Keeping your skin clean, healthy, and moisturized is one of the best ways to stay radiant and youthful-looking, but with so many products on the market, daily skincare routines can seem overwhelming. In addition to choosing the correct products for your skin type, the order in which you apply them is also important. Using skincare products in the proper order will ensure your skin receives the full benefits of each one. But which products matter and what order should you use them in? Here’s what you need to know:
Step 1: Cleanser
You’ll want your skin clean before you start treating and moisturizing. It’s important to use a gentle cleanser that’s strong enough to remove all traces of makeup, dirt, and oil that accumulate throughout the day, but without harsh chemicals that strip or irritate your skin.
Step 2: Toner
Toner helps refine your pores, exfoliate your skin, and prep your face for the rest of your skincare routine. It’s best to use one made without alcohol, which can dry out your skin.
Step 3: Serum
Serums are concentrated, nutrient-dense products that provide a variety of benefits, including neutralizing damage from UV rays and environmental pollutants, and protecting your skin from inflammation and damage caused by free radicals. Applying your serum right after your toner will ensure you get maximum absorption.
Step 4: Eye cream
You don’t need to wait until middle age to enjoy the benefits of eye cream. The delicate skin around your eyes is the first to show signs of wrinkles, and daily use of eye cream will help maintain its thickness and elasticity.
Step 5: Moisturize
Moisturizer does double-duty in your skincare routine: it provides excellent hydration, and also traps in all the products you used beforehand to ensure the ingredients work effectively. However, it’s best to avoid moisturizing over the top of your acne spot treatments if you use them—doing so may interfere with the treatment. You’ll also want to wait at least five minutes before applying makeup to allow the moisturizer to fully absorb into your skin.
Bonus steps to further care for your skin
Spot treatment
If you have troublesome acne that crops up randomly, use an acne spot treatment to shrink and get rid of pesky blemishes. For dark spots and acne scars, use a product with hydroquinone or vitamin B3. For pimples, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are tried-and-true warriors against clogged pores and inflamed bumps.
Mask (nighttime)
Masks can be used for hydration and exfoliation, removing dead skin cells and clearing out clogged pores. Most of us don’t have time in the morning to use a face mask, so you can leave it as part of your regular nighttime skincare routine.
Sunscreen (daytime)
Sunscreen is a must. Nothing damages your skin like the sun’s harmful UV rays, so use a minimum of SPF 30 on your face daily.
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