Did you know that there is a correct order in which you apply your skincare?  You didn’t?  Well, sit back and relax. I will explain your skincare order from your cleanser all the way to your sunscreen and makeup.  In a nutshell, it basically boils down to this; go from your lightest to your heaviest products once you have cleansed and toned your skin.

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Skincare Order Steps 1 – 3

Step One – Cleanse

First things first, the morning cleanse.  Yes, you need to cleanse your skin first thing in the morning.  And here is a little bit of information as to why.  There are mites that live on everyone.  Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevisare are parasitic, microscopic mites. They either live in the pores and hair follicles of each human’s face, body, eyebrows, eyelashes, or on the surface of the skin. They crawl about your face & body after dark to feed on dead skin cells.  Now a Demodex mite does not have an anus, so they eat and eat and eat some more until they burst on your skin, leaving behind their dead decomposing bodies.  Now, if that doesn’t make you want to wash your face, I’m not sure what will. As to what you use to cleanse in the am, I will leave that up to you.  I personally prefer a light cream cleanser, although in winter, if I am feeling a little dry in the morning, I might use something a little heavier.

Step Two – Toner/Soften Lotion

Toning is the next step. An alcohol-free toner, also known as a softening lotion, is used to remove any excess cleanser or cleanser residue left behind.  I hate to break it to you, but a toner’s job is not to close or tighten pores.  Do I really need a toner?  Yes, you need an alcohol-free toner, and it needs to work synergistically with your cleanser.  Therefore, if your cleanser has a toner in the same range, they are meant to work together.  If your cleanser does not have a corresponding toner, you might have to do a little bit of trial and error to find a toner that works with it. 

Step Three – Eye cream

If you are over 18, eye cream is the next step in your skincare order.  Our eyes get so much abuse from the constant tugging and pulling.  Also, the skin around your eyes is 7 times thinner than the skin on the rest of the face.  And to make matters worse, this skin is drier because there are no pores within the ocular curve.  Therefore, your eyes are aging faster than the rest of your face, which is why you need to be using an eye cream. Eye cream is a preventative measure which is why you need to start using it before getting wrinkles or loss of elasticity.  Eye creams are a different formulation than the creams and moisturizers that you use on the rest of your face.  They usually penetrate and plump up the cells.  Place your eye cream around the entire eye socket on the orbital bone. It will travel in toward the eye on its own. My favorite eye cream seems to work miracles on me every day.

Skincare Order Steps 4- 6

Step Four – Face Serums

This step is not necessary for basic maintenance, but if you use a serum, like to use a serum, or want to use a serum, this is when you would put it on.  A serum is a thin viscosity, quick-absorbing fluid, each with unique purposes and ingredients.  Some serums help to brighten your skin or reduce blemishes. Others focus on boosting hydration or fighting the signs of aging.  Serums go on cleansed skin that is slightly damp to allow for maximum absorption.

Step Five – Day Cream

We are finally at step five, the day creams or moisturizers of the skincare world.  This product is going to sit on the surface of the skin and protect it, not penetrate.  Day cream ingredients are big molecules, so they are supposed to sit on the surface to protect the skin from dehydration and evaporative water loss. Hopefully, holding in as much water as possible.  The goal of your day cream is to create a barrier between the skin and the environment. And between the skin and makeup. My favorite day cream is lightweight and very hydrating.

Step Six – Sunscreen

Sunscreen is the last product that you will put on your skin before makeup.  It is one of the most important steps.  DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!  There, I have shouted it to the world.  If there is one step that will prevent you from aging faster, it is sun protection.  I recommend you use sun protection every day no matter the weather. Aging rays are still there on a cloudy day, in the dead of winter.  Whether you use chemical or physical sun protection is really up to you, but you must use one formulated for the face.  Yes, there is that word again.  Different products are formulated differently for the face versus the body because the skin on the face is thinner than the skin on the rest of the body.

So there you have it; 6 steps explaining daytime skincare order.

If you have more questions, please feel free to reach out and ask any questions.