What is the Correct Order to Apply Your Skincare Products
In what order do you apply your skincare? From our experience as skincare therapists we have found that it all comes down to science!
So what is the correct order to apply skincare products? Here is the basic knowledge you need to know on how to develop a skincare routine to ensure your skincare is applied correctly and working effectively. Let’s start off with your morning routine.
Daytime skincare routine:
Step 1: Cleansing is optional
For your morning routine it is best to try only rinsing the face with water (pat dry with towel) and then apply your products. You may be over stripping your skin of your natural oils that are necessary for your skin’s health. However, if you want to cleanse in the morning you can always use a gentle cleanser that is milk based or cream based.
Step 2: Toner
There are so many toners in the skincare industry that do more than just balance the skin’s pH level. In general, toners are used to help prep the skin for proper absorption for the next products.
Step 3: Serums are the most important step in your skincare routine!
Serums go deepest into the skin giving you the most results! So the answer to “when to use a face serum” is always after toning! Serums are formulated with active ingredients and tend to have a thinner consistency than moisturizers.
Step 4: Eye Cream
A common question “are eye creams really necessary?” The answer is YES! The skin around your eye is much thinner than the skin on the rest of your face. Eye creams are specifically formulated for the eye area to penetrate into the thin skin.
Hot tip: some eye creams should be placed around the orbital bone while others directly under the eye and on the eyelid.
Step 5: Moisturizer
Moisturizer is your second last step in your daytime skincare routine. Moisturizers are formulated with emollients and occlusive ingredients that are applied after your serum to lock in all of those amazing active ingredients from your serum.
Step 6: SPF
Last but not least, sunscreen is always applied last and should be reapplied! Remember there are so many harmful ingredients in sunscreen that can be cancerous and hormone disrupting so it is best to opt for a natural physical sunscreen!
For a list of dangerous chemical sunscreen ingredients to avoid click here!
Night time skincare routine:
Step 1: The Double Cleanse Method
Using an oil based makeup remover as your first cleanse is essential! Oil based makeup removers do not strip the skin nor do they cause premature wrinkles as you can gently melt away the makeup. This step removes the debris and makeup while the second step cleanses the skin directly.
Step 2: Second Cleanse
Incorporating a second cleanse will remove any residue left from the oil cleanser while deeply cleansing the skin.
Step 3: Exfoliant
Exfoliating is a very important step in your routine but you don’t want to overdo it otherwise you will damage your skin. 1-2 times a week max is all that you need, space them out (example: Monday and Thursday).
Step 4: Toner
Serum 5: Serum
At night it’s time to use your strong actives like retinol! To learn more on how to incorporate retinol into your night time routine click here!
Step 6: Eye Cream
Step 7 & 8: Facial Oil/Moisturizer
This step is highly dependent on your skin type and the moisturizer you use! If you are using a gel based moisturizer then apply this first, following with your facial oil. However, if your moisturizer is oil based apply your facial oil first then moisturizer.
Step 9: Face balm/Spot treatment
At the end of it all add your spot treatments or face balms. These products sit on the surface of the skin to create a protective barrier.
How often should you change your skincare products?
An important factor to remember is that you need to change your routine! Your skin gets accustomed to ingredients which makes the skincare not as effective.
If you need help figuring out the perfect skincare routine for you or a professional review of your current skincare routine check out our services!
