The Correct Way To Apply Your Skincare Routine
Even as someone who’s really into beauty, I’ve never been sure the correct order to apply my skincare routine- does oil come before or after moisturizer? Should your serum come before your oil? And what goes directly onto your cleansed skin for the best moisture absorption. Well, thanks to Emma Hoareau, skincare aficionado and the most scientifically apt beauty influencer I know, I’ve been applying my skincare the correct way for almost a year now and it makes a huge difference. Below we’ll be telling you the correct order, why and our recommended products for each category.
AM
Cleanser
In the morning, the type of cleanser you use isn’t of the most importance, but using something gentle and soothing that will calm the skin and cleanse away any oil or product residue from the night before is best.
We recommend: Herbivore Pink Jelly Cleanser // Pai Middlemist Cleanser // Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser
Antioxidant
Follow your cleanser with an antioxidant in order to get the most protection from this product. Antioxidants are typically Vitamin C or E serums and also include Niacinimides and Retinols. These products help to protect the skin barrier from environmental damage and begin to work immediately, so you’ll see (or feel) instant results. If you also struggle with dry skin or a weakened skin barrier, these products are great.
We recommend: The Ordinary Niacinamide // The Ordinary Vitamin C Serum // Drunk Elephant Retinol Serum
Eye Cream
We all know why eye cream is so important: it’s proven to prevent wrinkles around the eyes and helps hydrate that area for a brighter appearance. This is especially important if you spend a lot of time squinting or looking at screens.
We recommend: Tata Harper Eye Cream // Pai Eye Cream // Juice Beauty Eye Cream
Hydrating Serum
Using a hydrating serum is important for every skin type- for dry skin it can help to rebuild the skin barrier and lock in all of the other products you’re using on your skin. Personally, my Hyaluronic acid serum is the most important step in my routine because it’s the glue that keeps all of my other products’ benefits working.
We recommend: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid // Pai Back To Life Serum // Moon Juice Plump Jelly
Moisturizer
Your moisturizer is always going to be the last step in your routine, AM or PM, as it’s simply the seal to keep all of the good nutrients in. Moisturizer creates a barrier for the rest of your products, so it’s important to use different moisturizers depending on when you’re using them. In the morning, we recommend using a lighter moisturizer that will hold all of your products in but won’y stifle the skin and create too thick of a layer under makeup.
We recommend: Tata Harper Water Lock Moisturizer // Youth to The People Air Whip // Alba Botanica Aloe Moisturizer
SPF & Sunscreen
Especially when applying antioxidants in your morning skincare routine, SPF is extremely important. It prevents early skin aging as well as protecting your skin’s barrier and leads to clearer skin.
We recommend: Supergoop! Glow Screen // Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen // Juice Beauty Oil- Free SPF
PM
Oil Cleanser
At the end of the day, your first step in your skincare routine should be an oil or balm cleanser to remove makeup and dirt that’s built up throughout the day. Typically, these cleansers are aplied directly on dry skin and massaged into the skin to melt away makeup and breakup dirt on the skin.
We recommend: Pai Lightwork Oil Cleanser // Farmacy Green Clean Balm // Biossance Squalane Oil Cleanser
Double Cleanse
For your double cleanse, you can use the same cleanser that you use in the morning, or any other cream or jelly cleanser.
Exfoliating Acid or Antioxidant
Using an exfoliating acid like a BHA or AHA , or a different antioxidant than you use in the morning will help to chemically exfoliate the skin and leave a smooth surface for the rest of your products to penetrate.
We recommend: Herbivore Prism Serum // Moon Juice Acid Potion // The Ordinary Vitamin C Serum
Eye Cream
We covered this above, and you can use the same one day or night.
Hydrating Serum
I like to use my Hyaluronic Acid serum both morning and night for super plump skin, but you can use two different hydrating serums if you want.
Oil
Arguably the most confusing part of the skin routine is where to put your oil, but it’s key that you apply your oil after your hydrating serum and before your moisturizer. When patting into the skin while your hydrating serum is still damp, it allows the oil to penetrate with the serum and reach further into the skin barrier. If you have dry skin, using a non-drying oil is key to this part of the routine.
We recommend: The Ordinary Squalane Oil // Pai Bioregenerate Oil // Herbivore Emerald Oil
Moisturizer
And finally locking everything in with a thick, creamy moisturizer. When applying your cream over your oil you’re helping to keep that oil in, but if you have particularly oily skin, we can just apply an oil as your moisturizer and you don’t have to include this step, or you can use the same moisturizer that you use in the AM that’s water based.
We recommend: Herbivore Pink Cloud Creme // Pai Love & Haight Moisturizer // Farmacy Honey Halo