WHAT IS THE PROPER SKINCARE ROUTINE
There's nothing more important than the order in which you use skin care products than knowing their ingredients. Learning what order to use skincare products in can seem daunting, but we promise you it's not? This guide makes it easy to learn the correct order for using skincare products.
What’s the Right Order to Use Your Skincare Products in Your Routine?
The first step in any skincare routine is to cleanse your skin. A cleanser helps to remove dirt, oil, and makeup from the surface of your skin, leaving it feeling fresh and clean. There are a variety of different cleansers available, including gels, foams, and oils, so you can choose the one that works best for your skin type. For example, if you have oily skin, you may want to use a gel or foaming cleanser, while those with dry skin may prefer an oil-based cleanser.
Makeup Removal
“For ingredients to properly absorb, you need clean skin that’s totally free of oil and grime,” says dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor at Yale School of Medicine. To effectively remove makeup and grime, it's best to avoid using makeup wipes as they can be harsh on the skin and leave behind a residue that can clog pores. Instead, opt for a cleansing oil to dissolve makeup without stripping the skin of its natural oils. Follow up with a gentle, creamy cleanser, particularly if you have acne-prone skin. This may be a two-step process, but it's one of the most important steps in your skincare routine.
Toner
Toning helps to remove any remaining traces of dirt and oil from the skin, and it can also help to restore the skin's natural pH balance. There are a variety of different toners available, including those that are alcohol-free, so you can choose the one that works best for your skin type. Toners are only recommended if they have ingredients that can make a difference to your skin, such as Hyaluronic Acid, or other beneficial extracts. If not, you can totally skip this in favor of more concentrated products such as serums.
Serum / Treatment
Serums are specially formulated to deliver a concentrated dose of active ingredients to address specific skin concerns. They tend to have a lightweight, fast-absorbing consistency, and are designed to target a particular issue. For instance, a Vitamin C serum aims to reduce signs of aging and enhance the skin's brightness due to its high antioxidant content. Hyaluronic acid-based serums can also be used to hydrate the skin. These serums can be integrated into your skincare routine.
The skin around our eyes is the thinnest on our entire bodies and tends to be the first area to show signs of aging. To address this, it’s important to use eye creams before there are too many layers of other products on your skin. Ideally, eye cream should be applied to bare skin. When selecting an eye cream, look for ingredients such as peptides that have been scientifically shown to be effective in reducing the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, and wrinkles.
If you have acne-prone skin, you may want to include a spot treatment in your skincare routine. Spot treatments are designed to target individual pimples and can help to reduce inflammation and prevent future breakouts.
Moisturizing is an essential step in any skincare routine, as it helps to hydrate and protect the skin. Moisturizers and creams are designed to provide a sustained boost of hydration to the skin. They work by locking in the hydration and treatments that you have already applied to your skin. They come in different forms, such as lightweight gel formulas for oily and combination skin, and heavier, richer formulas to nourish dry skin.
Some moisturizers also provide added benefits by including skin-nurturing ingredients in their formulas such as retinoids or collagen peptides - two of the most effective anti-aging ingredients. Retinoid creams are particularly useful for addressing both acne and signs of aging by promoting skin cell turnover, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and improves the look of acne. Peptides, on the other hand, are great for targeting wrinkles, helping to achieve firmer, smoother-looking skin.
SPF SUNSCREEN
The last step in your daily skincare routine should always be protecting your skin from the sun. Sun exposure is responsible for 80% of all signs of aging, including dark spots and wrinkles, and it is important to use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day to protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays. A higher SPF of 55 can offer even better protection, shielding your skin from 98% of UV rays. There are various types of sunscreens available, including those formulated for specific skin types, so you can select the best option for your individual needs.
The most important part
When it comes to determining the best order for using skincare products, it's important to pay attention to how your skin reacts to each product. Adjust your routine as needed based on your skin's response. There is no one-size-fits-all guide that will work perfectly for everyone all the time. If your skin is responding well to exfoliation, for example, you may want to increase the frequency of exfoliation to 3-4 times a week. If you're looking to prevent wrinkles under the eyes, adding an eye cream to your routine may be beneficial. As long as you pick the right ingredients at high enough concentrations and follow the correct skincare routine order, your skin will be glowing!
