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Proper Skin Care Routine and Order of Application

By Tiffany Moore

Which comes first, the serum or the moisturizer? Knowing the proper sequence of your skin care routine is extremely important because each step prepares your skin for what comes next. Following the correct skin care sequence will allow your beauty products work optimally. Your skin will be clean, hydrated and protected to make you look your best.

A good skin care routine consists of cleansing, exfoliation, toning and moisturizing.

1. Cleanse your face thoroughly to remove dirt and excess oil before applying skin care products.

Avoid foaming cleansers as they contain sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), a chemical that can irritate eyes, skin and mouth. Use a mild facial cleanser that is made with gentle ingredients and sulfate-free.

Also, make sure not to wash your face with hot water because excessive heat speeds up skin aging. The water should be comfortably warm but not hot.

2. If the uppermost layer of your skin (dry, dead cells) becomes too thick, the active ingredients in your skin care product cannot penetrate deeply enough to have an effect. Hence, you need to exfoliate, but not more than 4 times a week.

While some people use chemical exfoliants such as alpha hydroxy acids, enzymes or other chemicals, a gentle homemade facial scrub is a safe and inexpensive alternative.

3. Pat your face and neck gently with a cotton pad that has been soaked with your toner (known also as tonics, lotions, astringents). Apply it to the forehead, cheeks, chin and nose. Never rub your skin when applying toner.

The purpose of toner is to restore pH balance and remove any left over residues from your cleanser or exfoliate. This step prepares your skin for the next important step.

4. After applying toner, nourish your skin with the products selected for your particular needs – serums, eye creams, anti-aging moisturizers, sunscreens, etc.

If you're using an antioxidant serum, it should be applied next. Antioxidant serums protect your skin from free radicals and sun damage.

5. Eye creams should be applied before a moisturizer. A good eye cream should contain antioxidants, SPF and has moisturizing qualities. It should be lightweight and easy to glide on the delicate skin around your eye area.

Use the tip of your ring finger, gently dab eye cream under each eye and around the outer corners.

6. Moisturize your skin with a moisturizer. Moisturizers protect your skin from the environmental pollutants and help keep the skin well hydrated.

They also make a good makeup base and help your foundation stay put longer. A good daytime moisturizer should contain sun protection ingredient and have SPF at least 15.

Use short, firm strokes to apply moisturizer (it is best to use the middle finger). Do not stretch or rub your skin. After applying, gently tap the area with your fingers for 30 seconds.

If your moisturizer contains a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher and you are indoors most the day, you can omit additional sunscreen products.

If you've redness on your complexion, look for skin care products that contain green tea extract. It is rich in antioxidants and niacinaminde to constrict blood vessels and reduce redness.

Use your redness reducer product/moisturizer followed by a sunscreen.

That being said, keep in mind this is not a magic order of application for everyone. Each person's skin will respond differently. As a general rule of thumb, apply skin care products one at a time and allow a few seconds to penetrate before applying on the next product.

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