Some women go as far as just cleansing their skin in the morning and at night time, but we all know too well that the process shouldn’t just stop at that. With thousands of products in the market, skincare can get a little overwhelming, especially if you’re unclear about the purpose of each product. You may be thinking, “Heck no, ain’t nobody got time for that.” This is your skin we’re talking about and it deserves to be treated with love so it can age gracefully. Here’s an example of the order in which you should be using your skincare products:
STEP 1 // Removing makeup – Assuming that it’s night time, you should remove your makeup thoroughly to get rid of all the remnants of products and dirt left on the skin. This is done to ensure that the chemicals do not penetrate the skin, avoiding irritation and breakouts. When removing makeup around the eye area, try your best not to tug on the skin too much to keep wrinkles at bay.
STEP 2 // Cleansing the skin – Whether you’re using a cleansing balm, facial foam or gentle skin cleanser, take your time with this and massage gently around the face to remove any traces of dirt and excess oil. Rinse with cold or warm water, but be very careful not to use hot water as it can damage your pores and dry the skin out.
STEP 3 // Use a toner – Cleansing sometimes strips the skin off its moisture and muddles with its pH levels, so the toner comes into play to restore the skin’s natural pH levels and prepares the skin for hydration while minimizing the appearance of pores and eliminating bacteria left on the face.
STEP 4 // Apply medication or acne treatments – If you’ve got acne or any other skin issues, now’s the time to apply your medicated ointments or creams to disinfect the skin and repair it. Make sure this is fully absorbed before you proceed to the next step.
STEP 5 // Facial essence – Facial essence always comes before a serum as it is lighter in consistency and the skin would take less time to absorb it. The essence will infuse the skin with moisture and nutrients, soften the skin, and penetrate to the skin’s deepest levels to nourish it from the inside out.
STEP 6 // Facial serum – Serums target specific skin problems, depending on what your skin needs. You can use a brightening serum if you have uneven skin tone, an anti-aging serum if you want to prevent premature aging on the skin, or a hydrating serum if your skin needs that extra boost of moisture. Similar to facial essences, the serum penetrates to the deepest levels of the skin.
STEP 7 // Essential oil – Beauty oils have become a highlight recently as they are jam-packed with healing goodness and act as magic potions to hydrate, soften, balance and protect the skin. Many are sceptical about using oil on their face, but applying essential oil would calm the skin down and slow down the oil production process. We promise that you’d notice a difference the morning after!
STEP 8 // Eye cream – If you’re in your 20s, you need an eye cream. A regular moisturiser will not do the job as the skin around the eyes is extremely delicate and it needs an extra punch of nutrients to soothe, protect and hydrate it, as well as to avoid wrinkles and fine lines from showing. Your eyes will also appear brighter and more awake. Gently tap the product into the skin around and under the eyes.
STEP 9 // Face cream or moisturiser – The thickest and heaviest in consistency should be the last product you apply onto the face to lock in the essential ingredients from the products applied earlier. Face creams and moisturisers create a barrier on the skin to keep the moisture and oils from escaping, and to prevent the external harmful elements from irritating or drying out the skin.
We’re not saying that you have to use ALL the products mentioned above in your skincare routine. This just acts as a guide so you know which product should be used first. Good luck, girls! 😉
