The correct order for your face care routine
Photos Louis Canadas
Words Matthieu Morge-Zucconi
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Do it everyday, do it well.
Summary
You’ve just woken up, and you’re about to get ready for work. You open your bathroom cabinet and you’re faced with shelves full of your favorite products. But what’s the correct order to use them in? Wonder no more, we’ve made it easy for you. Trust us, your complexion will thank you later.
Step 1: face cleanser
It’s the foundation of any good routine and the best place to start. Your skin has to be clean before moving on to the next steps. If not, you will just trap impurities between your skin and your products, and you don’t want that.
Step 2: tonic lotion
If you use it, you should always apply it to a clean face, directly after step 1. The lotion will prepare your skin for the next products.
Step 3: serums
Serums are like nutritional shots. Whether you’re a hyaluronic acid aficionado (keeps the skin hydrated), fond of vitamin C (protects against free radicals), a niacinamide enthusiast (helps eliminate redness), or a fan of bio-retinol (helps reduce wrinkles and dark spots), use them after your tonic lotion so they absorb deeply into your skin before moving on to the rest.
Step 4: under-eye moisturizer
Use an under-eye moisturizer with a massaging and refreshing applicator to counteract tired eyes. It’s usually lighter than your face moisturizer and as a rule of thumb, go from lightest to thickest with your face products. Gently tap around your eyes to help the good stuff absorb properly.
Step 5: face moisturizer
The moisturizer plays a dual role: obviously, it moisturizes your skin. However, it also helps ‘capture" the products you’ve already applied in your skin, forming a kind of protective layer. This also means these products can keep working throughout the day. The protective layer is also key to making sure your skin does not break out or become sensitive.
Step 6: oils
Oils also cover your skin to capture all previously applied products in the skin, thereby increasing your routine’s effectiveness. Choose which oils to use based on your needs: some oils are recommended for dry skin types, while others are more suitable for oily or combination skins.
Step 7: sunscreen
Sunscreen is to be worn all year round, not just in summer. It protects your skin from UV rays which cause premature aging and sunburns. Sunscreen is your skin’s final line of defense.
Extra steps: shaving and washing your beard
If you want to add a shave to your routine, slide it in after step 1. Use your cleanser, shave, and follow up with either your tonic lotion or your moisturizer to soothe the skin.
If you have a beard, simply wash it under the shower (with a specific shampoo, of course), after your face. Then, start your routine from step one, as described above. Finish with beard oil to nourish and add a scent.
You’re good to go and as fresh as it gets!
