Do your many skin care products and steps confuse you? Here's the Correct order of your skin care routine and how to get started, according to your skin type.
Any skin care routine should aim to perfect your skin so that it functions efficiently, as well as skin concerns or target any areas you want to work on. Beauty regimes allow people to see changes in themselves. Your products will alter as your skin's needs change with age. It is not about pursuing perfection. Allow these actions to become a daily ritual that will strengthen your skin and ground you throughout the day.
The best dermatologist-approved daily skincare routine for morning and night, including the basic steps that should be included in any at-home regimen for oily, dry, combo, or acne-prone skin, is provided below.
How to Layer Your Skincare in the Right Order
Since lighter products can't penetrate heavier ones, the general rule is to apply the lightest first and the heaviest last when it comes to skincare. If you use a serum over your moisturizer without following the proper protocol, the serum will be virtually completely worthless. In the same way, using a face oil on top of your moisturizer will prevent it from penetrating your skin and keep it supple and hydrated.
The Correct Skincare Routine Order
If you want to know what a complete skincare routine looks like when performed in the right order, read on! The following is a quick tutorial. But don't panic just yet; the 10-step routine isn't as complicated as it looks. Only three items are required for a wonderful, easy regimen.
What Is the Easiest Skincare Routine for Newbies?
PSA: You don't need a 10-step or even a 5-step skincare routine. Almost all faces and skin types do significantly better: less irritation, allergic reactions, and breakouts—with fewer products, so keep it basic if you're just starting out:
Cleanser: a mild, sulfate-free face wash
Moisturizer: a straightforward fragrance-free formula that can be applied twice daily.
Sunscreen: a mineral or chemical-based sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
That's all. There are three products. Seriously. It's not glamorous, but excellent skin shouldn't be. Of course, if you want to add more products to your routine, you can. Do you have dry skin? You may always use a facial oil or moisturizing serum. Are you dealing with breakouts? Utilize a retinoid or an acne toner. You'll be OK as long as you proceed slowly and keep things basic.
Step 1: Cleanser
Morning and Night
Please, for the love of the beautiful angels, wash your face and remove your makeup before applying your products. Clean skin that is completely free of oil and filth is required for the active ingredient to absorb properly.
This means that if you want to do things right—forget the makeup wipes, which leave behind a layer of gunky film that can cause breakouts and irritate your skin, and instead use a washing oil, which dissolves all makeup without stripping your skin. Then, especially if you have acne-prone skin, use a soft, creamy cleanser. And don't complain about it being a two-step process.
How to Choose the Best Cleanser for Your Skin Type depending on your skin?
Dry skin: Creamy, non-foaming face cleansers with barrier-boosting components like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin are ideal for dry skin.
Oily skin: Avoid too abrasive products such as charcoal, sulfate, and clay-based cleansers and instead choose gel-based or gentle foamy cleansers for oily skin.
Acne-prone skin: like oily skin, should avoid harsh cleansers in favor of mild, creamy cleansers—yes, really—to reduce inflammation.
Sensitive skin: should use a soft, creamy face cleanser containing calming colloidal oatmeal, aloe vera, and niacinamide.
Step 2: Toner
Morning and/or Night
Face toners used to be horrible, alcohol-based liquids that irritated your face to no limit. Today's good toners, on the other hand, are packed with either gentle, moisturizing ingredients to soothe dry and sensitive skin or chemical exfoliants to cure acne, oil, and bumps. Toners aren't supposed to be anything that sits on your skin and feels heavy. They're essentially just preparing your face for ingredients to be more easily absorbed later on.
How to Choose the Best Toner for Your Skin Type
Acne-prone/oily skin: Toners containing either BHA (beta hydroxy acid, such as salicylic acid) or AHA (alpha hydroxy acid, such as glycolic acid or lactic acid) serve to unclog pores, prevent breakouts, and dissolve blackheads over time.
