In what order do I apply my skincare………
Probably the part that people find the most confusing – Which comes first……
If you have ever wondered, which comes first when trying to follow a good skin routine, you are not alone.
In my early adulthood, I worked in A salon – This was the most common question we got. It can seem a little complicated especially when you have your routine down and then a new product enters the market. The general rule of thumb is to apply your product from the least viscous (runny) to most viscous (Oily serums etc.)
That rule isn’t 100% accurate but a good starting point. To understand in which order you should apply what, you really need to understand “what” each product does.
Think of it logically.
| Basic Explanation | Some more info | Even more info |
|---|---|---|
| · You want a clean skin. | Your face wash contains surfactants. (Surface active agents) Their task is to cling to oil and grime on your skin and then this is rinsed away with water. | A surfactant molecule has a hydrophilic or water loving head and a lipophilic or oil loving tail. When used the tail attaches itself to oil particles on your skin while the head attaches itself to water soluble particles on your skin. When you use water to rinse, you “flush” away all of the impurities (Because the head attaches itself to the water and is dragged away). |
| · You want to protect your skin. | Your toner contains soothing ingredients, humectants (A substance used to prevent loss of moisture). It helps to shrink pores and to remove any remaining dirt particles from your skin. It balances out the PH of your skin after cleansing. | Probably the most overlooked item in skincare.Some toners contain alcohols and astringents (Causing the contraction of skin cells). These can be very helpful to help shrink pores and control oiliness however those can have a drying effect on your skin. Instead opt for Toners containing hydrosols to target your skin’s specific needs instead of those with Alcohol. |
| · You want to put an “active” on your skin (targeted – like anti-ageing acne etc) For the best results | Types of actives. • Hyaluronic Acid • Retinol or Bakuchiol if you have sensitive skin. • Salicylic Acid • Vitamin C • AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) – Water Soluble • BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) – Oil Soluble • Plus many more! | Vitamin C serums are hydrating (Plumps inner skin cells) and can even out your skin tone. Retinoids (Retinol or Vitamin A) are powerful anti-ageing products. Make sure you understand the risks and cautionary measures associated with its use. A Salicylic Acid serum will help to reduce blackheads and whiteheads by penetrating into the deeper layers of your skin to dissolve keratin and unclog pores. Hyaluronic Acid helps your skin to stretch and flex and has also been shown to reduce scarring. It is a powerful Moisturiser |
| • You want to moisturise and hydrate your skin. | A good quality moisturiser will moisturise and hydrate your skin without leaving a greasy residue. | Moisturisers helps smooth the outer layers of your skin to appear more youthful and has hydrating qualities which will plump the inner layers of your skin. |
| • You want to lock in the moisture. If your moisturiser does not have a SPF filter then do the next step too! | Any serums (Whether water or oil based) that contains Occlusives (barrier that locks in moisture and prevent moisture loss from skin) | Ingredients to look for: Hydrolised Wheat Protein Niacinamide Argan oil Baobab Oil Cocoa Butter Jojoba Oil Lanolin Shea Butter and many more. |
| • You want to apply a sunscreen to make sure everything is protected from the sun. | Sunscreen – wear it! Double the effectiveness of your skincare routine by protecting your skin from sun damage. |
The most common skin treatment options focus on the areas below. We have listed some of our favorite ingredients.
• Signs of aging: Bakuchiol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolised Quinoa, L Leucine, L Proline, Marine Collagen, Green Tea extract, Vegetable Glycerin, Argan Oil, Baobab Oil, Jojoba Oil, Lanolin, Rosehip Oil, vitamin A/retinoids, vitamin C, Vitamin E. SPF-boosting ingredients (e.g., Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide) Good Sunscreen to prevent further damage)
• Dryness: Allantoin, Hyaluronic Acid, Green Tea Extract, Sweet Orange Essential Oil, Baobab Oil, Macadamia oil, Rosehip oil, Vitamin C, Rose Hydrosol and Vitamin E.
• Pigmentation issues: Bakuchiol, Niacinamide, Green Tea Extract, Bakuchi Oil, Glycerin, Rose Hydrosol, kojic acid, AHAs, BHA, hydroquinone, vitamin C.
• Acne: Allantoin, Alpha Bisabolol, Bakuchiol, Kelp Cellular Extract, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Green Tea extract, Witch Hazel Extract, Lactic Acid, Bakuchi Oil. Essential oils like Egyptian Geranium, Grapefruit, Rose Geranium , Sweet Orange and Ylang Ylang. Glycerin, Jojoba Oil, Rosehip Oil. Hydrosols like Lavender, Neroli and Rose hydrosol. Azelaic acid, Vitamin A/Retinoids, Benzoyl Peroxide.
• Rosacea: Bakuchiol, Niacinamide, Green Tea Extract, Bakuchi Oil, Egyptian Geranium Essential Oil, Rose Geranium Essential Oil, Rose Hydrosol and Sulfur.
• Psoriasis: Allantoin, Hyaluronic Acid, Green Tea Extract, Glycerin, Rose Hydrosol, Vitamin A/retinoids, Vitamin D, Salicylic Acid, Urea and Lactic Acid.
• Eczema: Allantoin, Bakuchiol, Green tea Extract, Glycerin, Rose Hydrosol.
Vitamin C serums can be used at the same time as retinoids, however, make sure you apply your Vitamin C serum first, then make sure it dries properly before adding your retinol serum.
Retinoids (Retinol or Vitamin A) must be applied to a dry skin. If you apply your retinol in the morning, please use a sunscreen SPF 30 or higher as it is phototoxic (Makes your skin sensitive to light and cause damage)
A Salicylic Acid serum will help to reduce blackheads and whiteheads by penetrating into the deeper layers of your skin to dissolve keratin and unclog pores.
Hyaluronic Acid helps your skin to stretch and has also been shown to reduce scarring. It is a powerful Moisturiser (Plumps the outer layers of skin), Humectant (Used to prevent the loss of moisture) and can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water.
