InMySkin: Skincare authority Cormac Finnegan shares his story

We have a passion for exploration skin care influencers per gram. We're drawn to all the adorable flat lay-outs of skincare, expansive captions laying out important skincare knowledge, and zoomed-in shots of (perfect) skin imperfections. A recent search for new profiles has led us to @skintcare, an up-and-coming IG account created by skincare aficionado Cormac Finnegan. Ahead, we'll chat with him to find out more about why he started this page, where he discovered his passion for skincare and his daily and night skin care.

Tell us a little about yourself (and your skin, of course)!

I'm Cormac, I'm 26 years old, I'm from Ireland. I have experience in fashion design. I love being creative, but I also love sleeping, laughing and smiling. I have oily, acne-prone skin that gets dehydrated easily. For years my skin and I have had a love/hate relationship, but thankfully we are more on the love side nowadays.  

When did you discover your passion for skincare?

From the day I got acne, my interest in skincare began. Did I know what I was doing and how to properly care for my skin at the age of 16? Not so much. But I definitely tried! I used to wash and wash and wash thinking it was the best way to cleanse my skin, and admittedly I thought the feeling of tightness from overwashing was good for the skin. But my real passion for skin care developed when I was in my early 20s. I was so sick of fighting my acne and excess oil every day. The recurring cysts around my nose were the bane of my existence and people asking me what was on my face was getting tiresome.

I've always only felt confident with my skin when it was covered in heavy makeup - I didn't even care how cakey and obvious it looked while it was covered. It was then that I remember how I began to develop my daily routine and stuck to it. Slowly but surely, I began to see results.

When did you start your skincare Instagram account? What was the purpose?

I started my Instagram page in October 2018. I had just graduated from college and honestly needed a break from the stressful world of fashion. But there was a part of me that lacked creativity and always wanted to find a place to learn and share my love of skincare. So @skintcare was born and fulfills my desire to learn and share by developing my creativity.

Can you share your daily and evening skincare routine?  

My skin care is pretty simple. I think it's very important to listen to what your skin needs. I have definitely found that over-saturating my skin with too much product can stress it out.

In the morning, I either wake up my skin by washing my face with warm water, or just apply a mist. Then I use a hydrating toner or serum, moisturizer, SPF, and eye cream. Some days I will use all five products, other days I will use only SPF and eye cream in the morning. I use a cleansing balm first and then a mild cleanser. I try to work with both of these products for at least a minute. Then I use a chemical peel twice a week, and the rest of the days I use a moisturizing toner. As for the serum, I will choose it based on what my skin needs. This is usually a moisturizing serum, an anti-redness serum, or a serum that fights congestion and sebum production. Finally, I will set everything with eye cream and moisturizer.

One skincare ingredient you can't get enough of right now:

Niacinamide.

What's your top skin care tip for readers?  

Speaking as someone with dehydrated skin, the biggest thing that has helped my skin is washing my face only once a day. But having said that, this tip won't work for every skin type. So my revised advice would be to know and listen reliable leather. It is very important to know what your skin is telling you.

What skin care product could you never live without?  

SPF! Daily use of the SPF evened out the complexion and really helped to get rid of the dark spots.

What's the latest skin care product you finished? Would you have it again?

Banila Co Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm. I already bought it!

What is the most frequently asked question in your private messages?

"How to get rid of acne?" It's always flattering when someone turns to you for advice. But everyone's experience with acne is different and all I can do is recommend products that worked for me and mention antibiotics that helped get rid of my acne.

How has your relationship with skin changed since you started caring for it?  

My skin has gone from a part of me that I was ashamed of to a part of me that gives me confidence. My skin is far from perfect, but my oily skin has helped me a lot to love it.

What do you like most about skin care?

What I love most about skincare is self-care. Free your mind, turn on the music, and apply your skin care routine - that's ten minutes of heaven.