SKINCARE ROUTINE AM/PM

The best foundation you can wear is GLOWING HEALTHY SKIN

Though the first step to building an effective new skincare routine is choosing the right products for your skin type, the second step is figuring out the order in your new regimen. In addition to providing the best results, using the right item at the right time will help maximize the superpowers of each product in your routine. 

The order in which you apply your skincare products can make them work even harder. Make the most of your skincare routine by following our step-by-step guide to layering your products.

MORNING ROUTINE -

STEP 1 : CLEANSE

None of your skincare treatments would work if you didn’t have a clean canvas to start with.

Why is it necessary to wash your face in the morning ? Germs from your pillowcase can move to your face as you sleep. But even if you wash your pillowcases often, an A.M. cleanse is best practice.

Good skin care maintenance starts with the daily use of a gentle non-drying cleansing face wash. Splash your face with warm water, mix a small amount of cleanser with water in your hands to create a soft foam. Massage it into your skin with gentle circular movements, avoiding the area around your eyes.

STEP 2 : EXFOLIATE

Most experts recommend exfoliating once or twice weekly to tackle built-up dirt and oil, reduce dullness, and sweep away dead skin cells (which promotes healthy cell count).

Scrubs gently buff away dead skin, while chemical exfoliators and peels give pores a deep clean all on their own.

Focus your exfoliating energy on areas with blackheads or flakiness (especially nose and cheeks), since those are the areas where clogged pores tend to crop up.

STEP 3 : TONER

This often-skipped step boasts tons of skin-boosting benefits, it

• Cleanses skin

• Restores skin’s pH balance

• Reduces the appearance of pores

• Keeps out impurities like dirt and grime

• Hydrates skin

• Prevents ingrown hairs

• Reduces acne and blackheads

• Evens skin tone

• Diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

• Makes skin appear more vibrant and you

STEP 4 : TROPICAL ACNE MEDICATION

If you’re suffering from breakouts or have breakout prone skin, acne medications like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide should be applied now, directly onto clean, dry skin. This allows the medications to be absorbed into the skin and to work in the most effective manner possible. 

The exception to this rule is with retinoids, which can sometimes be applied after moisturizer is applied, in order to prevent the development of dryness and irritation on the skin. If you're looking for a booster that targets imperfections, enlarged pores, and pimples, reducing their appearance and ensuring a smooth, clean and even complexion try a concentrate that combines Tea tree and Mandelic Acid.

STEP 5 : MOISTURISER WITH SUNSCREEN

Moisturizing your skin with SPF is the most important step of your skincare routine.

Moisturizing not only hydrates your skin, but seals in all of the products in steps one through four above.

One should use sunscreen on a regular basis before going outside, even on cloudy or cool days. Moisturizing with a high sun protection factor rating protects your skin from harmful UV rays, and shields it from the stress and aggressions of city life, such as fine particles and heavy metals, that accelerate skin aging. The World Health Organization reports that up to 90% of visible changes attributed to aging may be caused by sun exposure. 

EVENING ROUTINE -

STEP 1: REMOVE MAKEUP

Many makeup brands are waterproof so basic cleansers will not remove them thoroughly. For this reason, you should put as much care into removing makeup as you do into putting it on. 

Sleeping in your makeup can result in unnecessary exposure to the free radicals in the environment, which the makeup holds on to. Free radicals cause the breakdown of healthy collagen, which results in fine lines on the skin. Additionally, makeup can clog the pores while you sleep, resulting in the development of acne.

Wipe off lipstick, gently lift away mascara, and de-smoke your smoky eye with a makeup remover or cleansing wipes —especially when removing long-wear makeup. STEP 2 : CLEANSE

Similarly, cleansing your face with your makeup remover alone is not good enough, experts warn. Although they remove makeup and dirt, they also leave behind a residue. Use them first to remove makeup if needed, then rinse away residue and residual oils and bacteria with a cream cleanser effective in removing make-up, SPF, dust and residues that deposit during the day. This leaves your skin fresh and perfectly prepped to absorb your nighttime skin care products.  STEP 3 : EXFOLIATE

If you wear makeup, exfoliating at night helps to lift any remaining makeup particles from the skin and ensure that your products are penetrating properly, he adds. Pour a teaspoon of your exfoliant in the palm of your wet hand, adding a little of warm water. Rub your hands together until obtaining a foamy cream. Apply your exfoliant to your face, avoiding contact with your eyes, massage and then rinse your face thoroughly.

STEP 4 : EYE CREAM

Because the skin around your eyes is thin and you use the surrounding muscles all day long (blinking, squinting, etc.), use your eye cream both morning and night. In the evening, apply your eye cream, about an hour before you go to bed. This gives the product time to absorb before you lie down on your bedding. Aside from addressing crow’s feet and dark circles, eye creams can also serve to protect your delicate eye area from your other skin care products. Generally, you’d want to apply your eye cream before your serum to protect your eye area against potent ingredients, which could potentially cause irritation.

STEP 5 : SERUM

Combat the effects of the day’s pollution and brighten up your complexion, by layering your treatments and skin care boosters next. Using an antioxidant rich serum with Vitamin C at night will help your skin regenerate as you sleep, countering fine lines and imperfections. Like the rest of the body, skin does the bulk of its repairing, restoring and regenerating as we sleep.

STEP 6 : MOISTURISE

During sleep, the skin’s trans­epidermal water loss is increased, meaning moisture is pulled out of the skin while we snooze. Using a moisturiser before bed protects your skin from dehydration. To maximize the effects of your moisturizer, dot it on and rub into your skin in gentle circular motions from the center outwards. This daily massage will reduce puffiness, boost circulation, energize your skin and release muscular tension in your face.

When it comes to skin care, following the rules makes all the difference. Make the most of your products by following this basic advice. I promise your skin will thank you!