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A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO THE IDEAL SKIN CARE ROUTINE ORDER

Article Overview

Learn the correct skin care routine order for the ideal application. A step-by-step guide to achieving nourished & healthy looking skin.
Developing an effective skincare routine is crucial for maintaining an even, fresh looking complexion. Each product and step in a skin care routine has a specific purpose, however, to gain the full benefits from products they need to be applied in the correct skin care order.
Understand the different routines steps in the night and the day time.
Considerations for different skin types such as dry or sensitive skin as well as suggestions for beginners.

THE RIGHT ORDER OF SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

A basic understanding of the order of skin care products is to begin application with thinner, more translucent products, and layer until you reach thicker and heavier cream-based textures. The ideal skincare routine order and the products used will vary depending on the time of day, as your morning or night care regimen will include different products. To utilise products effectively, follow our guide to understand the correct skincare routine order of application.

STEP 1: FACIAL CLEANSERS

Begin your skincare routine with a gentle facial cleanser to remove makeup, and environmental pollutants that have built up over the day. Ensuring you cleanse your skin properly provides a blank canvas for the skincare products to come. Where makeup, dirt and grime remain, the products that follow are less likely to be effectively absorbed. Choose a cleanser that has hydrating properties, ensuring your skin is cleansed but not stripped of its natural oils and moisture. An ideal cleanser will leave your skin feeling fresh, hydrated and clean, but not tight or dry. Cleansing should take place in the morning, evening and after excessive sweating. All products will have dedicated application instructions to follow, but as a general approach apply facial cleanser to damp skin, massage the product into your skin, and wash off with warm water. Gently pat cleansed skin dry with a clean face cloth before moving on to your next step.

Facial Cleanser For Different Skin Types

The right cleanser for you will depend on your skin type. Suitable for all skin types, we recommend Soothing Foaming Cleanser, a gentle, soap-free cleanser. For those with dry or sensitive skin, we recommend the SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser which softens skin while cleansing. If you have acne-prone skin, look for a cleanser with ingredients such as salicylic acid as it gently exfoliates skin.

STEP 2: TONER

The ideal time for toner is directly after cleansing. The toner works to balance and prime clean skin for subsequent products. Toner is a deeply and rapidly penetrating liquid that infuses the skin with additional hydration while also removing any remaining makeup traces, to help stabilise skin after cleansing.

Toners For Different Skin Types

The right toner is dependent on your skin type and concerns. For those with acne-prone skin, we recommend the Blemish and Age Toner which is formulated to help reduce the appearance of clogged pores and remove surface dead skin cells.

STEP 3: FACIAL SERUMS

Facial serums are very thin, lightweight products that are usually formulated with higher concentrations of ingredients. As they are formulated with more active ingredients, facial serums can deliver strong and effective results. The primary ingredient in the serum will dictate the benefits it provides skin. To achieve the best results, apply the serum that is addressing your primary skincare concern first, this allows the ingredients to get to work immediately. Apply your serum to a slightly damp face and massage the serum into your face, neck and chest for optimal results.

Facial Serum Types

Vitamin C Serums deliver antioxidant benefits to the skin which work to reduce the impact of free radicals. Free radicals are harmful unpaired electrons that cause visible damage to skin cells. When applied topically, antioxidant-rich vitamin C serums help to reduce skin damage and signs of ageing. SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF Gel is a lightweight vitamin C serum that helps protect against environmental factors to protect against signs of ageing.

Hyaluronic Acid Serums are formulated to infuse your skin with moisture. Hyaluronic acid retains up to one thousand times its weight in water, restoring hydration and skin volume. To target skin that is both dehydrated and dull, we recommend layering your vitamin C and hyaluronic acid serums. The SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier Serum is a corrective hyaluronic acid serum that works to rehydrate and replump the skin. Though vitamin C and hyaluronic acid can be layered, when incorporating a facial serum into your skin care routine, ensure you follow the specific product directions as some active ingredients should not be combined.

STEP 4: EYE CREAM

The skin around the eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of the face, requiring tailored skincare products. Introduce an eye cream to your skincare routine to care for this delicate area that is more susceptible to damage and the appearance of dark circles. Apply a small amount of cream and gently pat into the skin with your ring finger, avoiding contact with the eye.

Designed to firm the skin around the eyes, the SkinCeuticals Eye Cream targets ageing and dehydrated skin. It is suitable for normal, oily and dry skin types.

STEP 5: FACIAL MOISTURISER

Applying an effective facial moisturiser is a key step in any skincare routine. Moisturisers deliver optimal hydration to the skin to replenish lost moisture. To gain the most benefit, choose a moisturiser that aligns with your skin type, or concerns. Facial moisturisers are typically formulated to align to different skin types, be it normal, dry, oily, combination and sensitive skin. When applied in the correct skincare routine order, a moisturiser will seal in the ingredients delivered in the serums, ensuring they deeply penetrate the skin. In the morning applySkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced helps fights the visible signs of ageing by fighting skin glycation and boosting collagen production. In the evening, we recommend the SkinCeuticals Renew Overnight Dry Moisturiser which contains rich botanical extracts to restore a radiant complexion. It is suitable for normal to dry skin types.

The correct next steps in your skincare routine will differ depending on whether it is your morning, or evening, skincare routine. Your morning skin care routine should always include sun protection, while products with active ingredients that may increase sun sensitivity should only be used at night.

