How to Get the Most Out of Your Skincare Routine
Lets face it (pun intended) - we spend a fortune on various skincare products, along with the thought and research that goes into choosing which products we want to incorporate into our everyday skincare routine.
It can be a little confusing knowing the correct order to apply these products. You might find yourself asking “Will this face serum still work properly if I apply it after my moisturizer?” But don’t worry because we are here to break down the layering technique that maximizes the results of your skincare products!
It is worth mentioning the rule of thumb when it comes to applying facial products is to apply products from thinnest to thickest consistency.
Another way to think of this is to start with the products which contain important ingredients meant to penetrate and nourish your skin (ex. serum), and finishing off with the products that are meant to sit on top of your skin as a barrier, such as moisturizers.
Cleansing and Exfoliating
As you probably already know, the first step in your skin care regimen is to cleanse the skin in order to remove any dirt, makeup, and oil that builds up during the day.
We recommend checking out this cream cleanser that provides a deep cleanse and leaves your skin feeling ultra soft!
Using an exfoliator 1-2 times a week is recommended in order to remove any dead skin cells that can give your skin a rough or uneven texture. Another reason why this step is important is because removing the extra dead skin cells facilitates penetration of specialized ingredients in serums and moisturizers.
There are various ways to exfoliate. We’re going to dive deep into all the ways you can exfoliate in a future blog post - so stay tuned!
In the meantime, one of our favorite exfoliating products Beauty Nook offers is our ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Cleanser, gentle enough for everyday use and doubles as your cleanser + exfoliation step!
Toner
This step is what I consider the neutralizer. Oftentimes you hear that toner is meant to balance the pH of your skin because typically when we use cleaners, the ingredients can make the pH too acidic which can lead to skin becoming dry and irritated. A toner works by bringing the pH level back down to where it is ideal, all while providing further pore purification!
If you haven’t incorporated a toner into your skincare routine yet, we recommend checking out the ZO Skin Health Calming Toner - this is a great mild toner that works well for sensitive skin while providing the benefits of deep cleaning and balancing the pH of your skin!
Serum
Finally we are getting into the treatment stage of our routine! Now that our skin has been prepped and cleansed, we’re able to maximize the absorption of specialized ingredients that are packed into your serum.
As mentioned at the beginning, now that we are starting to apply our products we want to make sure we start from the thinnest and finish with the thickest product. This is good practice If you are using multiple different serum treatments.
Check out one of our best selling serums ZO Daily Power Defence, a powerful antioxidant serum designed to improve the appearance of lines + wrinkles and promote overall skin health.
Moisturizer & Eye Cream
The main purpose of a moisturizer is to help prevent loss of moisture in our skin. This reinforces the reason why moisturizer is our last step - it acts as a protective barrier by sitting on top of our skin.
When applying eye cream, make sure to dab a small amount around your eye with your ring finger to avoid tugging at the delicate skin around your eyes.
Need a new moisturizer? Check out the Neogenesis Intensive Moisturizer - just the right balance of creamy and hydrating without leaving any sort of greasy residue.
Now that you have an understanding of how the different steps in your skincare routine work together, you can rest assured knowing that you are getting the most of your investment in skincare products!