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Welcome to our series articles on your skincare routine order. Whether you’re new to the game, or just looking for some new tips; and in order that you might be able to start a more effective and efficient routine, this article will hopefully provide the necessary information.
Taking care of your skin isn’t rocket science; it is actually much more simple than most people think. The main key to good skin care is a proper routine and consistency, so we will be looking at both of these things in this article series.
This essentially means that you will learn how to clean, tone, moisturise, nutritiously feed and exfoliate your skin properly as well as having access to important tips on the order to use your products in, and when you can use them.
Again, I cannot stress enough that this is intended to be a guide; every face is different and you should always seek the advice of a dermatologist if you have any concerns whatsoever.
Whether you already have some prior knowledge on skin care in general, or if you’re a beginner, this article will hopefully provide you with the information you need to keep your skin looking healthy and fantastic.
Understand the Basics
Your skin needs regular attention and maintenance in order to remain healthy and looking vibrant. It is an organ, like the rest of your body, and requires regular TLC in order to stay fresh and youthful. If you didn’t know, your skin is actually a living tissue. It absorbs everything that you put on it, and doesn’t filter out anything. This means that if you put something toxic on your skin, it will absorb it.
A good daily regime should be an UNCOMPLICATED one. It should be easy to follow and not require much of your time, product-wise. It should take you upwards of 3-4 minutes to complete, and it shouldn’t contain many ingredients or steps.
The Main Thing to Remember
The main thing you need to remember is to be consistent with your routine. Use the products in the right order and you’ll be giving your skin everything it needs to look full of vitality, health and youth.
So, let’s get started!
TO DO DAILY, MORNING & NIGHT:
Step 1: CLEANSE
Cleansing is the first thing you do in your skincare routine. It is important to understand what exactly is involved in cleaning your face (it is a step that you’ll be doing every single day, without fail). Cleansing removes dirt, excess oil and make-up residue – it prepares your skin for all further products to follow. So, if you want to enjoy clear, smooth and radiant skin, cleansing is a must!
It is advised that you use a cream cleanser or an oil-based product or a wash off cleanser to remove grime and make-up. Your skin should feel clean but not dry after cleansing.
How to Apply
Follow the instructions of your cleanser carefully. Follow the directions on the packaging or ask for advice from a professional.
For face cleansers, you will most commonly apply by massaging in a circular motion using your fingertips (cream or wash-off and rinsing with warm water) or cotton wool (usually for oil cleansers no rinsing is needed).
Tips on Cleansing
- To be done morning and night
- Do not use harsh products
- Use only certified organic skincare with a SIMPLE ingredients list according to your skin type
- Or, use simple, natural, ingredients: seriously, an oil can be your best cleanser friend!
- You can use microfibre cloth or muslin to remove your make-up or traces of the oil you used as a cleanser. I love these cloths.
- Always remember to pat the skin rather than rubbing or scrubbing it, in order to prevent any unnecessary trauma or damage to the skin. This is the prime area for anti-aging products, so the last thing we want to do is make it look older.
Step 2: TONE
Toning is absolutely essential for your skin care routine. Not only it rebalances your skin after cleansing but it is also helpful in removing any leftover dirt and grime. Toning refines your pores, refreshes your skin and prepares it for the following step: moisturising.
How to Apply
Always follow the directions on the products’ packaging or ask for advice from a professional.
Toners are super easy to apply. It can be applied in the same manner as cleansing – either by using cotton wool or a cotton pad (sweep over the skin, especially over open pores) or a spray bottle (close your eyes and mist a few sprays onto the skin – if you need more apply some of the toner with cotton wool or cotton pad).
Tips on Toning
- To be done morning and night (not really optional, it’s a necessary step)
- Use a toner according to your skin type
- Organic ingredients again? Yup. It’s good for you, it’s good for your skin, it’s good for the planet. Try to use fresh ingredients if possible like herbal teas (ie, once a month)
- Can be in spray form (herbal tea, floral water, etc), a gel (Aloe ver agel) or a more complex formula like a cream
Step 3: OPTIONAL – APPLY SERUM
Serums are highly focused, high-end, high-performance light oil-based, gel-based, emulsion-based, bi-phase or pressed products that address a range of skin concerns including anti-aging, soothing, protective, hydrating, toning, forming, brightening, repairing, antioxidant, etc. They have become increasingly popular as they are seen as an essential addition to a daily skincare routine although I like to think of them as optional additions.
