How to Layer Products in Your Skin-care Routine Correctly
There is no such thin as a single “correct” skin-care routine order, but there’s definitely an optimal way to apply your products. Whether you’re a minimalist who prefers sticking to a three-step routine or the type of person willing to undertake an extensive skin-care routine to achieve glass skin, they way you layer your chosen products has a big impact on how well they work.
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There’s a reason cleansing comes first, serum sits beneath moisturizer, and sunscreen goes on last. Understanding this order will ensure your skin-care products work effectively – because no one wants to splurge on a luxury serum and not maximize its capabilities.
Below is a detailed breakdown of every single step in your daily skin care routine using products you could find on local Instagram pages.
- Makeup Remover/Cleansing Oil
Unless you went to bed with makeup on, there’s no reason to do this step in the morning. But at night it makes your cleanser’s job a lot easier.
Removing your makeup from your skin should always be your first step at the end of the day. Try looking for formulas that are effective enough to melt away waterproof mascara, but still gentle enough on your face. You can also double cleanse.
- Cleanser
Now that your makeup layer is gone, you can proceed with washing your face. A cleanser gets rid of dead skin, pollutants, oils, dirt and bacteria. It is recommended to wash your face when you first wake u in the morning, in order to prep your skin to absorb the active ingredients in your other products. The best cleanser will depend on your skin type. It is recommended to avoid sulfates, which can be harsh, stripping effect on your face.
- Eye Cream
The first product to go on your face? Eye cream. The reason is simple – because you will probably forget to do this otherwise. For the best results, look for ingredients like peptides – which help tighten your skin and depuff – as well as antioxidants.
- Toner/Essence
Both toners and essences are meant to help further prime your skin to absorb active ingredients. Old-school toners were meant to balance your skins pH. Now, toner usually refers to liquid formulations geared toward specific skin type such as formulations with glycolic acid or salicylic acid for oil or acne prone skin.
Essences on the other hand, tend to be hydrating. It is recommended to look for actives like hyaluronic acid, which will flood your skin with moisture.
- Serum
Serums are formulated with smaller molecular weight so they penetrate into deeper skin layers. While you should apply serum twice a day, you shouldn’t be using the same actives during day and night. Serums we recommend is niacinamide to reduce redness, hyaluronic acid to pull moisture into your skin, and alpha and beta hydroxy acids, which help boost collagen and even out skin pigmentation.
- Retinol
Retinol is the holy grail of skin care. Vitamin A derivatives boost collagen production and increases the rate of skin cell turnover. Retinol reduces fine lines, reduces pore size, increases collagen and elastin production, takes off dead skin, reduces oil production, unclogs pores, and evens out skin tone.
It is important to remember that this is a strong ingredient, and beginners should proceed with caution when adding to their routines. Potential side effects can include flaking, dryness, retinol burn, and increased sensitivity to the sun, which is why you should stick to applying it at night.
- Moisturizer
Moisturizers are the to simultaneously hydrate and deal in hydration, which is why these formulas tend to be heavier than the layers that go underneath. You should use moisturizers with humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which pull in water.
Some people also use different formulas for their morning and nighttime routines. You can use lightweight formulas in the morning that blends better with makeup and reserve heavier formulas for the evening.
- Spot Treatment
You need to use spot treatment on active breakouts only, but if you are experiencing acne, you can apply a leave on spot treatment both morning and night to speed up the healing process.
The two most common over the counter ingredients for spot treatments are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.
- Sunscreen
We can all agree that sunscreen should be worn every single day to prevent UV damage – whether or not you go outside. With mineral sunscreens traditionally casting an ashy tone, brands have begun to formulate better sunscreens to counteract that.
Now that you have come to the end of the article, we hope our two cents on an effective skincare routine would come in handy. Show some love to our favorite skin care e-shops.
Now that you have come to the end of the article, we hope our two cents on an effective skincare routine would come in handy. Show some love to our favorite skin care e-shops.
