingredients like Charcoal and Kaolin Clay, making Detox mask gentle enough for all skin types. Its soft-to-the-touch finish provides a truly rejuvenating skin care experience.

To unwind after a long day with Detox Activated Charcoal Mask, simply apply a generous amount of the product (enough to cover your face) to clean, damp skin with a massaging, circular motion. Leave on skin for 10-15 minutes, then gently rinse skin with warm water and pat dry. Follow with your favorite COSMEDIX Moisturizer. Incorporate this into your relaxing skincare routine three times per week or as tolerated.

Pro Tip: For your post-mask moisturizer, we recommend Shineless Oil-Free Moisturizer for oily, acne-prone or combination skin and Humidify Deep Moisture Cream for normal to dry skin.

3. Help Soothe Stressed Skin with COSMEDIX Unwind & Restore Self Care 2-Step Skincare Duo

Indulge your skin in CBD relief with the Unwind & Restore Self Care 2-Step Skincare Duo. This ultimate self-care skincare bundle features Recovery AM/PM Face & Body CBD Lotion and Serenity AM/PM CBD Targeted Relief Rollerball for skin in need of some R&R.

Formulated with skin-conditioning peptides and amino acids, Recovery AM/PM Face & Body CBD Lotion helps soothe and comfort the skin for a feeling of total-body relief. Massage a generous amount into skin until fully absorbed. For targeted, on-the-go relief and relaxation, follow Recovery AM/PM with Serenity AM/PM CBD Targeted Relief Rollerball. Simply roll onto the desired area to help soothe and condition skin.

4. Scrub it out with COSMEDIX Salted Peppermint 2-in-1 Peppermint Sea Salt Scrub

Give the often overlooked parts of your skin a full body scrub with Salted Peppermint 2-in-1 Peppermint Sea Salt Scrub. This body, hair and scalp scrub invigorates the senses and is a serene addition to your shower skincare ritual. Featuring Pink Himalayan Salt, Salted Peppermint exfoliates away dull, dry skin, helping to improve the look of skin tone and texture.

As you massage the scrub across your body and into your hair and scalp, it polishes and conditions skin with a pillowy-soft finish to help create a more hydrated, even-looking complexion. Spa-like from the first application, this multipurpose skincare treatment helps turn your bathroom into a mini skincare oasis. Light a candle and close your eyes. This one’s for you.

5. Get your beauty sleep with COSMEDIX Overnight Hydration Bundle 2-Piece Skincare Duo

So many times, the answer to relaxation waits behind a good night’s rest. Make the most of your beauty sleep with the Overnight Hydration Bundle 2-Piece Skincare Duo. Featuring two COSMEDIX fan favorites, Resync Revitalizing Night Cream and Surge Hyaluronic Acid Booster, this skincare duo is designed to work seamlessly together—helping to deeply hydrate the skin, smooth the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles and create a radiant-looking complexion.

After cleansing and toning skin, apply Surge Hyaluronic Acid Booster. This top-rated skincare booster deeply moisturizes dry, dehydrated skin with a specialized blend of Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide and Kiwi Fruit Water.

Then, follow with age-defying Resync Revitalizing Night Cream to condition skin while you sleep. Infused with antioxidant-rich Snow Mushroom and Kakadu Plum, this overnight hydrator also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles and helps protect skin from environmental stressors, resulting in a more vibrant-looking complexion. Massage in upward circular motions until Resync absorbs into skin.