If you want to use retinol at night, tap your acid-based toner over clean, dry skin every other night or every other morning, then wait until it dries before applying anything else, otherwise you'll accidentally neutralize the acids before the toner works its magic.
Dry skin and sensitive skin get the most from hydrating toners, but all skin types, even acne-prone skin, can benefit because they help replenish the water your skin barrier lost when you washed and dried your face.
How to use - After cleansing, apply your moisturizing toner to clean, dry skin in the morning, at night, or both: Whatever your skin type, there is no such thing as too much moisture.
Step 3: Serum
Morning and/or Night
Serums—the thing you probably keep buying, never really using, and panicking over because you're confused. But I've got you covered. Serums are essentially concentrated doses of nutrients, hydration, and antioxidants that immediately improve the health of your skin after application. People frequently overlook them, but they are the real heroes of your skincare routine. Toners are like a sip of beer, and serums are like a straight dose of tequila.
Although serums are completely optional, they are frequently a smart initial step in stepping up your skincare routine and enhancing your skin's health.
Dr. Gohara and every other derm in existence swear by using vitamin C serum every morning for practically all skin types since it protects your skin from the irritation and damage produced by environmental damage over the day while also lightening dark spots and uneven tones over time. The MVP for dry, oily, and acne-prone skin is vitamin C serum, but it's also rather potent. If you have sensitive skin, use it every other morning or every two mornings.
All skin types can benefit from a hyaluronic acid serum, which draws water from the air into your skin to keep it moisturized while you sleep. You want to prep your skin with as much moisture as possible before utilizing acne treatments or anti-aging creams, which can be drying and unpleasant explains Dr. Idriss. If you're also using retinol, a moisturizing serum is a no-brainer.
Step 4: Eye Cream
Morning and/or Night
Because eye creams are lighter and thinner than face moisturizers, use them first before applying creams and oils. Remember to put the lightest items first and the heavier items last.
Important note: While eye creams appear to be the be-all and end-all of skincare and anti-aging, they are not for the majority of people. Your eye area is already getting the TLC it needs if you use moisturizer and sunscreen. But if you want to give it a shot, here's how to do it:
Look for an eye cream with a rollerball applicator - the cool steel ball helps a bit with fluid retention—aka under-eye bags—especially if you keep the cream in the fridge between uses - or a caffeine-infused solution, which helps temporarily constrict and tighten puffy under-eyes within 20 minutes.
Regardless of your skin type: Most people believe that their night eye cream must contain retinol to help with fine wrinkles, but your eye area is delicate and prone to rashes and irritation, so you want to be gentle. Instead, use a basic, moisturizing eye cream to protect your under eyes while also repairing your skin barrier overnight.
Yes, you can and should use retinol around your eyes, however, it is preferable to apply retinoids to your entire face rather than just certain areas of it. Don't worry, retinol choices will be added later.
Step 5: Spot Treatment
Spot treatments, whether for zits, scars, or dark spots, are best done at night because that's when your body is working the hardest to restore itself. However, if you've previously used an acid-based or acne-fighting toner or plan to pile on retinol, try spot-treating in the morning instead to avoid irritating your face with too much at once.
Regardless of when you apply your spot treatment, make sure to apply it before your moisturizer so that it can truly permeate your skin and do its thing without being blocked by another barrier.
The dermatologist prescribes benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid for acne—but not combined unless you want to irritate your skin. Benzoyl peroxide eliminates acne-causing bacteria and can be used to treat classic whiteheads, while salicylic acid dissolves oil and skin cells and can be used to treat small clogged pores and inflamed bumps.
How to Apply - Regardless of which option you select, the application process is the same: Apply a little layer to your area or zit and allow it to dry for at least a minute. Then, to prevent the therapy from rubbing off on your face, apply your moisturizer around the affected areas first. When your skin is completely hydrated, apply a layer of moisturizer immediately over the spot treatment to seal it in without smearing it.
