You might have read beauty blogs and spent extravagantly on their top picks – cleanser, toner, moisturizer, face serum, face creams. You might have used these skincare products daily, and then your skin care is sorted. Right?
You might not like these skin care products to affect your skin negatively. Hence you should know that you are applying it in a specific order. It is time to think again.
As you might know, a small number of skincare products can work wonders on your skin. But to achieve that, you need to apply them in a specific order – and not rush the process.
So, to share the knowledge, we have outlined a comprehensive series of steps as part of your skin care routine and products for all skin types. You do not have to try everything on this list, but you should try following this order.
Daily and nightly routine
Let us keep it simple unless you have two different products per category. Your skincare routine is going to be roughly the same in the morning as it is at night.
1. Cleanser
To allow beauty products to work their magic, you need to make sure your skin is a fresh slate – this is where cleansing comes in.
Everyone should cleanse in the morning but especially at night. When you are out, your face gets covered with makeup and general grime. While you’re exposed to fewer elements overnight, your skin still sweats and collects bacteria while sleeping.
How to apply:
- Wash your hands.
- Gently massage the cleanser into your skin for about 1 minute.
- Wash off with warm water.
- Pat dry with a clean towel.
At night, it is good to try double-cleansing. Starting with either a non-comedogenic oil like jojoba oil works well. You can also try an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup. Follow with a water-based cleanser.
Water-based vs. oil-based cleanser
An oil-based cleanser is best for getting rid of makeup and sunscreen residue. In contrast, water-based varieties are your friend for banishing sweat and dirt.
Note that cleansers depend on your skin type, and it is about choosing the one that is right for you. For example, if you have acne, do not use any kind of soap-based or foaming cleanser, as that might increase oil production.
2. Toners and essences
Toner formulas often vary, depending on the product, as they might clear away dead skin cells or unclog pores. Toners can also aid in brightening and restoring your skin’s pH balance.
You should use toner to get rid of all the cleansers and make your skin feel refreshed. A refreshed skin helps you prepare to put on products containing moisturizers and active ingredients.
Essences are quite similar to toners, but they are more lightweight and are generally used for hydrating. In general, you should consider toners and essences optional. It solely depends on your skin type. You may or may not see results.
If you have oily skin, you should try an astringent toner. If you are using a hyaluronic acid later in your routine, use a hydrating toner as skin care products to follow up.
3 Eye cream
An eye cream can help fight dark circles and fine lines around your peepers. You may want to use thinner creams here, as the skin around the eyes is thin.
Consider eye creams an optional step in your routine, as they are generally quite expensive. You may also try using a serum around your eyes as they might produce similar benefits. Just double-check that the ingredients are not too harsh.
How to apply:
As it is generally applied to such a specific area, you would not require much. Put a small amount on your fingertip and gently pat the under-eye area until it is absorbed.
If your eye cream contains retinol cream and you use it in the morning, be sure to apply sunscreen for face, after and keep reapplying it throughout the day. It is needed for optimum results.
4 Serums, including acids and retinol
Serums contain high concentrations of ingredients, such as acids and antioxidants. Choose the best face serum as they are primarily aimed at cell repair and protection. They are especially effective at repairing sun-damaged skin and evening-out skin tone.
But the type of serum you want to use solely depends on what actives you might have used earlier in the toner/essence stage. Actives are primarily anything that claims to change your skin, like acids, retinol, and vitamins.
If you are using skin care products containing active ingredients, you need to wait a few minutes until you apply the next one. Otherwise, you will end up diluting the active ingredient, and it would not be as effective.
Day serum
Your day serum should focus on the protection and hydration of your skin. Day serums commonly contain acids, like salicylic, hyaluronic, and L-ascorbic (vitamin C). These ingredients help encourage cell turnover and rejuvenation. Which can help with everything from wrinkles and spots to skin tone and scarring.
Night serum
Your night serum should focus on resurfacing and repairing skin cells. You may use acid-based serums at night. But if you have retinol cream or retinol serum on your shelf, use this instead.
You should use retinol at night because it makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight. As you are aware, retinol is a synthetic form of vitamin A. This powerful ingredient stimulates cell production and fights all signs of aging.
