How should I be layering my skincare products?

This is probably my most asked question; let’s be honest, there are so many skincare products available on the market and we all like trying new products, well I mean…of course I do. Good skincare is an invest for our future skins, it is an excellent step to reach our skincare goals and maintaining our current healthy skin but if we apply products incorrectly, unfortunately that becomes a bad investment as you won’t gain all the benefit your product has to offer. You do after all only have OneSKIN.

There are many options available on the market which can become overwhelming to most. I find it easiest to categorize my products to make the application as simple and effortless as possible, you are able to use these guidelines to build to an advanced skincare routine if you wish or keep it simple. The 3 basic categories are CLEANSE, TREAT and PROTECT. These guidelines can be applied to most basic to the most advanced skincare user’s routine simply build it with categories and steps for best results and in line with your product recommendations. This is my formula and what works for me including the 3 steps and advanced add on’s:

Steps of my AM Facial (Morning) routine:

Step 1 - Cleanser (Cleanse)

Use an oil cleanser or foam cleanser depending on skin needs and preference. I do feel that your skin should be squeaky clean from your PM cleanse the evening before (therefor one cleanse would be sufficient for the morning routine). This step is not to be missed to ensure your product from the previous evening is removed and cleansed off completely and to start your first phase of your routine and prepare your skin for further steps. Season does play a role for me as in winter my skin simply needs more, I would use an oil-based cleanser more and in summer I would swap a foamy cleanser. Use what you love and what your skin needs at the time.

Step 2 - Tone / Hydrating mist (Cleanse)

Toners assist with balancing the skins PH and completes your cleansing process. Some toners have added benefits to sooth, balance or hydrate. I prefer using a cotton wool to wipe over my skin to ensure all my make-up and cleanser is completely removed.

Whereas hydrating mists essentially refresh the skin and have more moisturizing properties. I love keeping a small one in my handbag to refresh as I need during the day. Technically this step can be added after your make-up application step.

Step 3 - Essence (Treat)

Essences hydrate and re-balance the skin, whilst also using highly concentrated levels of active ingredients, enabling a deeper penetration into our skin barrier.

Step 4 - Antioxidant serum (Treat)

Each day our system is susceptible to free radical damage through food, UV exposure, chemicals and environmental exposure such and pollution and smoke. Free radicals are unstable molecules that steal electrons for other sources where antioxidant neutralize this by having an extra electron available to stop this process. Antioxidants are important to fight free radical damage to prevent this oxidative stress.

Once you establish your main skin concerns you will be able to pinpoint which serum with which ingredients is best for your skin. Serum’s are highly concentrated with active ingredients to help treat specific skincare concerns. Normally more light weight and water based to penetrate effortlessly into the skin. Serums can treat several concerns to name redness, fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, dehydration and pigmentation to name a few.

Step 5 - Eye care (eye serum and eye cream) (Treat)

Eye products are specially formulated for the delicate eye area. Using eye products may prevent and/or improve fine lines and wrinkles, improve dark circles and puffiness. I enjoy layering with an eye serum followed by an eye cream to ensure we address all concerns and prevent aging as the eyes unfortunately show the first signs of aging. Did you know we blink around 28 000 times a day?

Step 6 – Moisturize (Protect)

Moisturizing everyday can reduce the chance of developing extreme dryness or oiliness. Of course moisturizers have added befits to treat specific concerns and product texture preference and some include SPF.

Step 7 – SPF (Protect)

Sunscreen helps protect us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays: UVA and UVB. Long term exposure results in fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone and hyper-pigmentation. I try and use a minimum of SPF30 daily, reapplication when exposed to UV is recommended as always.

Your routine may be completed with a make-up primer and make-up application if you wish to do so. Adding your hydrating mist throughout the course of the day, simply lightly spritz while closing your eyes.

Steps of my PM Facial (Evening) routine:

Step 1 – Cleanser (Cleanse)

Make- up removal by double cleansing with oil-based cleanser first, then followed by a foamy cleanser to ensure your skin is completely purified and ready for your process of product application.

Step 2 – Tone/hydrate (Cleanse) (Refer to AM)

Step 3 – Essence (Treat) (Refer to AM)

Step 4 – Eye Care (Refer to AM)

Step 5 – Serum / Vitamin A (Treat)

Serums contain high concentrations of active ingredients and typically helps you to achieve specific results. Topical Vitamin A have multiple of uses to mention a few; increasing cell turnover, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, improving skin discoloration and softening the skin.

Step 6 – Night Cream or Sleep Mask (Protect)

As you sleep your skin works on recovering and repairing. Night creams are typically thicker and creamier in constancy. Sleep masks are packed with active ingredients that targets specific skincare concerns and should be used when your skin needs a little bit extra. Sleep masks are a great time saver as normally you don’t need to remove as wash off, you can simply go to bed and remove in the morning. I include this twice a week with my skincare routine at a minimum.

Step 7 – Face-Oils (Protect)

Facial oil serves as an extra level of protection to your skin and provides comfort, glow and extra moisture. Your skin would have an extra boost, always read your product instruction to ensure correct application.

FACIAL at home, your WEEKLY facial steps should be done at the most convenient time to you and your schedule, ideally done one followed by the next step. Exfoliation and masking are “married” in the skincare world and should be done soon after the other, as this is most beneficial when you are removing dead skin cells is the perfect time to balance by purification or moisture mask and there are many options available. This could be mornings or evenings, when it would suite your schedule most. I prefer evenings, as I like the fact that my skin can rest, recover and I don’t need to apply make-up over. The norm is that your spa/facial day at home is recommend twice per week. Please refer to specific product instructions as application might differ for exfoliators and masks.

First exfoliate – To remove dead skin cells, renew the skin and ensure that your product reach the lower layers of skin that need it.

Followed by your mask application – This can work on several concerns and of course you can use multiple masks and use specific masks on specific areas. Examples are; sheet masks, clay-based masks, cream masks, peel-off masks, gel masks, charcoal masks and sleep masks.

As always, a personalized home-care recommendation for you as an individual is best and always recommended to achieve your best desires results, your routine in then personalize based on your time available and products preferences and the type of results you would like to achieve.

Please get in touch to chat about your skin as I love hearing from you!

Love

Elsie

xoxo