Are you someone who is dreaming to achieve that coveted glowing and healthy skin? Well you are not the only one. There are more than 2 billion women globally who often do more than just slapping on a single cream!
Yes now we all know how important following a good daily skincare routine is! It not only provides you with a healthy glowing skin, it also takes care of the skin issues that you face more than often.
Pigmentation, dark spots, acne scars, sudden breakouts – you name it to have the skincare serums to treat them from within. By now you already know the importance of a morning skincare routine and an evening skincare routine. If not then you need to do your research properly darling!
But but but…..you might have thought it out. In spite of following the skincare routine guide, still you might not be getting that rejuvenated and glowing glass like skin??? Well then you must be going wrong with the techniques. Here comes the big reveal!!!
The secret lies in layering skincare products effectively. Yes, that’s the key. Layering them in the right order. But there are a plethora of serums, moisturizers, emulsions, essences and toners available. And that brings in multiple steps.
And we get it. Figuring out the skincare order can feel overwhelming. Fear not! This comprehensive guide will decode the process. It will ensure you get the most out of every precious drop. We’ll get deep into the science behind layering skincare products.
Then we will explore why the skincare order matters in our routine. And based on that will provide a step-by-step guide to building a skincare routine. This will cater to your unique skin needs. Let’s unlock the secrets to a flawless complexion – shall we!!!
Why Do Layering Skincare Products Matter?
Your skin is like a sponge. It can absorb as much as you want at once. But applying skincare products in the wrong skincare order will stop absorption. This will mean that some of the ingredients would fail to work. Do you think applying a thick cream before a light-weight thin serum would work?
Well no! The thick cream works like a barrier. Once the barrier is up, how can the thin skincare serum penetrate into the skin to treat the issues??? So layering skincare products is a strategic way to allow each product to enter the skin effectively. And this will let the products show their benefits.
This is why you need to know the correct skincare order to make them work. There is another important reason why you need to learn the correct skincare order. So you apply the products according to the correct skincare routine steps. Then all the ingredients work together to enhance each other’s effectiveness.
For example you apply a niacinamide serum after a retinol serum followed by a hydrating moisturiser. We all know retinol might dry your skin. So this method provides proper hydration. This will help all the ingredients work better to give optimal results.
The Golden Rule: Thinnest to Thickest
The scientific golden rule of layering skincare products is to apply them from thinnest to thickest consistency. This will help the light-weight watery products to penetrate into the skin first. This will ensure that the ingredients in thinner texture would be able to start working. They will also arrange the path for the thicker textures.
This is important. These thicker textures are heavier. They provide more hydration. Not only that, they also protect the skin barrier preventing anything else from entering your skin. This order enables each product to work effectively without getting blocked by heavy layers.
When you paint a wall would you apply a thick coat of primer after a thin layer of paint? Of course not! The same logic applies to skincare routines. This rule helps your skin efficiently absorb the active ingredients in your routine, leading to better results.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Layering Skincare Products
We are providing a step-by-step skincare layering guide to help you with your morning and evening skincare routines. You need to improvise them according to your skin type and specific skin issues.
Morning Skincare Routine:
Step 1: Cleanser
Start your day with a gentle cleanser to remove sebum, sweat and impurities. CosRX Good Morning Face Wash does the job perfectly well.
Step 2: Toner
Use a toner to maintain the pH balance of your skin by preventing it from getting dry. Use a light toner like Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Water.
Step 3: Serum
Use a serum as per your skin issues. You can also use a serum or two to enhance your skin quality. Klairs Vitamin C Drops brightens your skin. It also boosts collagen production. You can also use Plum Niacinamide and Rice Water Serum to rejuvenate your skin.
Step 4: Eye Cream
Using an eye cream is a must to treat dark circles and puffiness.
Step 5: Lip Balm
Hydrating your lips is as important as hydrating your skin and body. So apply your lip balm preferably with a SPF. The Hyphen Lip Balms have SPF too and are easily available at Nykaa.
Step 6: Moisturizer
Moisturizer acts as a barrier preventing loss of moisture. Choose a hydrating yet light moisturizer according to your skin type. Clinique 100 Hour Moisture Surge Cream is a good choice.
Step 7: Sunscreen
Sunscreen is non-negotiable! Apply a broad-spectrum physical sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Even on cloudy days! Try to keep applying it every 3 hours for better results.
Evening Skincare Routine:
Step 1: Double Cleansing
Yes, double cleansing is required to take away all the dirt, gunk and impurities of the whole day along with makeup. So first you need to use a cleansing balm or oil. Massage on your face. Emulsify it with water and rinse. Ginseng Cleansing Oil from Beauty of Joseon or Clinique All Day Cleansing Balm are good options.
Next you need to use a gentle water-based face wash according to your skin type. Minimalist Face Wash with salicylic acid takes away all the gunk with squeaky clean skin.
Step 2: Exfoliation (1 to 2 times a Week)
Try to use a chemical exfoliant twice a week.
Step 3: Hydrating Toner
Our skin needs a lot of hydration. So a hydrating toner will work magic when applied properly. Tirtir Milk Toner is a great option.
Step 4: Serum
Yes this is the key – always use a serum before a moisturizer. The serum needs to be according to your skin issues. For example you can use a retinol serum followed by a niacinamide and azelaic acid every alternative day to prevent ageing and breakouts.
Step 5: Eye Cream
By now, you know this layering is important. Apply in this order only as eye creams are thinner than moisturizers.
Step 6: Lip Balm
Good hydrating lips are absolute must haves.
Step 7: Moisturizer
Finally apply your moisturizer according to your skin type to lock all that moisture.
Adapting in Layering Skincare Products in Your Skincare Routine With Some Important Tips
- Patch tests of all your products are important before actual application.
- Remember – less is more! A few drops of serum and a pea sized amount of moisturizer does the job perfectly.
- Give some time in between each layer so that each product gets absorbed properly.
- Be mindful of potential ingredient interactions. For example, avoid using vitamin C and retinol at the same time, as they can destabilize each other. Use one in the morning and the other at night.
Final Thoughts
Layering skincare products in the right order is a scientific process. But it is not that critical. Initially it might all sound confusing. But once you get into the routine and understand the order – it is a piece of cake to ace the skincare routine steps.
Above all you need to choose the right products for your skin type to unlock your skin’s full potential and achieve a healthy, radiant complexion layering them in the right order. Last but not the least remember to be patient, consistent and always listen to your skin. Happy layering!