The Best Day and Night Skin Care Routine Steps
Using the proper skin care routine steps is not optional. Even if you have high-quality skin care products and you’re doing your best to take care of your skin with a good skin care tip, you may find that you’re still getting blemishes, or your skin is otherwise not living up to its best.
What can you do? Make sure that you’re using the right skin care routine steps! The order in which you use your products is almost as important as the products themselves, when it comes to skin care. Learn more now!
Why Does The Order Of Skincare Products Matter?
The order matters because your skin can’t absorb an unlimited amount of products. The skin’s job is to keep things out – but when we’re applying skincare products, we’re actually looking to make the skin absorb these formulations, to smooth and treat the skin. This means that if you overdo it – or do things in the wrong order – you won’t see the best results.
The Rule Of Thumb – Thinnest To Thickest
In just a bit, we’ll go over our own advice and tips for the best skin care routine order. But, as a rule, this is the best guideline to follow. Apply your thinnest products – cleansers, toners, serums – then begin applying thicker products, such as creams, sunscreen, moisturizer, and other such products.
Our Detailed, Step-By-Step Skincare Routine Order:
So, ready to get some more insights, and learn about the best skin care routine order? Here are our recommendations – for both your day and night-time skincare routine.
Note: If we list a product or products that you don’t use (such as eye cream for wrinkles) don’t worry. You can just skip these steps. We’ve tried to be comprehensive, but we know that not all people will use all of these products, and that’s just fine!
Morning Skin Care Routine Steps
Beauty Tip: During your daily routine, you need to focus on cleansing and hydrating your skin, and applying sun care, the elements, and every other part of day-to-day life.
1. Cleanser
Start your morning with gentle facial cleansers such as the Renew & Calm Face Soap or other organic face soap. We often recommend simply using warm water, as this helps open up the pores and does not dry out the skin. Choose a gentle cleanser that has been designed for your face type.
2. Toner
Toner helps firm and tighten your skin, and balance its pH. It’s not always necessary but can help encourage healthier skin. Choose a high-quality organic toner such as the Clear Skin Replenishing Toner. And, if you have acne problems, one of the best toners you can buy is witch hazel. Its astringent properties help refine pores. You can use a cold toner pad to help reduce the appearance of pores. The toner can also be used as a hydrating mist for the day.
3. Eye cream
Eye cream helps keep your eyes appeared wrinkle-free, and keeps your eyelid skin healthy. We recommend applying eye treatment twice a day for the best results, starting in your 20s. Alternatively, you can skip this step and move to the next step by applying a high-quality moisturizer in the eye area instead.
4. Moisturizer
Now is the time to moisturize. We recommend applying your facial moisturizer while your skin is still damp. An oil moisturizer is preferred since face oil provides 100% of the nutrient. On the other hand, water-based cream and lotion typically contain 70%-90% of water. You only need a very small amount of 2-3 drops premium facial oils to cover the whole face. Depending on your skin type and skin care concerns, you can choose a high-quality organic face oil that best suits you. The organic Age Defy Face Oil contains active ingredients of Marula oil and Reishi mushroom, ginseng and caterpillar fungus extracts that deliver maximum levels of antioxidants and essential fatty acids to ward off signs of aging by reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. For oily skin, choose a light moisturizer such as the Renew & Balance Face Oil that does not clog pores or skip to the next step to only apply a serum.
5. Antioxidant serum
Antioxidant serums use highly-concentrated nutrients, usually derived from natural ingredients, to target conditions like dark spots, aging skin, and UV damage. We recommend applying your serum twice daily on top of your face oil since oil is more recognized by your skin. Apply the oil first helps the absorption of the serum. The Age Renewal Serum contains rich plant stem cell extracts, Vitamin C and high formulation dosage of hyaluronic acid to thoroughly hydrate and smooth skin to improve your skin tone.