STEP 6 FOR A MORNING SKIN CARE ROUTINE: SUNSCREEN

While the morning and evening steps are the same until this point in the skincare routine order, the final step in a morning skincare routine is to apply sunscreen. Sunscreen is an essential protector against harsh UV rays which result in photoaging – adequate sun protection can help reduce premature ageing. Being exposed to these elements damages skin and leaves it vulnerable to irritation and premature aging. Applying sunscreen is a crucial step in preventing sun damage, thereby protecting your skin against the onset or wrinkles, laxity and age spots. Ultra Facial Defence SPF 50+ Sunscreen is an moisturising sunscreen that protects skin from UVA/UVB rays. It is formulated with an ultra-light texture so it won’t clog your pores, and is suitable for normal, combination and dry skin types. ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. Apply 20 minutes before sun exposure. Sunscreen is only one part of sun protection so wear protective clothing and seek shade. Avoid prolonged sun exposure. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming, towelling and perspiring in accordance with directions.

STEP 6 FOR A NIGHT SKIN CARE ROUTINE: RETINOL

The final step in a night skincare routine is retinol cream. Also known as vitamin A, retinol offers valuable skin care benefits. Retinol stimulates cellular turnover and the production of collagen which enables firmer and stronger skin, making it an important ingredient in any skin care routine. However, UV exposure can decrease retinol’s efficacy while also making skin more sensitive to the sun; for these reasons, retinol products are primarily used as part of an evening skin care routine. An optimally concentrated cream for your evening skincare routine, we recommend the SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3 Cream. Retinol 0.3 is suitable for normal, oily and combination skin types. While selecting the right products to address your skin concerns is the essential first step, understanding the correct skin care routine order of application is key to curating a regime that delivers effective results. Keep to the golden rule of thinnest to thickest texture in mind when applying skin care to ensure you adhere to the right order of application.

ADJUSTING SKINCARE ROUTINE STEPS FOR DIFFERENT SKIN TYPES

While this routine is great for general use, not all skin types will respond the same, which is why it's important to adjust the routine to suit your skin type. Here's what we recommend adjusting to suit your skin type:

FOR DRY SKIN

If you have a dry skin type you may want to avoid any strong ingredients that may affect your skin moisture barrier and exacerbate skin concerns like redness, rough patches and itching sensations. To reap the benefits of a toner, swap the Blemish & Age Toner with the Equalising AHA Toner. This toner is formulated with an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) provides gentler exfoliation for dry and sensitive skin. For serums, focus on hydration with a hyaluronic acid formula, and always moisturise with a humectant-rich cream.

FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

Sensitive skin is more likely to get irritated and overwhelmed by too many products. To adjust for this skin type, you may want to cut back on products; keep it simple. Use a cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen during the day, then cleanser, hydrating serum and night cream in the evening. For highly sensitised skin, the Epidermal Repair Soothing Cream can help support a compromised skin moisture barrier. If you want to use a vitamin C serum, choose the more gentle C E Ferulic Serum.

FOR OILY SKIN

If you have oily skin, be careful not to overdo it with rich creams or products formulated for dry skin types. Choose a gentle foaming cleanser and lightweight moisturiser that won’t clog pores. For your vitamin C serum, instead of the Phloretin CF Vitamin C serum, oily skin types should opt for the Silymarin Vitamin C Serum, which contains 0.5% salicylic acid to exfoliate the skin while providing antioxidant protection.

FOR BLEMISH-PRONE SKIN

Blemishes are caused by a buildup of excess oil and dead skin cells that clog the pores, so you want to avoid exacerbating this problem with further pore-clogging products. If you have breakout-prone skin, swap out the cream cleanser for an exfoliating cleanser, like the Blemish & Age Cleansing Gel, to remove dead skin cells and excess oil that cause breakouts. You can also protect from antioxidants and exfoliate with the Silymarin Vitamin C Serum.

FOR COMBINATION SKIN

If you have combination skin you want to remove excess oil on your T-zone without exacerbating dry skin on other parts of your face. For this skin type, it’s all about balance. You can follow a similar skincare routine to a normal skin type, but for any harsher chemical exfoliants make sure to keep the skin hydrating with a hyaluronic acid serum or moisturiser. Combination skin types can also choose to focus certain products for oily skin exclusively on the T-zone while avoiding dry areas.

SKINCARE ROUTINE CONSIDERATIONS FOR BEGINNERS

If you're new to skincare, here's a few things to know before updating your routine:

Keep it simple: Especially when starting out, you don't want to overdo it with skincare. Layering too many active ingredients over one another can irritate the skin or cause clogged pores.
Layer correctly: On that note, the order that you layer your products matters. As a general rule of thumb, you should apply products from most lightweight to heaviest. So, after cleansing, follow with a toner, then serums, then moisturiser.
Focus on one skin concern: Keep your skincare focus on one specific skin concern or goal, this way you won't use products that end up cancelling each other out.
Patch test new products: Skincare isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, and some products that are suitable for one skin type won't work for you. This is why it's important to patch test any new products for a few days before adding to your regular routine—especially true for sensitive skin.
Start slowly: After you've patched tested, gradually introduce a new product to your routine. Initially with twice a week before gradually increasing to daily or twice daily. This, of course, will depend on the specific product and its recommended usage.
Be consistent: Many skincare products are formulated for more long-term skin benefits, and these benefits might not appear on the skin straight away. For visible results, it's important to be consistent in your routine, especially if you're using products that target uneven skin tone, fine lines or wrinkles.
Listen to your skin: Lastly, always listen to your skin. If your skin feels uncomfortable or irritated by any skincare products, stop using the product.

Find your personalised skincare routine

If you're looking to tailor your skincare routine to your skin's specific needs, try our personalised skincare routine finder. We'll recommend the best SkinCeutical products for brighter, more healthy-looking skin.

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