I read a few articles recently about maximizing my beauty or skincare routine and quite a few of them, including this Refinery29 article and this Popsugar article, mentioned that a lot of us mess up in how we apply our skincare.
Hmm, so how am I messing up?
Apparently, if skincare isn’t applied correctly, it won’t be as effective as it could and readily absorbed into your skin. It should be applied to your skin in a specific order. Determine order based on the weight or texture of the product; the lightest products should be applied first followed by heavier products. Water or alcohol based products should be followed by gels and light lotions. If you’re applying skincare products first thing in the morning though, the first product used on your skin should be sunscreen lotion or some moisturizer with sunscreen; my personal favorite has always been La Roche Posay Anthelios sunscreen cream (it’s one of the few products that protects against UVA and UVB rays!) According to Dr. Neal Shultz, dermatologist and founder of dermTV, “Sunscreen molecules must align and orientate parallel to each other, creating a grid that absorbs UV energy.” Don’t forget your lip balm with SPF too (Sugar lip treatment is moisturizing and packs great color – I have the set of 7!)
It seems like a lot but quite a few of these products are used on an as needed basis or used at most once a week. E.g., any scrubs or treatments should be used at most once or twice a week. Don’t be too rough with your skin and become addicted to exfoliating! You can also be minimal during the day and just cleanse, tone, and apply SPF protection if your skin can fare well without moisturizer during the day. Combination products like the BareSkin serum foundation (review coming up soon!) are pretty awesome in pulling double duty as a skincare and makeup product.
Otherwise, the order in which you use your skincare products is relatively set.
This is the suggested order for putting on your skincare products for daytime:
- Cleanser (or oil cleanser, then foaming cleanser if double cleansing)
- Toner/Facial Essence
- [As needed for acne treatment] Acne treatment and/or SPF protection
- Serum
- [As needed] Eye cream
- [As needed] Moisturizer
- [As needed] Facial oil
- Lip balm with SPF
This is the suggested order for putting on your skincare products for nighttime:
- Cleanser (or oil cleanser, then foaming cleanser if double cleansing)
- [As needed] Makeup remover
- [As needed, at most once a week] Facial scrub
- [As needed, at most once a week] Treatment mask
- Toner/Facial Essence
- [As needed] Acne treatment
- Serum
- Eye cream
- Moisturizer
- Facial oil
this is what i do! i don’t usually do a toner though. and i have to have my lip balm!
You’re an expert in my eyes Elle so I’m glad that you agree! Toner is a bit optional, but I’ve been reading up on some great ones and think it could really set the tone for great skin too!
I don’t use a ton of skincare products, but it’s nice to know that I’ve actually been putting them on in the right order!
xx
This was really great, I bet there are a lot of us walking around not putting on our face products in the right way to be effective…loved this and I shall make sure I am doing it correctly from now on! Happy Tuesday doll xx
I totally thought I was one of those people that had no clue how to apply skincare! I was intrigued after reading a few articles and learned a bit so I hope I helped a few other people too!
great post, lots of information for people to follow. I try not to use too many products as I’m allergic to most and it can set my skin off for weeks :/ but I’m trying out different ones anyway
fergzillas*
http://www.fergzillas.blogspot.co.uk
Oh wow! As someone who does not use skincare products at all, I didn’t know that even applying them in a different order would change their effects! I only have recently decided to start applying SPF whenever I leave the house, but do you think it would be not as effective if I wear it without the layers under it that you mentioned?
<(') hoda | joojoo azad
Hi Hoda, SPF protection will be most effective if you apply it directly on your skin and not after other products. But no, it won’t be less effective if you just wear it by itself. It is still doing its job which is to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays (if it is broad spectrum protection like La Roche Posay). The other skincare products are mostly moisturizing or anti-aging products. I hope that helps and please let me know if you have other questions!
Great advice! I am definitely going to pin this for future reference.
Thanks dear, I was curious about it and I hope it helps you figure out the order to apply skincare (I totally was messing up the order in which I use moisturizer!)
I learned this some time ago since I’ve been following more of an Asian style skincare regimen. Before that I used to apply my eye cream sooner but now I know better.
I should really post a list of some of my fave restaurants cause I get asked quite often. Most of the the places I eat at often really aren’t all that fancy. I hope we’ll get to meet up sometime when you’re back in the city too 🙂
Rowena, yes I read about Korean skincare and then more and more articles about the proper order so I had to write about this topic. Yep, we’d all love to hear about your favorite restaurants and you can cut it so many ways – by cuisine, neighborhood, etc. Well if you’re around in early June, let me know! I’ll send you a note as our trip approaches!
I have a very similar routine. I always clean my face with a cream cleanser and a dry wash cloth at night..I try to use oil to remove my eye makeup so there is no excess pulling of my skin but most nights i just use the cream cleanser. ( i know its a bit harsh with the washcloth)
toner and night cream. Morning I just use a toner or water to wash and then apply one serum and moisturizer and eye cream before makeup.
Lila, thanks for sharing your routine! I also sometimes use oil to remove my makeup too and think it’s nice and gentle. I need to find a good toner, serum and eye cream now!
Boy…am I missing a lotta steps. Oops! I get so lazy at night!
I totally miss out on a some of these steps and am still trying out good eye creams and toners. But I definitely feel like now is the time to ramp up the skincare routine and I’m determined to go into my 40s looking fab!
I was so in awe of this when you posted it on Twitter. I saved it and I’m saving this! I use Fresh lip balms. they are truly the best. Will definitely try La Roche. I’m pretty good at throwing cosmetics out.
http://www.averysweetblog.com/