Step 6: Moisturizer
Morning and Night
You should use a moisturizer. Always. Twice every day. Whatever the case may be. I don't care if your skin is super oily, prone to breakouts, unhappy, or afraid; there's a formula for you, promise since it's the only thing that'll keep your skin barrier—aka the fickle thing responsible for making your face seem good—healthy and happy.
A moisturizer not only hydrates your skin but also helps trap all the products beneath it, making the substances even more effective. You can use the same moisturizer morning and night, but if you don't want to apply sunscreen, your morning moisturizer should have at least SPF 30. Also, if this is the conclusion of your morning "skin needs" process and makeup is your next step, wait for 5 to 10 minutes before wearing makeup.
How to Choose the Best Moisturizer for Your Skin Type
Oily skin: To keep skin hydrated without feeling greasy, opt for lightweight moisturizers with cream or gel-based consistency.
What you should try In the morning, apply Cetaphil Oil-Absorbing Moisturizer SPF 30, and in the evening, apply CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion.
Dermatology recommends that the finest dry-skin moisturizers be rich with all the stuff your body naturally generates and can need more of, such as hyaluronic acid, lipids, and proteins. Cream-based compositions will be your best friend both morning and night.
Acne-prone skin: The best moisturizer for acne-prone skin depends on whether your skin is dry search for lightweight lotions or oily look for gel-based formulas in the morning and cream formulas with salicylic acid at night.
What About Anti-Aging Creams?
You can also tiptoe into the retinol game by using an anti-aging night cream in the p.m., which has a “watered-down” dose of retinoids that tends to be gentler, especially on sensitive skin. That being said, it’s often easier to use your regular moisturizer and just add retinol on top. Do you know the latest trends in anti-aging care? Read our blog Best Anti-Aging Wrinkle Cream for 2022 - Our Top 10 Approved by Customers to learn more about it.
Step 7: Retinol
Retinoids, which include retinol, soak into your skin to speed up cell turnover, helping your body to produce fresher, smoother, and less wrinkled skin over time. However, good things take time, so keep in mind that retinoids require four to six months of constant treatment to produce results.
But just because it may take half a year to smooth out your wrinkles doesn't mean you won't get more rapid results in other areas. Retinoids stimulate collagen formation and cellular exfoliation, fading dark spots, smoothing scars, clearing pores, preventing outbreaks, and brightening skin. In essence, retinoids are dermatologists' closest thing to magic.
If you're new to retinoids, start slowly to avoid the first transition period of flaking and irritation. Apply a pea-sized drop to your entire face once a week for one week, then twice a week for two weeks, three times a week for three weeks, and every other night indefinitely.
You're already using or intend to use a retinoid-containing night cream because doubling up won't improve anti-aging results—it'll just exacerbate inflammation. If you have extra-sensitive skin, use a layer of moisturizer 10 minutes before and after your retinol treatment to prevent irritation without reducing the therapy completely. Basically, wrap your face in moisture.
Step 8: Oil
Morning and/or Night
Face oils are occlusive, meaning they seal in all the ingredients and moisture you just applied to your face to keep them from evaporating as quickly. On their own, oils actually don’t moisturize your skin that well, but when you layer them over products, they help increase your routine’s efficacy while also leaving skin soft and smooth. Just make sure to always, always apply your oils last. Yes, you read that correctly: last.
Oils can easily penetrate moisturizers, serums, and treatments, but no products can penetrate an oil, which means they need to be applied last. And don’t think that oils are 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 sensitive, easily irritated skin.
Step 9: Sunscreen
Morning
Okay, I know I said oils come last, but sunscreen is technically the last step. Why? Oils are still working to infiltrate and treat your skin, which is why they should be applied last in your skincare process, but sunscreen isn't trying to penetrate anything—simply it's there to protect your face and function as armor against the UV rays. Essentially, it does not contribute anything to your skin; rather, it protects it. When it comes to sunscreen, you can choose between physical and chemical sunscreens.
