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Am I Applying My Skincare In The Right Order?
There are a lot of different types of skincare products out there and it can be a little overwhelming to sort through what will work best for you for your skincare routine. And once you do that… How do you apply them the right way? Well, the order in which you complete each step of your skincare routine is actually critical to ensuring it is effective. Some formulas work best when applied first, others will stop ingredients from doing their jobs if they’re applied out of order. So make the most out of your lineup by following this helpful guide. And when in doubt, apply your products in order of thinnest or lightest to thickest or heaviest formulation. Set up your Skincare Lineup!
Step 1: Cleanse
Kickstart your skincare routine by washing your face and creating a clean canvas for the rest of your products to do their jobs. In the morning, you might just need a gentle cleanser to rinse away the leftover products you applied the night before. In the evening, makeup remover and a heavier duty cleanser will help you wash away makeup, oil, dirt, and grime that builds up on your face throughout the day.
Step 2: Exfoliate
Gentle exfoliators like peel pads and toners help to smooth your skin and get rid of any dead skin cells that have built up. If your skin is sensitive, limit this step to once a day at night or just a few times each week.
Step 3: Treat
Serums are the products in your lineup with the highest concentration of active ingredients and the lowest molecular weight, so they get right down into your skin. No one serum works for everyone — antioxidants like Niacinamide and Vitamin C are popular for brightening and repairing and can be used morning and night. Serums with retinol help speed up cell turnover, but should only be used at night. And Hyaluronic Acid boosts hydration and can be used any time.
Step 4: Eyes
The skin around your eyes is among the thinnest skin on your entire body, so it needs tons of hydration and nourishment. By making eye cream one the first leave-on products you apply, you’re less likely to skip it and it’ll sink right down into your skin.
Step 5: Moisturize
Moisturizers typically have a higher molecular weight than serums, so if you apply them before your serum, they’ll stop the active ingredients from working as effectively as possible. Apply them after to add hydration into your skin. Not everyone is a face oil person, but if you are, it’s best to apply oils after most of the other products in your routine. Think of it as the top coat that locks everything in, especially at night when your skin loses a lot of water.
Extra Credit: Protect & Perfect
While face oil locks everything into your skin, sunscreen creates a protective shield to keep damage away. Some sunscreens double as moisturizers, so you can combine these two steps during the day. Be sure to always apply it as your final step and keep reapplying throughout the day. Then, you can skip this step at night.
Time for the finishing touches - if you crave a little coverage, smooth out skin tone with tinted SPF moisturizer, or add a sheer pop of color to your lips with something nourishing.
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