Experts share how to craft a solid skincare routine, plus when to apply your products for maximum benefits.
What is a proper skincare routine?
I tell people only to add additional products one at a time to verify they react well.
This means only adding products you really need and doing so slowly and carefully.
What skincare products do I need?
Serums/Treatments
Serums are the workhorse of your routine, and different active ingredients can help with different concerns.
board-certified dermatologist at the Skin Institute of New York
Moisturizer
No matter what key in of skin you have, you should use moisturizer.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is the single most important skincare routine step.
Why does skincare routine order matter?
Consider this a general guide, but listen to your skin and tailor your routine as needed.
Morning
During the day, the name of the skincare game is protection.
Cleanser (optional)
Many peopleparticularly those with dry skinonly need to wash their faces once a day.
Antioxidant serum
An antioxidant serum is a non-negotiable morning suggestion for two important reasons.
First and foremost, these ingredients help protect against radical damage from environmental aggressors.
Additionally, studies have shown that layering an antioxidant under sunscreen can make your SPF even more effective.
board-certified dermatologist at the Skin Institute of New York
Eye cream (optional)
Eye creams are another one that dermatologists cant seem to agree on.
During the day, it should be the final step in your routine before applying sunscreen.
Sunscreen
Rain, shine, or snow, sunscreen should be the final step in your routine.
Because of this, your p.m. routine should focus on reversing any damage thats occurred during the day.
If youre more of a one-and-done bang out of face washer, look fora bi-phase cleanser.
Essence (optional)
Essencesmaylooklike toners with the same watery texture but serve a different purpose entirely.
Treatments/serums
If youre only going to use one active product at night, dermatologists recommend aretinoid.
Think: retinol, adapalene, prescription-grade tretinoin, or a retinol alternative likebakuchiolif you have sensitive skin.
What skincare products shouldnt be mixed in a routine?
A few examples of products that should be kept apart:
1.
To avoid this, use vitamin C in the morning and exfoliate at night.
Should skincare products be applied to wet or dry skin?
Your skincare routine should take several minutes, says Dr. Chi.
Below, Dr. Chi breaks down which ingredients should go on damp skin and which ones need dry skin.
The same goes formoisturizing serumsyou may layer into your skincare routine, like hyaluronic acid, squalene, orniacinamide.
Let your skin air dry for a few minutes before following up with your active serum.
Then, you could apply your moisturizer right on top of that.
Your skin should still be moist enough from your active serum to allow it to penetrate properly.
Sunscreen: dry skin
Most importantly, yoursunscreenneeds to go on dry skin.
Whether chemical or mineral, sunscreen, and wet skin do not mix.
If you put a mineral sunscreen on wet skin, it doesnt go on, says Dr. Chi.
And while chemical sunscreen may blend into wet skin, its not going to work as well.
If youre applying it to wet skin, that will affect the absorption of the chemical sunscreen.
And in effect, how well its able to absorb UV rays.
And if youre having trouble, thats what skincare professionals like estheticians and dermatologists are here for.
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