Your Daily Skin Care Routine

As if it weren’t overwhelming enough to have all of these brands, skin care products, and a list of ingredients that takes a dermatologist to explain, how do you know what order to apply your products in so they work correctly? To clear up any confusion once and for all, we’ve got you covered, right here.

Why Should I Care About Proper Skincare?

Taking care of your skin means you’ll experience less frequent breakouts, show less irritation and redness, and stave off visible signs of aging.

Does Order Really Matter

Yes! And here’s why:

• Your products may not penetrate your skin: If you're putting thin, fluid or water-based products on top of thick, creamy or oily ones, the thicker products will form a barrier that will prevent anything from getting through.

• Your products may be less effective: If products aren't able to penetrate your skin properly, you can't get their full benefits. Also, when specific active ingredients are meant to be applied away from each other, using them together can deactivate them or create an unwanted chemical reaction.

• Your products may harm your skin: Using products out of order may even create new skin issues e.g. applying serums on top of oils could leave your skin dry and dehydrated since not enough water is reaching it.

Are There Any Rules of Thumb?

Yes. Keep in mind thinnest to thickest texture: Move in the direction of light to heavy (our handy guide above tells you the exact order in which to apply your products).

• Water-based before oil-based: Just like in cooking, oil and water don't mix and oil can block water from penetrating. That means water-based products must be applied first, so let them absorb into your skin and then apply oil-based products on top of them.

• Lowest to highest pH: If you're using active ingredients, it's important to know their approximate pH levels and go from lowest to highest. What does this mean? Acidic products (pH 3.0 - 4.0) should always be applied before more neutral ones (pH 5.0 - 7.0). The skin’s average pH is around 4.7.

• Low and high pH products don't mix: If your routine includes products with active ingredients, you can apply them at the same time if their pH levels are similar. But if there's a gap in pH of more than, say, 1.0 - 2.0 (or if you don't know the pH at all), wait 30 minutes in between them or using them at different times of day. That way, each product can work at its intended pH.

Can You Define a Few Terms for Me?

Skin type refers to your skin's neutral disposition or what it’s like if you’re not putting anything at all on it. The most common skin types are dry, normal, and oily (though there are many more types). Dry skin is found on someone with small pores and tight-feeling skin who doesn’t get oily throughout the day. Normal skin doesn’t get oily but generally doesn’t feel tight or uncomfortable. Oily is skin found on someone who has large pores and can build up oil throughout the day most commonly around the nose/forehead.

Skin concern is what you’d specifically like to address when it comes to your skin. This refers to specific issues like signs of aging, acne, hyperpigmentation, or redness and irritation. Products are often formulated to address a specific concern, so you’ll want to choose products that obviously address your specific concerns.

Your Daily Skincare Routine: A Breakdown

Cleanser

Day & Night

For ingredients to properly absorb, you need clean skin that’s free of oil and dirt, toxins, bacteria from touching your face, and any topical products you’ve applied throughout the day (or before bed) like sunscreen and spot treatments. If you’re curious about when you should use a sheet mask or scrub, this is the step to do it.*

*Sheet Masks Use this 1-2 times a week, right after you cleanse and not on the days you use a facial scrub. If you’ve got a special occasion, give yourself an extra 10-20 minutes and use the mask after you cleanse your face. Otherwise, you might try reserving this ritual for Sunday night - it’s the perfect way to prep for the week. Apply it in an even layer across your face and leave it on for 10-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

*Scrub Do this for a deeper clean 1-2 times a week, right after you cleanse. We like to do this evenly spaced throughout the week, e.g. on a Monday and Thursday (with a face mask on Sunday). Dampen your skin again, then use a penny to quarter-size amount and rub it in using a small circular motion for up to 15 seconds. Rinse with warm water. Remember to focus your exfoliating energy on areas with blackheads or flakiness (especially nose and chin), since those are the areas where clogged pores tend to crop up.

Toner

Day & Night

After cleansing, apply your toner to a cotton ball and then dab it over clean, dry skin every morning and night; make sure to wait five minutes or at least until it dries before applying anything else on top of it or you’ll neutralize the acids before they can work.

• If you have acne, get a toner with either BHA (beta hydroxy acid, like salicylic acid) or AHA (alpha hydroxy acid, like glycolic acid or lactic acid), which unclogs pores, prevents breakouts, and dissolve blackheads over time. People who have acne and/or oily skin will benefit most from using toner since they're formulated to remove sebum, oil, and dirt from the pores.

