Having a skincare routine is critical for the overall health of your skin. With the right products, you can banish wrinkles and dark spots, brighten your skin, and say goodbye to dry skin! But there is a right way to apply your skincare. You can’t just slap some serum onto your face and hope for the best.
With this guide, you’ll know how to apply your skincare to reap all the benefits!
The exact order to apply your skincare
Also see: Why you need serums in your skincare routine and how to use them
In the morning:
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Serum
- Eye cream
- Spot treatments
- Moisturizer
- Face oil
- Sunscreen
At night:
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Serums
- Eye creams
- Spot treatment
- Moisturizer
- Retinol
- Face oil
How to apply your skincare
Step 1: Cleanser
When it comes to getting the most out of your skincare, you absolutely need to start with a clean slate. That means cleaning any makeup with a cleansing oil or balm and washing your face with a gentle cleanser.
You should apply the cleanser to your fingertips and gently massage the suds into your face. Rinse with some warm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
Step 2: Toner
Yes, I know, toners used to have a bad rep, thanks to their alcohol-based ingredients. You should use a toner as it helps prep the skin for the next step.
Dab some toner on a clean cotton pad and gently wipe it onto your face. Pull the pad upwards, and avoid your eyes. If you pull down, you could stretch your skin and cause wrinkles.
Step 3: Serum
Depending on how many serums you’re using, you’ll need to follow the thin-to-thick rule. Water serums, like hyaluronic Acid or niacinamide, should come first, followed by an oil-based serum, like vitamin C.
Then you can add thicker serums, like squalane.
Step 4: Eye cream
You’ll need to apply eye creams before any thick moisturizers and oils to your face. These creams are lighter than your moisturizers, so they won’t absorb as well.
You may want to opt for different eye creams for your night and day routine, but regardless, an eye cream is essential for depuffing and brightening your eyes. In the morning, you could opt for a cream with caffeine as an ingredient, whereas at night, you could opt for an eye serum with some retinol.
The skin under your eyes is sensitive and delicate, so don’t be rough. Apply the cream to the tips of your fingers and gently massage it into your skin in an out-and-upward direction.
Step 5: Spot treatments
If you’ve got a specific serum or treatment for acne or spots now’s the time to use them. You should dab a super thin layer over your zit(s) and wait about a minute for it to dry.
Step 6: Moisturizer
Now, you can your moisturizer. This is an important step in both your night-time and day-time routines, as it helps lock in all the goodness you’ve just applied to your face. Like the rest of your skincare, gently dab the moisturizer onto your skin and massage it in.
Avoid pulling down and work it in an upwards and outwards motion. When you get to your ears, gently pull the moisturizer down your neck. And, while you’re there, don’t ignore your neck and chest! They’ll love some extra TLC.
Step 7: Retinol
Now, at night, you can add your retinol. If you’re just getting into the skincare game, use retinol once for one week, then twice a week for two weeks, then three times a week for three weeks, and so on. Eventually, you’ll have primed your skin enough to handle retinol every night.
Apply as you would with all your serums.
Step 8: Face Oils
Like your moisturizer, face oils help lock in all the serums you’ve applied to your skin. Rosehip oil is a great choice for most skin types, and, even if you have oily or acne-prone skin, you might benefit from some facial oils too. The right facial oil could tie off your entire skincare routine together.
At night, this would be your last step.
Step 9: Sunscreen
Also see: Why you should never skip the sunscreen
The day routine would end off with sunscreen. You need a face-friendly sunscreen with a minimum of SPF30. It helps protect your skin and keeps it looking young and fresh.
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