6. Sunscreen
You should apply a board spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15. Use a zinc oxide mineral sunscreen instead of chemical sunscreens. If you are outside under the sun, apply sunscreen regularly and wear sun protection clothing. In addition, we recommend understanding your Fitzpatrick skin type and learn how you can protect your skin from UV rays.
Once you’ve finished these steps, you start applying your makeup, and finish your daily routine!
Night Skin Care Routine Steps
Beauty Tip: At night, you’re looking to clean your skin and remove makeup, provide it with nutrients so it can rebuild itself during the night, and make sure it’s adequately hydrated.
1. Makeup removal
First, use a gentle makeup remover to remove your eye makeup and face makeup. We recommend using a cleansing oil to remove the bulk, then washing the rest off with a gentle cleanser. Micellar water if an alternative if you want an oil-free remover. It’s important that you don’t wear makeup to bed.
2. Cleanser
Choose a gentle cleanser that has been designed for your face type and conditions. For example, the Renew & Balance Face Soap is great for combination skin to oily skin. The Renew & Lift Face Soap and Renew & Regenerate Face Soap are great for dry to mature skin. The Renew & Calm Face Soap is a perfect choice for all skin types.
3. Toner
Give yourself a nice dose of toner, to keep yourself smooth and balanced. You can apply the Clear Skin Replenishing Toner with a cotton pad to wipe off any remained residue on the skin and keep the skin nourished.
4. Gentle Exfoliation
Skin exfoliation can help gently remove dead skin cells on your skin’s surface. You can choose a chemical exfoliator or a physical exfoliant based on specific skin types. If you have “normal” skin, we recommend exfoliating two (and no more than three) times per week. If you have sensitive skin, exfoliate no more than once per week.
5. Hydrating face masks
A face sheet mask is a nice extra step to add here if your skin tends to get dry and dehydrated, particularly in the winter months. Using it before your moisturizer will help you “lock-in” more hydration.
6. Eye cream
(Optional) You can apply eye cream, or apply a high-quality moisturizer in the eye area in the next step. Massage the moisturizer around the eye area to help remove the appearance of crows feet and dark circles.
7. Moisturizer
A light oil moisturizer with good absorption is often recommended here, as a layer of moisturizer can help protect your skin from moisture loss throughout the night. You only need a very small amount of 2-3 drops premium face oil to cover the whole face. The Age Defy Face Oil and Luminous Face Oil are perfect for all skin types. Use the Deep Hydration Face Oil for dry or mature skin. Use the Renew & Balance Face oil for combination skin to oily skin type. The Regenerative Face Oil is a great choice for mature skin.
8. Serum
Finish off with a nutrient-rich boosting serum. As aforementioned, we recommend applying your serum on top of your face oil since oil is more recognized by your skin. Apply the oil first helps the absorption of the serum. Use the Age Renewal Serum to deliver the most potent anti-aging ingredients for more youthful and firmer-looking skin.
After you’ve cleansed, moisturized, and prepared for the night, get your beauty sleep for perfect skin – and get ready to start the whole process over again the next morning!
A note about spot acne treatments: You need to apply this treatment, such as benzoyl peroxide, to your skin before it’s loaded with moisturizer and sunscreen, as it needs to make close contact with a pimple or zit to work the most effectively. Usually, these treatments must be left alone for at least an hour before you see results. Be careful, though, as spot treatments tend to dry out the skin.
Take Away: Follow These Skin Care Routine Order Examples
Everyone has their own preferences – and their own set of beauty products. Chances are, you’ll want to modify these routines a bit. But by following a routine similar to the ones we’ve laid out above, you’re sure to enhance both your morning and night skin care regimen – and see fantastic results of healthy skin.
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References:
[1] Development of Skin Care Routine Support System, October 2018Journal of Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience 24(10):7830-7833, DOI: 10.1166/asl.2018.13026
[2] Skin Care and Repair, A Harvard Medical School Special Health Report, Boston, MA 02115
[3] Creating Your Own Skin Care Routine, by Source Vital Apothecary and Liz Thompson from Organic Beauty Source