• If you have dry skin, look for toner with water-soluble AHAs

• If you have oily skin, seek a toner with oil-soluble BHAs

• If you’ve got any other skin type, opt for a hydrating toner, which helps replenish any water your skin barrier lost when you washed and dried your face

Serum

Day & Night

Serums are basically super concentrated nutrients, hydrators, and antioxidants that boost skin health upon application. Whether you’re looking to reduce oil production, improve skin texture, or increase firmness, you can find a serum for it.

Eye Creams

Day & Night

If you’re in your twenties or older, eye cream should be like toothpaste: a mandatory part of your daily routine. The skin around your eyes is up to ten times thinner than the skin on the rest of your face, so it’s one of the first areas that shows visible signs of aging. This skin is also especially sensitive, so it’s important to moisturize gently: using your ring finger, gently tap your eye cream onto the area beneath your eyes, avoiding the skin closest to your eyes. By applying eye cream daily, you’ll likely reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. To instantly revive tired, puffy eyes, keep your eye cream in the refrigerator. Applying the cool cream directly to your eyes helps to reduce puffiness and help your eyes wake up.

Day

Using an eye cream that has a rollerball applicator can help revive under-eye bags if you keep the cream in the fridge between uses. Make sure it is also a formula filled with caffeine which will help temporarily constrict and tighten puffy under-eyes within 20 minutes.

Spot Treatments

Day & Night

In an ideal world, you’d apply your spot treatments whether they’re for zits, scars, or dark spots before you go to bed because that’s when your body works to repair itself. But if you’ve already used an acne-fighting toner and/or you’re planning to layer on a retinol, try spot-treating in the morning instead to prevent skin irritation. Regardless of when you apply them, make sure to tap them on before your moisturizer so they can penetrate your skin without having to penetrate another barrier. The best way to apply them? Dab a thin layer over your spot or zit, then wait at least a full minute for it to dry (here less is more). To prevent the treatment from getting wiped all around your face, apply your moisturizer around the spots first, then when your face is completely covered, tap a layer of moisturizer directly over the spot treatment to seal it in without sliding it around.

*For dark marks/acne scars: Use a spot treatment that either contains hydroquinone which is a skin-bleaching ingredient that works fast but can be irritating on anyone with even slightly sensitive skin, or niacinamide (aka vitamin B3), which gently brightens marks and scars over time. Niacinamide can be used daily as most formulas won’t cause irritation, but hydroquinone should be used every other day (or every three days) until you know how your body respond to it.

*For pimples: Use either a benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid (but not together as that will irritate your skin). Benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria which you can use for classic whiteheads, while salicylic acid dissolves oil and skin cells (use it for clogged pores and inflamed bumps).

Moisturizer

Day & Night

A moisturizer infuses your skin with hydration and helps keep in all the products underneath to make the ingredients even more effective.

Day

Use a light, hyaluronic-based moisturizer which will keep skin hydrated without feeling heavy or greasy. And ideally, get a formula with a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 in it.

Retinol

Day & Night

Retinoids help to speed up cell turnover, causing your body to churn out fresher, smoother, less wrinkled skin over time - typically you’ll see results within four to six months of consistent use. Retinoids also trigger collagen production and cellular exfoliation, which means they also help fade dark spots, smooth scars, clear pores, prevent breakouts, and brighten skin. If you’re new to retinoids, start slow to allow your body to adjust to them - this will help minimize flaking and sensitivity. You may also experience purging, a fancy term for this adjustment period in which you may experience blemishes. A good way to ease into retinoids is using a pea-size drop on your entire face one night a week for one week, then two nights a week for two weeks, then three nights a week for three weeks, and then every other night indefinitely. 

Oils

Day & Night

Face oils help to keep all of the products you’ve layered thus far from evaporating too quickly. On their own, oils aren’t that moisturizing, but when you layer them over products they help increase your routine’s efficacy while also leaving skin soft and smooth. Keep in mind that oils can easily penetrate moisturizers, serums, and treatments, but no products can penetrate an oil, which is why they need to be applied last (unless you’re headed outside in which case you’ll need sunscreen after this). Oils also aren’t just for dry skin - certain oils, like rose-hip and jojoba, can decrease excess oil in acne-prone skin, while marula and aloe oils can soothe skin that’s sensitive and easily irritated.

Sunscreen

Day

Sunscreen - apply this last since it doesn’t need to penetrate anything: it’s there to protect your face as you go about your day and seal in everything you’ve just applied. The absolute bare minimum SPF you need on your face is SPF 30 - at this SPF level, your skin will be protected from premature aging, worsened acne scars, and an increased risk of cancer.