What Is The Correct Order To Apply Your Skincare Products
Here’s a question that I’ve been getting a lot lately: What is the correct order to apply your skincare products and what is my routine?
In case you missed it I turned 40 in November of 2016. I’m still working on my tummy and this annoying back fat that came out of nowhere (I’m hoping to magically inherit Angela Bassett’s body) but my skin… she’s tight, like legit beyond dope. It’s been semi-dope since forever because…good genes, but somewhere in my 30’s I began to pay attention to the way my skin reacted to products and food (I don’t eat red meat for digestive reasons and it was messing with the texture of my skin) and it’s been paying off.
I use the general skincare rule of “thin to thick”. Meaning you should be applying your products according to the consistency. So thin products first and then thicker products. Then I think about what I want to achieve from my routine, which for everyone will and should change during seasons, breakouts, and climates. If I am having a breakout I will apply my acne treatment before my moisturizer so that it doesn’t have to work super hard to penetrate the areas that need work. There are so many nuances when we discuss skincare but to give you a starter guide here’s a step-by-step on the order you should be applying your skincare products.
1. Cleanser
If you’ve been actively doing a nighttime routine, your skin won’t need much cleansing in the morning. Sometimes I just rinse my face with warm water and gently wipes out all of the eye boogers that crept up on me in my sleep. When I do opt for a cleanser I go with Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel. It has papaya and grapefruit extracts that have exfoliating alpha-hydroxy acids which help prevent build-up that can cause blackheads and pimples. You can also use a facial cleansing oil (see my faves here).
2. Toner
Think of cleansing your skin as a two-step process. It’s like taking a shot of vodka. You could do it alone but what’s the point in that. Grab that chaser and party the night away. Ok, that was corny AF but you get my point, right? A huge part of cleansing your face is pairing the right toner to your routine. I am in love with Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Facial Toner. It contains cinnamon bark and burnet root which extracts all the nastiness from your face to help clarify combination and oily skin types, and lavender floral water to tone and balance.
3. Serum
Serums help with a number of skin problems. From uneven skin tone, dull skin, fine lines, and more. I use OLEHENRIKSEN Truth Serum both day and night. Like I legit OD on this stuff and I don’t care! It’s formulated with vitamin C and collagen for brightening and hydration. It’s also great for clearing up dark spots on black women.
4. Moisturizer or Night Cream
I swear I had like two wrinkles and this product clear it up. Like legit gone y’all! The Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Repair Cream With Retinol deeply hydrates dry skin while softening the appearance of wrinkles and visibly increasing firmer-looking skin. Whenever people ask me what my secret is, this is it!
5. Eye Cream
I am indifferent about eye cream. I can take it or leave it. Mainly because all the damn tubes are so small I tend to lose them. This picture makes it look big but it’s usually the size of a Carmex tube. But as the legendary stories go, the skin under your eyes is much softer and thinner so it needs some extra love and care. When I do use eye cream, I’m using Kiehl’s Wrinkle Reducing Eye Cream.
What are some of your favorite facial products?
Leave a comment below if you’d still like to see a video of my skincare routine and tell me what products you are completely swooning over! ALSO… You Ask, I Answer is a weekly (or whenever I feel like it) blog series where I answer any beauty, style, or life-related question you have.