But, before you convince yourself that the SPF 15 in your foundation or moisturizer is sufficient, keep in mind that the very bare minimum SPF you need on your face is SPF 30. Unless, of course, you don't mind premature aging, worsening acne scars, and an elevated skin cancer risk.
Stick With It
Good things come to those who wait, and skincare routines are no exception. Even the best skincare products require time to work, so don't expect quick results. If you stick to a consistent, daily schedule, you might expect to see some results within six to twelve weeks — but it can frequently take at least three to four months to know if your new routine is truly effective.
Should I invest in any special tools or skincare gadgets?
Aside from a simple washcloth, you don't need any special equipment for your skincare routine, although some at-home skin tools and devices can provide significant benefits. Here are a few to try:
Facial cleansing brushes: Consider one of these portable gadgets designed to help you obtain a deeper cleanse if you want to amp up your cleansing practice. After just one week of use, some people experienced cleaner, smoother, more vibrant skin. However, if you have sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea, you should use these brushes with caution.
LED face masks: The same as professional LED light treatment LED masks employ visible light to improve skin by lowering bacteria, reducing inflammation, and increasing collagen formation. Different light settings address different issues, including acne by eliminating bacteria, fine lines, and wrinkles by boosting collagen formation, and hyperpigmentation by increasing collagen production.
Gua sha tools: These smooth stones, which are comparable to jade rollers, can provide a mini-facelift effect due to lymphatic facial drainage. Gua sha tools, which are based on an ancient Chinese therapeutic technique, are primarily used as a massage technique and a self-care tool, with soft upward strokes on the face and neck to reduce puffiness and edema.
Facial steamers: If you have oily, acne-prone skin or deep-rooted blackheads, facial steaming twice a week for 15 minutes maximum can help unclog your pores and help your skincare products absorb better, but if you have dry, sensitive, rosacea, or eczema, you should avoid it.
Should I be using a face mask regularly?
What role do sheet masks play? This is the first step. Apply masks to clean skin, then pat on any excess serum or softly rinse your skin with water before using toner, serum, or moisturizer.
Face masks can benefit your skin, especially when used on a regular basis. Apply one to your clean, dry face once or twice a week, avoiding the eyes and mouth unless the mask is specifically designed for those regions. Remove it as indicated on the packaging, and then use other leave-on skincare products as needed. Whether you choose a DIY skin treatment, a sheet mask, or an overnight mask, make sure you select the proper face mask for your skin type:
Oily skin: Use an oil-absorbing mask with ingredients like clay or charcoal.
Dry skin: Look for phrases like hydrating, moisturizing, or nourishing on the label, as well as components like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, plant oils, and butter.
Anti-inflammatory components such as aloe and oat are ideal for sensitive skin.
Combination or regular skin: Look for face masks that are tailored to your specific skin objectives, or try spot-treating specific areas with repeated masks.
What about exfoliation?
Facial exfoliation is a process that eliminates the skin's outer layer of dead skin cells to make it smoother, brighter, and clearer - but over half of women miss it in their skincare routine, according to a GH survey. There are three forms of exfoliation, each with a unique function that is best suited to particular skin types, issues, and demands.
Washcloths and washing brushes, as well as face scrubs containing abrasive particles that remove dead skin cells with friction, fall into the category of physical exfoliants. These are ideal for anyone with dry or sensitive skin.
Chemical exfoliants are treatments, such as face peels and cleansers, that contain acids or enzymes like AHAs and BHAs that weaken the connections between dead skin cells, allowing them to be removed. These are ideal for people who have mature or acne-prone skin.
Combo exfoliants are rinse-off exfoliators that combine both physical and chemical exfoliating components. These are great for people who have oily skin.
Physical exfoliants can be used twice a week, in the morning and evening, after cleansing. Chemical exfoliants should be used once a week, morning or evening, after cleansing, for sensitive or dry skin, and no more than three times a week for other skin types. Combo exfoliants can be used weekly to daily, but only if the product's directions are followed.