The best way to layer your skincare is to apply serums to clean dry skin after you cleanse. If you’re exfoliating in the shower, use it before sunscreen and moisturiser. With a few exceptions, the rule is to apply the thinnest product first and the heaviest product last.
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Unlocking the full potential of your skincare routine hinges on many things. Among them is mastering the art of applying products in a specific order, ensuring each product delivers its maximum benefit without hindering the absorption of others. Austin Skin has put together a mini guide to help achieve that coveted healthy glow we all strive for.
The Golden Rule
Think of your skin as a canvas. You want the first layers applied to your canvas to be light and airy. This will allow them to penetrate deeply and work their different types of skin magic.
Apply products with the thinnest consistency first, followed by progressively heavier formulations. This ensures the lighter, more potent ingredients have direct access to your skin before thicker creams create a barrier.
Make Your Face a Clean Canvas
Your journey to healthy, beautiful skincare product layering begins with a clean, prepped canvas. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser suitable for your skin type. For those who wear make-up, consider a double cleanse, starting with an oil-based cleanser to melt away makeup and sunscreen, followed by your regular cleanser.
Your goal is to remove dirt, oil, and make-up, to help other products in your regimen penetrate effectively.
Exfoliation 2 Ways
Exfoliation benefits skin by making it softer, smoother, and more uniformly toned. It removes dead skin cells in one of two ways – chemically or physically. If used incorrectly, exfoliation can make bad skin worse, resulting in irritation, dry patches, and redness. This makes it a bad choice for people with rosacea. Austin Skin can help guide you in choosing an exfoliating mask or scrub that will work best for you.
To get the most out of your exfoliation, the product you use should be paired with the needs of your skin type. In chemical exfoliants, look for ingredients such as alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids and retinol. You should exfoliate 1-2 times a week depending on your skin's sensitivity.
Serums, Why You Should Love Them
Serums are concentrated treatments packed with potent ingredients like antioxidants, vitamins, and hyaluronic acid. They address specific concerns like wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, or dryness. Serums are not essential for everyone and may disrupt skin health. We recommend alcohol-free formulas to avoid irritation.
Apply serum to clean, dry skin after cleansing or exfoliating. Pat the serum gently onto your face and neck, allowing it to fully absorb before moving on to your next layer of application.
Ban the Blemishes with Austin Skin
Many of us think we can say farewell to blemishes at the same time we say good-bye to our teenage years. It’s simply not true. If you are one of the many people plagued by adult acne, a targeted spot treatment can be your knight in shining armour. At Austin Skin, we offer products that provide DNA Repair and Night Repair.
Apply a thin layer of the treatment directly onto blemishes after your serum but before moisturiser. Remember, less is more – a pea-sized amount is sufficient.
TLC for The Skin Around Your Eyes
The delicate skin around your eyes requires special attention. Eye creams are formulated to be lighter and gentler than moisturisers thanks to anti-ageing ingredients like peptides for wrinkles and caffeine to visibly reduce puffiness.
Apply a small amount of eye cream after your spot treatment, tapping it gently with your ring finger onto your brow bone, the under-eye area, your eyelid and any crow’s feet you may have.
Moisturising Magic
Moisturiser is the skin's superhero and super-protector. It has the power to seal in hydration and protect skin from a wide swath of environmental stressors including dry heat, itchy fabrics, sunshine, and much, much more.
The challenge is to find a moisturiser that suits your skin type: lightweight and oil-free for oily skin, and richer creams for dry skin. Apply your moisturiser after your eye cream, massaging it gently into your face and neck.
Sunscreen: The Essential Shield
Sunscreen is the non-negotiable final step in your daytime routine. Regardless of the season or weather, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every single morning.
Layer sunscreen on top of your moisturiser, ensuring even coverage across your face and neck.
Night-time Regimen Tweaks
At night, your skin focuses on repair and renewal. While the core cleansing and moisturising steps remain, you can adjust your routine slightly. Since you're not applying sunscreen, you can use a richer night cream for deeper hydration. Consider incorporating a retinol product a few nights a week for its anti-ageing benefits.
Caution: Retinol can make skin more sensitive, so apply it after your serum, but before your moisturiser.
By mastering the art of layering, you'll unlock the full potential of your skincare products and achieve a radiant, healthy complexion. Remember, consistency and the thin to thick rule are your guiding principles. With a little practice and the knowledge gained here, you'll be a skincare layering pro in no time!
Still not sure what to do? Call Austin Skin! We can help.
