Best Skin Care Routine 2023 – The Dermatology Review

You’ve spent hours and hundreds of dollars shopping for the best beauty products for your skin type, but if you apply them in the wrong order, you could be doing more harm than good. eg serum or moisturizer first? When is the best time to apply retinol? should i use a moisturizer or retinol? The order in which you apply your skin care products is vital and can make the difference between seeing results and wasting your time and money. But don’t worry, we’ve put together a skincare routine order so you never have to guess what products to put on and when.

layered skin care products

An easy way to remember the order of your skin care products is to consider their texture. you want to apply them from lightest to heaviest. Serums are lightweight, so if you use them after a rich cream, the cream will essentially create a barrier and prevent the serum from reaching your skin. Many moisturizers also contain water, which can dilute a product that is placed on top.

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The only time this period goes away is with a facial oil. in fact, when to apply an oil is a somewhat debatable topic, but it all comes down to your skin type. many oils take the place of moisturizers, so it would be the last product applied before your sunscreen. oilier skin types would probably choose between a moisturizer or face oil. For those with dry and combination skin types, both products can be used, but a heavy cream is not necessarily the final product that would be applied.

That being said, this is what “lightest to heaviest” really means. water-based products should be closest to the skin, so they would be applied first. predominantly oily products, like a facial oil, should be applied on top to seal everything else in. therefore, if a serum is oil-based, it would be applied last, not immediately after cleansing like a traditional water-based serum.

timing is everything

As a general rule of thumb, you should wait 30-60 seconds between each skincare step before applying your next product, so it has a chance to fully absorb into your skin. Some products, like an acne treatment, for example, take a few hours to work, so it’s best to apply them at night with nothing on top to prevent them from getting on the skin.

Retinol and the most powerful prescription retinoids stimulate collagen synthesis and effectively treat fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and various forms of acne. However, they do increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun and therefore should only be applied at night, and sunscreen should always be a part of your morning skincare routine, no matter what.

skin care steps

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clean up

Morning skin care routine: It’s not always necessary to do a deep clean in the morning unless you haven’t washed the night before. simply swipe a cotton pad soaked in micellar water, toner, or floral water over your face. In other words, only cleanse in the morning when necessary, so as not to strip skin of its natural oils.

Nighttime skincare routine: Nighttime is a whole different story. Your face should be cleansed to remove any traces of makeup or sunscreen, as well as oil, sweat, and dirt, to properly prepare your skin for additional treatments and products. Also, make sure you are cleaning effectively. studies revealed that up to 80% of Americans wash their faces incorrectly, many using body wash, hand soap, or just water.

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exfoliate

Any time of day: It doesn’t matter if you exfoliate in the morning or at night, as long as you do it one to three times a week. it is essential to remove dead skin cells so that your products can effectively penetrate the skin. Overly dry or sensitive skin types will want to exfoliate less than someone with normal to oily skin because it can lead to inflammation and irritation, speeding up aging.

Assume you are already using products with active ingredients such as one of the acids (salicylic, glycolic, lactic, malic, etc.), retinol, or retinoids. in that case, it’s already covered, so there’s no need for additional exfoliation, as you don’t want to strip your skin.

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mask

any time of day: many people skip wearing a mask because they feel it “takes too long”, but the reality is that everyone has ten to twenty minutes to spare within the seven days. choose to mask up on a weekday when you have a little more time to yourself. For example, when you are enjoying the latest Netflix series, reading, taking a bath, meditating, whatever works. Also, keep in mind that there are many mask delivery systems available today (idea sheet and night masks), making masking easier than ever.

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tone

day and night skincare routine: many people skip a toner because they think it’s harsh and itchy (remember sea breeze?) today’s toners are formulated to treat specific skin problems, such as excess oil. or dryness. Toners help restore skin’s ph balance while preparing it for the rest of your products before your nightly routine. in the morning, a toner (or essence) can replace your cleanser if your skin was washed the night before.

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treat

Day and night skin care routine: The treatment step is crucial because it targets specific skin concerns at a deeper level. One of the main products that fall into this category is a serum, which is the powerlifter in your skincare routine because it is more concentrated due to its molecular makeup. There are many formulas to choose from no matter what your skin type or concern. If you decide to use multiple serums, apply the thinnest formula first.

eye creams (and gels) and acne blemish treatments are also represented here. Bags, dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles are more likely to appear around the delicate eye area than other parts of the face due to the absence of sebaceous (oil) glands and thinner skin.

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hydrate, moisturize and protect

Morning skin care routine: A moisturizer is one of the main components of a skin care routine, regardless of skin type. Our skin is in defense mode throughout the day, protecting itself from harmful UV rays, weather, bacterial growth and pollution – this is where a day cream and sunscreen come into play. you can choose to have two separate formulas or a two-in-one cream with an spf of at least 30.

Nighttime skincare routine: When you sleep, skin is in repair mode, working hard to regenerate and rebuild damage precipitated by daily activities and habits. That being said, nighttime is the best time to restore your skin with the right night cream for your skin type and condition. When it comes to the right age to start using a night cream, there’s no magic number, although your twenties are often a great time to start making an effort.

facial routine product cheat sheet

clean up

carrot & Stick on Gentle Hydrating CleanserThis gentle, hydrating cleanser is formulated with natural hydration, including Hyaluronic Acid, which won’t strip away precious oils and disrupt the surface barrier. It does not contain harsh sulfates that can irritate the skin. uses plant-based ingredients, such as coconut-based surfactants that help the product turn into a luxurious lather.

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exfoliate

carrot & Stick on the illuminating pads and reveal a fresh, smooth and radiant complexion with these presaturated pads. A concentrated blend of salicylic, lactic, and mandelic acids removes buildup of dead skin cells, gently exfoliating to promote clarity, refine texture, and remove impurities from pores. Herbal extracts fight visible photodamage and help control the appearance of redness. renewed skin is smoother, brighter, and more receptive to products. It is lovingly formulated for normal, dry, oily and combination skin types.