Skin care is no joke, let me tell you! There are so many products already on the market while new ones are constantly emerging every.single.day. This combined with the fact that the needs of your skin change periodically no matter what is your regular skin type can make it extremely difficult to stick to a particular skin care routine that will work every time.
Regardless of what skin products are currently included in your collection, there are a few major principles that can help you massively with your skin care. I have done my research over the years of trying different products hoping for better results and their effect was only short-term because they had not been applied in the correct order. Yes, something as basic as the order of application of skincare products can make all the difference in the world. Here is what has worked for me!
SKIN CARE 101: THE CORRECT ORDER TO APPLY YOUR SKIN CARE PRODUCTS
STEP 1: CLEANSE
The first step of your skincare routine should always be cleansing. In this step you will get rid not only of any makeup residues but also of all the dirt that has accumulated on your skin throughout the day. This is the primary and mandatory step of any skincare because in this way you will maximize the effect of all the rest of the products that you will apply later. But please note that your cleanser should be a gentle one – it is not a good idea to cleanse excessively as this can do more harm than good.
Recently, I switched my cleanser so at the moment I am using the Normaderm Phytosolution Purifying Cleansing Gel by Vichy which is a daily gel cleanser that purifies and revitalizes the appearance of oily, blemish-prone skin.
STEP 2: TONER
I know that I have been skipping on using toners for my face for way too long. However, when I made an effort to include a toner in my daily skincare routine (both morning and night) I understood why it was so important to have one in my life. A good toner will balance your skin’s pH, will tighten your pores and will even your skin tone. That’s a great base to start your makeup off!
My toner for the past few years has been the Bioderma Sébium Lotion and you can find a full review in this blog post.
STEP 3: SERUM
This is another step that I only recently added to my routine. Serums are highly concentrated so it is really important to pick only one skincare concern that you would like to work on. You can get an anti-aging serum, a brightening serum, a hydrating serum, you name it! What is really important for me personally is providing the necessary hydration for my skin without making it feel too oily. So, naturally, I decided to focus on lightweight hydrating serum
My serum of choice is actually a moisturizer but because it is so lightweight I decided to use it as a serum. The Normaderm Phytosolution Double Correction Daily Care Moisturiser by Vichy is easily absorbed and targets imperfections whilst revitalizing and hydrating skin for up to 24 hours.
STEP 4: EYE CREAM
Do you know that the under-eye skin is the most prone to darkening or losing its laxity? This makes it imperative that you include a good eye cream in your routine that will maintain the elasticity of your under-eye and prevent any signs of aging.
I am still searching for the best eye cream for me so any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
STEP 5: SPOT TREATMENT
This is not a mandatory step as not everybody needs spot treatment. However, every now and then you will find yourself with a spot that came out of nowhere and you need to treat it with the correct product right after your serum. This ensures better absorption and helps you get rid of any spots.
When I find myself dealing with occasional spots, I always use the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo [+] Anti-Imperfections Moisturiser which I sometimes combine with La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micro-Peeling Face Cleansing Gel for even better and quicker results.
STEP 6: MOISTURIZER
From hydration to brightening, soothing to tightening, a suitable moisturizer can be a lifesaver. Even the oily skin needs a good moisturizer. However, please note that you will need two different moisturizers – one for your morning routine and one for your night routine. The daily moisturizer should be lightweight so that you can put your makeup on without the greasy and sticky feeling. At night you can rely on more heavy moisturizes that will provide hydration all night long and will create a layer that effectively seals in all the active ingredients.
My daily moisturizer of choice has long been the Yves Rocher Moisturizing Skin Cream Pure Calmille. I am still looking for the perfect night cream so any suggestions are welcomed!
STEP 7: FACIAL OIL
Application of a good face oil overnight will equip your skin to battle the excess production of sebum. As surprising as it sounds, a good face oil helps your skin get rid of all the pore-clogging oil that may lead to skin difficulties like breakouts, blackheads, and even enlarged pores.
I make sure that include a facial oil every now and then and for the past few years my choice has always been the Huile Prodigieuse Multi-purpose Oil by Nuxe that I have talked about millions of times on the blog.
STEP 8: SUNSCREEN (morning only)
The last step of your morning skincare routine should always be a good sunscreen. Even during winter, even when you are not planning to go into direct sunlight, your precious skin needs protection from the harmful UV rays.
I have had my eyes on the Avène Mineral Sunscreen Fluid SPF 50+ for quite some time now as it has a more fluid hence lightweight consistency. Have you tried it?
At the end of this post, I want to leave you with a few general remarks that apply in any skincare routine:
- Make sure you remove your makeup thoroughly. Clean skin is very vital for the absorption of any hydrating oils or lotions.
- The basic rule of thumb says you must apply the lightweight formulas first. This ensures better absorption.
- After every skincare layer, remember to give your skin some time to absorb the product. Do not splurge all the products in a little timespan. Your skin needs it’s time to breathe. Also, do not overuse any product.
- Be gentle with your skin. The skin of your face is very fragile, if you exfoliate or cleanse too hard you may end up damaging your skin.
Which is your favorite step of the skincare routine? Let me know in the comments.
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