The order of your skincare routine is extremely important. Many skincare routines sometimes include several different steps such as most Korean beauty routines and require dozens of different products every now and then. This can make things get a bit confusing from time to time. This list is to help you make your life easier and save you some time. If you don’t apply products in the right order, you may not see the best results from your skincare routine.
1. Cleanser
Cleansing the skin both in the morning and night is the first and most important step in any skincare routine. You have to cleanse every day to remove all makeup, dirt and excess oil. Some cleansers can be too harsh on the skin and ruin it in the long run so gentle cleansers are an ideal choice. These are also great if you don’t know which cleanser you want to start with or if you are confused by all of the different face washes out there.
2. Toner
Toners aren’t an essential part of a skincare routine but they are definitely helpful. These can help remove any makeup or dirt leftover on the skin. They also can contain many different antioxidants, vitamins and help restore the skin’s pH levels.
3. Serum
There are many different serums out there today, it all depends on your skin type and the concerns you have. For example, if you want to brighten your skin and even out your skin tone, you are going to choose a vitamin c serum. If you want to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles, a retinol serum is best.
4. Eye Cream
According to many dermatologists, it’s important to start applying an eye cream twice a day in your 20s. This helps to maintain the health and improve the thickness of the skin in that area since the skin is so fragile. By improving the skin quality in this area at an early age, it ensures that the eyelid skin does not easily lose elasticity and the smooth appearance of it later on.
A tip from some skin care specialists is to keep your eye cream in the refrigerator overnight because in the morning when you use it, the cream will instantly reduce any puffiness.
5. Moisturizer
Moisturizers keep the skin hydrated and help strengthen the skin’s barrier. Every skin type should be incorporating a moisturizer into their skincare routine, even if you have oily skin.
Some dermatologists recommend that the best time to apply a moisturizer is while the skin is still a little wet and you are able to lock in hydration with the moisturizer. In the morning, it’s best to use a light moisturizer so you will be able to easily apply makeup products over it and at night, a thicker moisturizer.
6. Sunscreen
This is another really important step in any skincare routine. By using sunscreen, you are slowing down the aging process in the skin and preventing fine lines and wrinkles in the future. Any sunscreens with zinc in the formula will work best because it is safe and will definitely fight off the UV rays. Don’t forget to wait at least 10-15 minutes after applying it before going outside because it might not work as well.
7. Exfoliant
Exfoliants should be used after cleansing and before everything else. They should also only be used once or twice a week depending on your skin type. If you have really oil and acne-prone skin, it is best to use it twice a week. These are effective at renewing the skin, making it brighter and giving it a natural glow while removing all dead skin cells.
Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic or lactic acid; beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) like salicylic acid or betaine salicylate; or a combination of both are great exfoliants. All of these acids will exfoliate the skin’s surface, but BHAs are known to really deep-clean the pores. These are all known to be chemical exfoliants but physical ones will also work well.
What’s Next
While this may seem like a lot of information to take in at first, these steps are really important to maintain healthy, radiant skin.
Another tip is to wait a few minutes after applying each product because you need to let each one sink into the skin on its own. If you’re just applying product after product without waiting in between, then they might not work the way you want them to.
It’s good to keep in mind that you also need to keep your routine simple since most of us can be too lazy especially at night to take the time to take care of our skin.