I personally used to apply serum for some time but lately I don’t really feel I need to anymore. Lemme tell you why…
I personally feel that I don’t really need to apply serum every morning or evening after cleansing (although you can if you wish) because my skin feels plump and glowing with a healthy luminosity to it. This is because my DIY skincare is very effective and the ingredients I use are beautiful botanicals, oils and extracts that are already providing the benefits of vitamins and nutrients for my skin. I think it is a good thing to not add another layer of product on top of an already healthy one.. I like to keep it simple.
There are many different serums on the market, each with their own unique properties. I personally find that they’re a bit of an unnecessary step in my skin care routine. However, if you are experiencing problems with your skin and want to add some serum into the mix, you should use it as a last step before applying moisturiser.
How to Apply (Optional)
Apply according to the instructions on the product or ask for advice from a professional.
Think of a serum as a type of skin treatment. Apply just before your moisturiser or make-up. You can pat the product gently on your skin, it should be absorbed very quickly.
Tips on Applying Serum
- Depending on the serum, apply morning / night.
- Choose one based on your skin type and skin concern
- They penetrate into the skin deeply than a moisturiser and should absorb really quickly
- If your skin feels and looks healthy, you can be flexible in using this step
Step 4: OPTIONAL – APPLY EYE CREAM
Eye creams are more focused than regular moisturisers and usually contain anti-aging ingredients such as peptides, retinol and of course, should be paraben free. The skin around the eyes is very thin and susceptible to dryness so it requires extra TLC.
How to Apply
Always follow the directions on the product’s packaging or ask for advice from a professional.
Apply the product under your eyes and pat lightly until fully absorbed. This should be applied in the morning after you cleanse.
Tips on Applying Eye Cream
- Apply morning and evening, read instructions on the package
- Choose a product based on your eye needs (dark circles, puffy eyes, fine lines and wrinkles, etc)
- If you have sensitive skin, check the ingredients and avoid fragrances
- Eye creams are not as thick as a regular moisturiser and usually have a lighter consistency
- It should be applied under your eyes and pat very, very gently as this is very thin skin
Step 5: APPLY MOISTURISER
Moisturisers are designed to restore essential hydration to your skin while effectively locking in the moisture. It is also used as a light sunscreen and as a make-up base. They are usually light oil-based, gel-based or emulsion-based products. As your skin matures your moisturiser will be richer in texture and contain more anti-aging ingredients. After applying your skin should feel soft and not tacky or oily.
How to Apply
As always, follow the directions on the product’s packaging or ask for advice from a professional.
In the morning you should use a lighter moisturiser with SPF . This should be applied after serum and before make-up. In the evening you should use a richer moisturiser, SPF is not needed.
Tips on Moisturising
- Use your moisturiser in the morning and evening
- Applying serum first is optional. But if you’re using one, apply it before your moisturiser
- The skin needs moisture to retain its elasticity, suppleness and appearance
- It should not feel sticky or oily, you don’t need to apply a large amount
- Choose a moisturiser according to your skin type
- It’s ok to use a facial oil as your moisturiser instead
TO DO ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK:
Step 6: APPLY MOISTURISING FACE MASK
To do before serums and moisturisers.
Face masks are a great way to can help your skin get healthy and glowy. They can be a bit daunting to incorporate them into your routine at the start (I still get lazy!) but that does not mean you shouldn’t try them! They’re fun and inexpensive and can get great results. It is important to feed the skin with nutritious ingredients, vitamins and moisturising agents. This will help the skin to stay healthy, protecting it from the damage of the sun and pollution.
Here’s how to use face masks:
Incorporated a face mask into your routine once or twice a week as a way to give yourself an extra boost of moisture and nutrition. I’ve JUST had a honey face mask on for 10-15 minutes for a deeply nourishing treatment (honey from my own beehives) and my skin felt GLORIOUS after rinsing off with warm water. I then moisturised appropriately.
What Do Masks Do?