If using retinol, it would be best to pace yourself. Note that retinol products are much more likely to irritate your skin, so you have to build up the application. Try using it every couple of days or every other day before applying it daily.
Initially, start with a 0.3 to 0.5 percent retinol. This concentration might be plenty intense for your skin. Then try bumping up to 1 percent.
5 Spot treatment
Spot treatments are designed to dark spots on face, fight acne, and blemishes. If you are fortunate enough to have clear skin, then try that.
While some spot treatments are designed for use in the morning, most of them work best with the nighttime applications. After those hours of sleep, your body switches up a gear to repair and rejuvenate.
How to apply:
If your spot treatment contains salicylic or lactic acid, concentrate it before use. Or exactly where your spots are. If you have a gentler formulation, it is fine to use it all over. Avoid using this product on the skin surrounding your eyes.
6 Moisturizer
No matter how many serums you might have used, everyone benefits from using moisturizers. It is essential in helping to protect your skin’s natural barrier and lock in moisture.
However, your skin type will ultimately determine which formulation is best. If you have oily skin or are prone to getting acne or rosacea, creams are better. But if you have dry skin, ointments are a good option.
7 Face oil
Your facial skin already makes its own oil called “sebum” then depending on your skin type, you may not need face oil. Many dermatologists do not recommend them to their patients because they generally cause more problems than benefits in their practice.
However, everyone is different. Folks with dry or dehydrated skin might find that using a face oil product could help complement their sebum production. This notably happens around moisture retention and protecting the natural skin barrier.
There are various oils typically used for these skin care products. However, the most popular include jojoba, squalane, marula, argan, and rosehip. All these oils are bursting with beneficial antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
8 Sunscreen (day) or thick cream (night)
Hope you realize that sunscreen is probably the most important step in your daytime routine. Besides preventing sunburn, the cream can help protect against cumulative sun damage.
Every time you go outdoors, there is a bit of sun or UV rays going onto your skin. And that gradually builds up over a lifetime. If exposed for a long time, it might lead to cancerous cells on the skin’s surface. In addition, one may notice sun spots, wrinkles, and general signs of aging. You should use sunscreen daily, even if it is cloudy.
Night cream
The night cream is primarily a rich moisturizer. It will keep your skin hydrated and help improve the appearance of fine lines. The night cream is an optional step, but you should consider using it in your 30s. Note that as you get older, using night cream becomes more and more important. Probably because oil production declines as you age, you will need that extra moisture.
Weekly Extra – Skin Care Products
These are the pricier goodies that should not be used on a regular basis. Sure your skin may have a natural glow (glowing skin) and impossibly perfect radiance after you use the skin care products. But note that overuse can actually damage your skin.
For these products, try not to apply more than twice a week.
1 Clay mask
Clay masks work intensively, helping to unclog pores and banish excess shine. They are good at brightening your skin. While all skin types can benefit from using clay masks, they are particularly beneficial for those who typically have oily skin.
As they are normally a heavier formulation, applying clay masks once a week is best. Be extra careful not to leave it on for more than 15 minutes, as any longer may start drying out your skin.
2 Hydrating mask
Hydrating masks are usually found in a cream or sheet format. These masks contain ingredients designed to hydrate and lock in your skin moisture. They can even reinforce our skin’s cells.
Thanks to its hydrating properties, these hydrating masks can be used a bit more often than the clay mask. You may use them three times a week if required.
3 Exfoliation
Physical and chemical exfoliation removes dead skin cells and unclogs pores. This may help manage blackheads, acne, and flaky skin patches.
While you may find many different ways to exfoliate, the general rule is to limit it to a couple of times a week. If your daily serum and toner already have acids, you may even skip this option. Exfoliating too often could rub away your skin’s natural protective barrier and strip away skin moisture.
Some skin types may want to avoid exfoliating altogether. Especially if you have got really sensitive skin, exfoliating could potentially irritate your skin.
Talk to a Professional
When choosing skin care products, you should tailor your skincare regime according to the concern you are trying to address. Especially for acne, the simplest skincare regime is always better. Too many rich skin care products could lead to congested and inflamed skin. It is always best to talk to your dermatologist about developing a skincare routine that suits your skin.
