If you didn’t know, the order in which you apply your skincare products matters. That sequence is what will either yield you results or keep your skin looking and feeling the same way despite your effort to spend money on new and improved products.
Why Sequence Matters
According to Dr. Heather Rogers, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon, applying your skincare products in the proper order ensure that your skin receives the full benefits of each product.
“The order of application is incredibly important,” says Dr. Rogers. “The skin’s job is to keep things out, but many of the skincare products we use have ingredients we want to get in. Only a very small amount of these key ingredients can penetrate the skin, even when perfectly formulated and perfectly applied. If you don’t apply products in the correct order, you will not see the best results from your skin care regimen.”
How to Layer Your Skin Care Products
An easy rule of thumb to follow is to apply your products with the thinnest consistency to thickest, or from liquid to cream. In general, think thin-to-thick, but you also want to first use the products with the ingredients that are most important to penetrate into the skin (like antioxidants in serums) and finish with the products that need to sit on top of the skin (like emollients and humectants in moisturizers).
Cleanser
In the morning, start by splashing your face with warm water or, if you must, wash with a gentle face cleanser designed for your skin type.
Toner
Toners aren’t very popular partly because there’s a lingering assumption that most toners are harsh and irritate the skin. While toners don’t physically “shrink” pores, the new breed of toners can serve multiple purposes, like act as a delivery system for antioxidants, vitamin B derivatives and even toning acids.
Serum
Serums are super-concentrated, nutrient-dense treatments that address specific concerns, so it’s better to keep them as close to the skin as possible.
Eye Cream
It’s vital to apply an eye cream at least every night—if not twice a day—starting in your 20s. It’s about maintaining the health and thickness of the skin around your eyes. Improving the skin quality in this area early on ensures that the skin does not easily lose laxity and its smooth appearance later on.
Moisturizer
Yes, everyone needs a moisturizer, even if you have oily skin. Even though your body has its own natural lubricating system consisting of glands that secrete oil (or sebum) to maintain a protective coating against harsh outside conditions and infections, most of us do need extra hydration after the havoc that sun, weather and harsh chemicals wreak on our skin.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen should be the last step in your daytime skin care routine if you’re using a physical or mineral sunscreen, which works by physically blocking UV rays.
I’d love to know if you’ve been applying your skincare products in the correct order or like myself, you learnt later in life lol.