Skincare Routine: Having high-quality skin care items is not enough. Putting your products on in the proper order is also crucial for optimal results. Your regimen will be influenced by your skin type, the ingredients and formulae of your products, and the time of day. Applying goods in the sequence of thinnest to thickest texture is a smart idea, even though thinner products won’t be able to penetrate thicker ones.
The Optimal Nine-Step Program for Skincare
Whether you follow a three-step or nine-step regimen, the one thing everyone can do to optimize their skincare routine is to apply items in the right order. Regardless of the issues you have with your skin, you should begin with a clean, toned base, work your way up to concentrated active ingredients, and seal in moisture (as well as SPF, naturally, during the day). The following are the steps in an appropriate skincare routine:
Wash your face.
Every morning and evening, rinse your face with water and then gently rub a small bit of cleanser between your clean palms. Work the face wash all over your face with minimal pressure. After rinsing your hands and massaging your face with water, be sure that all of the cleanser and grime are gone. Pat dry your face gently with a soft towel. If you wear makeup, you may need to cleanse your skin twice a night. Makeup can be removed with micellar water or washing oil initially. Try using specific eye makeup removers for a few minutes to make the process of removing makeup easier and to avoid rubbing your eyes. After, gently cleanse your entire face.
Apply a toner.
After cleansing your face and before doing anything else, apply toner, if using. Apply a few drops of toner to your face with a cotton pad or your hands. If your toner contains glycolic acid or other compounds that exfoliate dead skin cells, use it only at night. Applying hydrating solutions is possible twice a day. It is not recommended to use exfoliating toner in conjunction with retinoid or other exfoliators.
Apply a serum.
Antioxidant serums, such brightening vitamin C serums, are great to use first thing in the morning since they protect your skin from the damaging effects of free radicals. This is an excellent time to use a moisturizing serum containing hyaluronic acid if you use anti-aging or acne treatments that might irritate and dry out your skin. This will help keep your skin from drying out at night. Serums also contain exfoliants such lactic acid and alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA). Never forget this while applying serums: water-based serums should be put underneath, and oil-based serums should be applied after moisturizer.
Apply an eye cream.
You can use a basic moisturizer to hydrate the region around your eyes. Even so, since eye creams tend to be thinner than face moisturizers, if you do decide to use one, you should normally layer it below. Try chilling an eye cream with a metal roller-ball applicator in the fridge to help reduce puffiness in the morning. Using hydrating eye cream at night might cause fluid retention, which can make your eyes appear puffy in the morning.
Use tailored care
It makes sense to incorporate spot treatments for acne into your skincare routine at night, when your body is healing from damage. Because retinol might irritate the skin, it’s best to avoid combining it with ingredients that help clear up acne, including benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Rather, make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your skin calm and moisturized.
Hydrate
Apply moisture to your skin in addition to moisturizing it; a moisturizer helps to preserve the layers of other products you’ve applied. Choose a light-textured lotion with an SPF of 30 or higher for usage in the morning. You might apply a heavier night cream in the evening. Those with dry skin types may want to use a cream in the morning and at night.
Apply retinoid
Retinoids, which are vitamin A derivatives that include retinol, have the potential to reduce breakouts, dark spots, and fine lines by quickening the turnover of skin cells. They may, however, potentially irritate skin, especially delicate skin. If you use retinoids, take them only at night as the sun ruins them. Furthermore, they make your skin more vulnerable to the sun, which is why sunscreen is necessary.
Apply oil on your face.
Apply your face oil last in your skincare routine because nothing else will be able to penetrate it and alter your skin.
Apply sunscreen.
Sunscreen is the most important component of any skincare routine, even if it may come last in the opinion of most experts. Protecting your skin from UV rays can prevent aging and skin cancer. Even if your moisturizer doesn’t include an SPF, you still need to wear sunscreen. Wait 20 minutes after applying chemical sunscreen to be sure it is still effective. Look for a sunscreen that offers protection from UVA and UVB radiation and has a broad-spectrum SPF.
