What Skincare Products Do You Really Need? A Simple Guide for Nigerian Skin
As much as people are getting interested in skincare and people are getting more informed, there is still a lot of noise about over consumption of various types of skincare products as well the pressure to get into various skincare trends, from slugging to skin maxing and so on. All of this is enough to make anyone wonder whether they are doing skincare wrong with just a simple bar of soap and a cream.
But the truth is the skincare products you really need are basic and simple. A good skincare routine does not need ten or fifteen products. The thing is the results you get mostly depend on your skin type or skin concerns, some people’s skin can function well with just soap and a moisturizer while some people need a full skincare routine.
In this blog post, we will be talking about what is essential in Skincare products and what is optional. And how to curate a skincare routine based on your skincare concerns without filling up your bathroom shelf with products that you do not need or will never finish.
The Skincare Essentials Everyone Needs
Whatever your skin type, your age or your budget, the foundation is the same, cleanse, moisturize and protect. Below is the basic essentials you need in a skincare routine:
Cleanser: Cleansing removes the sweat, oil, dust and pollution that settle on your skin through the day. Skip it, and everything you apply afterwards has to work through that layer. But choosing any cleanser doesn't cut it because using a harsh cleanser can leave your face feeling tight and squeaky and strip it of its natural oil, which can lead to irritation while using one that is too mild might not give you the proper cleansing that you need to get rid of dirt and oil, hence the reason why you need a well formulated cleanser.
For a locally formulated cleanser, the ORÍKÌ Gentle Foam Citrus Cleanser with Green Tea is made for this. It cleanses while helping maintain the skin's natural moisture balance. It is a sensible daily choice for most skin types because the goal is a clean face that still feels comfortable afterwards.
Moisturizer. Moisturizer is most definitely an essential part of skincare, as a matter of fact, it is NOT optional if you want to actually get the results for spending so much money on skincare. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, it is tempting to skip moisturizer because your face already feels greasy, however, it is impossible to know that oil and hydration are not the same thing. Skin that is cleansed regularly but never moisturized can feel rough and look dull. A good moisturizer supports the skin's moisture barrier, which helps your skin stay comfortable and resilient.
One good moisturizer we would recommend is the ORÍKÌ Skin Rejuvenating Face Cream which is a lightweight texture cream that hydrates the skin without feeling heavy, which is an important feature considering the type of climate we have in Nigeria.
Sunscreen. If you only add one thing to a cleanser-and-cream routine, make it sunscreen. As boring as it is to sunscreen. One important motivation you need to keep using it is the fact that Nigeria has strong sun all year round and not just in the dry season, hence the reason daily protection matters for everyone. Dermatologists recommend using a broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher which should be applied generously and reapplied every 2 hours when spending time outdoors.
And there you have it! The basic essentials you need for a proper skincare routine. With all of these three products, you may not need to go beyond them.
Products You May Need Based on Your Skin Concern
Once the basics are in place and your skin is settled, you can add targeted products to treat the certain skin concerns you have. The important thing is to ensure that you pick these products based on what your skin needs and not based on what is popular or currently trendy.
For Oily or acne-prone skin: If your skin tends to get shiny, congested or blemish-prone, a toner can be a useful extra. The ORÍKÌ Herbal Skin Clearing Toner is formulated for oily and blemish-prone skin. It helps cleanse and refresh while reducing excess sebum without leaving the skin excessively dry or stripped, which is the thing to watch for with any product aimed at oily skin.
Dark spots and uneven-looking skin: Many people deal with marks left behind after blemishes, acne spots and sunburn all of which rand so on. or with an uneven tone that makes the skin look tired. When dealing with skin concerns like these, two serums are relevant here. And they are; The ORÍKÌ Youthful Skin Niacinamide Serum 10% contains and the The ORÍKÌ Vitamin C Anti-Aging Serum, these products help improve the appearance of marks over time. Now, we are not saying that these products will erase pigmentation overnight, and results vary from person to person. Additionally, you do not need both serums just choose the one that fits your main concern, introduce it on its own and give your skin a couple of weeks to respond before adding anything else.
Dull-looking skin. Dullness often comes from a mix of dead skin cells sitting on the surface, dehydration or sun exposure. Adding a brightening serum is one of the effective ways to treat dull looking skin. The Vitamin C serum above is suitable for all skin types and fits well into routines focused on glow and hydration.
Also, gentle exfoliation can also help, and this is where the ORÍKÌ Deep Cleansing Face Scrub comes in. It exfoliates dead skin cells and surface impurities, helps unclog pores and it leaves the skin feeling smoother and softer. Also it is enriched with Vitamins C and E. But exfoliation is an occasional extra, not a daily necessity. Unnecessary constant exfoliation will only irritate the skin and could even lead to micro tears. So once a week if your skin can tolerate it or twice or once a month if your skin is super sensitive.
Dry skin. If your skin is dry, the answer is rarely more products. It is gentler cleansing and consistent moisturizing. Use a cleanser that does not strip, such as the Citrus Cleanser mentioned earlier and moisturize morning and night with a moisturizer like The ORÍKÌ Skin Rejuvenating Face Cream and as for skin areas that need something richer, the ORÍKÌ Whipped Shea Butter Soufflé is designed for dry, thirsty skin and helps keep it feeling soft and comfortable. It is suitable for the body and can also be used on the face if well tolerated, so patch test first if you plan to use it there.
ORÍKÌ and Choosing Skincare Products in Nigeria
When you shop for skincare products in Nigeria, there is no shortage of choice as there are imported brands, local brands, market finds, online sellers and endless influencer recommendations. However, the risk is not a lack of options, it is the availability of too many of them. But in order not to fall into the rabbit hole of using and dumping products unnecessarily you need to pay attention to the things and let them be your guideline to choosing or buying skincare products. And the guidelines are: what your skin actually needs, what is in the product and how it fits with what you already use. Trends move quickly. Your skin type does not.
And all of these are actually part of the process behind the ORÍKÌ skincare brand. The products are safe, cost effective and are guaranteed to give visible results. So when you BuyORÍKÌ products, the sensible approach is the same as with any brand: choose by concern, start small and build slowly.
Conclusion
You do not need an overflowing bathroom shelf to have a good skincare routine. You just need to start with the essentials which are quite simple i.e a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer and daily sunscreen. Then identify your main concern, whether that is oiliness, dark marks, dullness or dryness, and add a targeted product only when it serves a clear purpose.
Keep it simple, stay consistent and give your skin time. If you would like to see what a locally made routine could look like, the ORÍKÌ skincare range is there to explore whenever you are ready. You can shop the product range on the ORÍKÌ official website or walk into any of the ORÍKÌ physical shops in Nigeria.