The Buyt Desk
The more intense products you use, the more significant the order of application. You have to follow this order for layering all your skincare products.
A skincare routine should be set as per the needs of your skin. Be it a simple 3 steps to 11 steps routine. Not every skin needs an 11 step routine. Irrespective of how many products you use and whichever routine you follow, there is an order of applying products to the skin. This order should be followed to get maximum benefits without harming the skin. Everyone knows that cleanser comes first in the skin routine followed by a toner. But it is confusing when there are retinol, peptides, serums to be included in the routine. Face serums, retinol, peptides, face oils are expensive and nobody wants to waste the effectiveness because of the wrong order of application. Here are answers to all your questions on layering skincare products.
The best order of applying skincare
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Cleanser – If you have no makeup on, then a water-based cleanser is good enough to clean your skin. Always go for double cleansing when you have make-up on. Double cleansing is nothing but using an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser. Never go to bed with makeup on. A cleanser is used to free your skin from pollutants, dead cells, dirt, oils, and bacteria and prepare your skin for maximum absorption of the active ingredients applied in the next steps.
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Toner – Toners gently exfoliate the pores so that they do not clog. It takes away the excess oil that cleansers could not. It makes skin get rid of sebum from pores and uneven skin so that skin is ready to absorb the active ingredients applied in the next steps.
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Eye cream – Gently pat the product around the eyes using your finger. Make sure the cream is well absorbed by the skin if you want to apply makeup over it. Go for hydrating eye creams.
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Serums – Serums are small molecular weight active ingredients that will penetrate deeper into the skin. These are formulated for deeper penetration so they go first in the skincare routine much before heavier products. Not all serums can be used in the sun/daytime. Few serums are Hyaluronic acid, Niacinamide, Alpha Arbutin. Never use more than 3 serums in one routine.
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Retinol – Retinols are vitamin A derivatives that boost the production of collagen in the skin and increase the rate of the cell cycle. It is used to level out skin tone, diminish fine lines, decrease oil production, shrink the open pores, remove dead skin, stimulate collagen and elastin production and unclog pores. It should never be used in the sun even if you stay indoors. It can be used only after sunset.
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Moisturizers – Moisturizer does the job of hydrating the skin and sealing in the moisture. This is a heavier product, so all the serums should be used before moisturizing. If you are applying makeup on top of moisturizer then go for lighter ones. For bedtime, use a heavier moisturizer.
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Face oils – Face oils are used to trap hydration and avoid evaporation. Face oils keep skin hydrated and healthy. For dry skin, it is best to apply both in the morning and at night. Based on your preference, you can apply either moisturizer first or face oil first. These two can be interchanged while layering.
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Sunscreen – The last layer of the skincare routine is sunscreen. It protects the skin from sun damage. Even if you stay indoors, do apply sunscreen every day. You should reapply every 3-4 hours to get maximum benefit. Some skincare products are photoreactive, applying sunscreen over such products will stop reactions.
After this, you can apply foundation and other makeup or your night creams before bedtime. Never shift the order of application of these products else you may not get benefits from the products. Not all products can be used in the daytime, so always check before use. Few active ingredients/ serums react with acids, peptides and retinoids. Make sure that in every routine you are using products that do not react with each other and harm your skin. Choosing the right products for your skin type, moisturizer and sunscreen will keep your skin healthy and protect it.