- Deep cleanse, rejuvenate, balance and nourish your skin deeply
- Leaves your skin radiant and bright
- Easy to make at home with clays, fruit, powders and other skin-loving ingredients
- Refine the skin
- Depending on the mask, you can treat oily skin, mature skin, combination skin and so on
- Your skin will feel clean, radiant and ready for serums and moisturisers
Step 7: EXFOLIATE (FACIAL SCRUB)
This step is done after toning.
A facial scrub is designed to remove dead skin cells which will stimulate the production of new cells. It should not be used more than twice a week as it might irritate your skin. I use my homemade scrub every other week or so. You can buy scrubs from the store but I find them full of plastic microbeads which are bad for our environment and bad for the ocean. Just learn to make your own, it’s dead easy. For example, 1 tablespoon organic oats and 2 teaspoons of organic honey mixed together make a fabulous, gentle scrub suitable even for sensitive skin. It’s very easy to adjust the recipe for your needs, I have an oats, almond, rice flour and honey DIY scrub in my bathroom.
How to Apply
Tone your skin first. Wet your face with warm water if needed for the scrub to be easier to spread. Using your fingertips make small, circular movements on the skin and try to avoid the delicate eye area. Massage for about one minute for best results, then rinse off with warm water.
What Does Exfoliation Do?
- It helps to renew and nourish the skin by removing dead skin cells with your fingertips
- Helps to prevent blemishes and breakouts
- It improves skin tone and texture
- Reduces fine lines
- Help fade discolourations (freckles)
- Deeply cleans the pores
Recap
The above is a WONDERFUL, simple and effective skincare routine order for me. I hope you found it helpful too and that you’re inspired to make some changes in your routine or are just excited to start on yours!
Let’s do a quick recap on the steps required:
Daily:
- Cleanse with a gentle facial cleanser
- Tone your skin
- Apply serum (optional)
- Apply moisturiser in the morning and evening or apply facial oil instead if you prefer
- Optional: apply eye cream
Once or Twice a Week:
- Optional: apply face mask
- Optional: exfoliant (facial scrub)
TIPS FOR YOU:
Use Only Natural Products & Ingredients
The order in which you apply your products is important, but it is CRUCIAL that you use the right ingredients and products. What does this mean? Well, it should mean that you are using ingredients which are the highest quality and natural; in order to build a strong yet effective skincare routine.
These ingredients and products include things like clean water, oils, extracts, herbs, fruits and even things like clay. I’ve spent years learning to formulate organic skincare the professional way and I’ve come to the conclusion that a complex, expensive and tricky formulation is not necessary to get the most out of your products. Simplicity is where the beauty is.
Is it Better to Use Simple Ingredients, Make My Own DIY Skincare or Buy Organic, Natural Already-Made Products?
Let’s look at each option:
Organic, natural products – Simple, basic ingredients like coconut oil, lemon juice, Aloe Vera gel, honey, oatmeal, yogurt, etc can can be used in your skincare routine to help create a basic but effective routine. These simple ingredients are perfect for those who are new to the skincare gam (maybe you don’t like buying ready-made skincare but also don’t have the time to make your own). I really love using simple ingredients because they are very convenient, easy to use and can be very nourishing for your skin.
Homemade DIY skincare products – If you are a DIY skincare lover and like to make your own natural products, then you can get creative by coming up with your own natural mix of ingredients that work for you. Using simple ingredients to make your own homemade skincare products will help you save money on products that are expensive and may contain ingredients which are not the best for your skin. If you know your skin, which is best for you and which ingredients suit your needs and budget, then making your own skincare will be a great idea.
Store-bought organic, natural already-made skincare – For people who want to buy organic, natural skincare products, then you need to make sure that the ingredients are all-natural and naturally derived. Also, the products should be suitable for your skin type. One word of advice: make sure that you ALWAYS check for the labels and that you understand what ingredients are in the skincare products that you buy.
And that’s it. I hope you’re feeling inspired to start your own skincare routine today!
I would love to hear from you, what changes if any have you made to your skincare routine? And do you have a favourite product or ingredient?
If you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to get in touch with me, I’d love to hear from you.
Love,
Patri ❤️💕