So long the days of just cleansing and moisturizing! Nowadays we all have a 5, 7, or 10-step skincare routine, and those steps vary from day-to-night. At Pretty Please in New York City, our Skin Experts know the importance of layering products properly to ensure your skin gets the maximum benefits. From serums, moisturizers, toners, and facial oils, we can see how this can be a bit confusing. Our founder, Jennifer Rasa, always stresses the importance of applying in the order of the thinnest to thickest. So let us give you the inside scoop on how to apply, layer, and glow like you just walked out of a day-spa.
Why Layering Matters
Applying your skincare products from the lightest to the richest in texture will allow your skin to drink in each nutrient from every product you apply. The skin’s natural response is to act as a barrier, by only allowing a small percentage of ingredients through. Of course, when it comes to skincare, we want every single fine-line fighting, dull skin rejuvenating, skin-plumping ingredient there is. So using products in the correct order allows this penetration to occur, one step at a time. It’s also best to allow each product to rest on the skin for 30 seconds to 1 minute before moving on to the next step. Allow your skincare routine to be a moment of pampering and not a chore. This is the perfect time to massage the product into your skin, so you can get the most out of each product as well as feel the difference in your skin from week-to-week.
Aside from the consistency rule, consider the function of each product. Certain skincare products prep the skin making it easier for your skin to absorb the next product. With this system, your skin will have a glowing appearance and not a greasy one.
How To Layer Your Skin Care Products In The Right Order
Here’s our recommended order to get glowing, radiant skin.
1. Toner
For some reason, those with dry skin don’t believe they need to tone or they don’t understand the importance of toning. Toning your skin can work multiple ways depending on your skin type. For those with oily skin, a Toner is used to remove excess oils and for those with dry skin, a hydrating toner can be used as a way to hydrate and prep your skin for the next step. You always want to apply products to damp skin for better absorption.
2. Essence
This step is perfect for those with a dry skin type. Applying an essence will replenish the skin with hydration as it’s a light-weight formula that boosts the skin’s ability to retain moisture. With an essence, you enhance ingredient absorption, so make this a must-have when you want to get the most benefit out of your routine or during drier seasons. Our Founder Jennifer says, the best practice is to apply an essence after you cleanse/ tone and before your serum. After toning, apply a few drops of essence into the palms of your hands, warm up the product in your hands, and gently press into your skin.
3. Serum, Concentrates, Facial Oils
After prepping your skin with your toner and essence, applying a serum rich in antioxidants is necessary. Depending on your skin type and skin needs, your serum can range anti-aging, hydrating, collagen boosting, etc. Find your perfect serum for your skin needs and gently to your entire skin. After applying your serum, allow for your skin to absorb the product for about 1 minute. from so it makes sense that you want them to be absorbed fully. Also, if you need to target or address specific skin concerns, applying a concentrate or serum at this point of the routine is recommended for the best results.
3a. Spot Treatment
This step is optional for those who struggle with dark spots or blemishes. If you have a stop treatment in your regimen, now is the time to apply it.
4. Moisturizer
Yes, even if your skin is oily, a hydrating moisturizer is essential to lock in moisture and protect it against the free radicals it experiences throughout the day. A lot of moisturizers also contain SPF and protecting your skin from harmful UV-rays is necessary.
For the best results, you can apply your favorite moisturizer after serums or while the skin is still damp. Remember, applying to damp skin allows for better absorption and also helps lock in moisture and all those nutrient-rich ingredients you just applied to the skin.
5. Eye Cream
Sadly this delicate area is often left behind in a skincare routine – but it’s the area of your face where signs of aging show up first! Treating this area is so important, that it has its own product created just to moisturize and nourish your under eyes. Brighten and tighten your eyes by applying a few drops of cream using your ring finger. Apply a hydrating eye cream over your moisturizer and pat it gently into the area around the eye socket, targeting fine lines or crow’s feet, as well as the undereye area.
6. SPF (Daytime)
Just in case your moisturizer doesn’t offer any sunscreen protection, we suggest applying an SPF to ensure your skin is protected from any skin damage. This step is needed for your daytime routine and should be the last step before you step out for the day.
7. Night Cream (Evening)
If you’re not ending your day with an overnight face mask... a rich and hydrating cream is the perfect last step for a nighttime skincare routine. A night cream is specially formulated to be thicker and heavier than an everyday moisturizer.
We’re sure you’re wondering what’s the difference between a moisturizer and night cream?
The richness in a night cream works to seal in all the previous steps as well as protecting the skin during sleeping hours to prevent moisture loss. Your skin works its hardest at night while we sleep, rejuvenating and repairing cells, which is why using a night cream packed with botanical oils and extracts is highly recommended.
We know this list sounds like a lot, but it makes all the difference when taking care of your skin. From hydrating, treating, moisturizing, and fighting signs of aging. Again, you should use this time to luxuriate and pamper your skin, because when you’re good to it, it will be great to you. After applying your entire skincare routine, we would recommend waiting 10 minutes before applying make-up, and 20 minutes before going to bed. It’s important that your skin has a chance to drink in all the benefits of the products you applied.
Whenever you’re ready to pamper your skin with us, booking a facial with one of our Skin Experts at Pretty Please is only a couple of clicks away!