It has almost become a staple to have a skin care routine to keep one’s skin in good condition, but, with a lot of different skin care products in the market, it can get overwhelming to pick your skin care products, especially if you’re new to it. What should go first? Do I need this or not? In this blog article, we are going to talk about what are the basic skin care products and what is the proper order on how to apply skin care products.
What Order Should I Apply for Skin Care Products?
Skincare Rule of Thumb. A good rule of thumb is to apply products from thinnest to thickest, or from liquid to cream. Be sure to always start with a clean face.
Basic Skin Care Layer Application
Step 1: Cleansers: Use it to remove grime and residue that’s built up overnight. Impurities on the skin can prevent active ingredients from penetrating. Its recommended to opt for mild cleansers.
Note: Cleansers increase skin pH. Most cleansing products lead to a mild, transient increase in skin pH up to around 7-7.5. Something that is high pH, 9 and above, can be too drying and stripping for your skin, says Cho.
“When your acid mantle and skin barrier is compromised, it can lead to bacteria, which causes acne and dehydration, which leads to wrinkles. And when the pH of your skin is normal, it should look smooth and hydrated.”
Read more about Ultimate Guide to Skincare pH and Get To know The Different Skin Care Products to learn more about the different types of cleansers and why skincare pH matters in choosing the right cleanser.
Step 2: Toners: Toners were created to help return the skin’s pH after it became too basic from harsh soaps (cleansers),” explains Dr. Rogers. In addition, toners can help remove additional oil and dirt after cleansing. They prep the skin for hydration, making it better able to absorb products. They can exfoliate, firm, balance the skin pH—or all three.
Note: Toners are not a required step if applying face cleansers with much better-balanced pH.
Step 3: Treatment (Serums for Morning and Retinols for Evening): These are the products that have some sort of intended outcome, be it exfoliating dead skin cells, soothing inflammation, supercharging hydration, smoothing fine lines, targeting acne, brightening tone, and so on.
Recommendation: Read more about Get To know The Different Skin Care Products to learn more about the different serums or spot treatment and how it differs from retinol.
Step 4: Moisturisers: "A daily moisturizer is necessary to maintain your skin's moisture barrier and to prevent environmental damage to your skin," Dr Weinstein Velez, MD, FAAD, explains.
"I recommend using a daily facial moisturizer with sunscreen once daily in the morning and a moisturiser (night cream) tailored to your skin type in the evening."
Note: Moisturisers, if overused, your skin could rely on the moisturizer and not properly exfoliate on its own or produce as many natural lipids and proteins, according to dermatologist Zein Obagi, MD. Dr Weinstein Velez agrees and recommends exfoliating once a week to remove dead cells on the surface of your skin.
Step 5: Sunscreen (Morning Only): Sunscreen is a critical final step in your morning skin care routine. Not only can it lower your risk of skin cancer, but it can also reduce signs of aging by blocking damaging UV light.
If your moisturizer doesn’t contain SPF, you will need to apply an additional sunscreen.
We recommend looking for something around 30 SPF to ensure your skin is protected from harsh rays. Even if you aren’t going to be in the sun all day, you still need sunscreen.
