Is it toner-serum-eye cream, or serum-toner-eye cream? And when does moisturiser come into the picture? What about night cream or sunscreen? Knowing when to use each of your products can be confusing, and if they’re not used in the right order, your skincare regimen can actually become counter-productive––in other words a total waste of your time!
On top of that, your skin has different needs in the morning and before you sleep. That’s why it’s important to maintain different AM and PM routines. Below, we’ve put together a quick and easy guide to maintaining an optimal skincare routine both in the morning and at night.
Your AM Routine:
Step 1: Cleanse
Wash your face with a cleanser as soon as you wake up. Since your skin naturally regenerates itself while you sleep, you release a ton of impurities and toxins, which accumulate on the surface of your skin along with dirt and oil from your hair and pillowcase. It’s always best to cleanse your face thoroughly before you put any other products on your skin. A good cleanser will get rid of these impurities without taking away your skin’s natural moisture
Step 2: Toner
Apply some toner on a cotton pad (your fingertips work too), and gently pat it into your skin. Toners are a crucial step in any skincare regimen as they help cleanse any leftover traces of dirt that your cleanser didn’t get. On top of that, it helps to tighten your pores, restore your skin’s natural pH levels (this can go out of whack quite easily and it’s important to keep it balanced), as well as prevent moisture loss and early signs of ageing.
Step 3: Serum
Serums are an essential part of your skincare routine and definitely shouldn’t be skipped. Here’s why: serums are concentrated formulations that target specific skin issues like wrinkles, acne, fine lines and pigmentation with active ingredients. They can penetrate and absorb into deeper layers of your skin to combat these concerns head-on. Simply pat it into your skin gently, and let it sit for 5 minutes before applying anything else so it can fully absorb
Step 4: Eye Serums
Incorporate eye serums into your skincare routine from an early age to prevent wrinkles and dark eye circles. An eye serum will also help reduce eye puffiness and rejuvenate the very delicate layer of skin around your eyes.
Step 5: Moisturiser
Hydrated skin is a pre-requisite for healthy skin – a moisturiser helps with just that. Moisturisers are usually lightweight enough that you can wear it throughout the day and it works to increase the moisture levels in the outer layer of your skin. On top of that, it locks in all the benefits of the products you use prior, by forming a protective barrier. This also shields your skin from harmful external elements that could cause dryness or irritation as you go about your day!
Your PM Routine:
Step 1: Cleanse
Follow the same as your day routine.
Step 2: Toner
Follow the same as your day routine.
Step 3: Exfoliate
Here’s where your night routine will start to vary a little. Use an exfoliant just once or twice a week, but keep it regular! Your skin constantly sheds dead cells––exfoliation is the process of buffing away these dead skin cells and unclogging your pores. This step will help you combat acne, blackheads and dull skin, as well as smooth and refine your skin texture.
Over-exfoliating can damage your skin, though, so knowing exactly how to exfoliate your face properly is important. Additionally, only exfoliate at night because your skin will be vulnerable and sensitive post-exfoliation, and always remember to wear SPF the next day! Incorporating this step into your skincare weekly will leave you with healthier, glowing skin.
Step 4: Serum
Follow the same as your day routine.
Step 4: Eye Serum
Follow the same as your day routine.
Step 5: Night Cream
Finally, don’t forget to keep your skin nourished and ultra-hydrated with this super important step. A night cream is similar to a moisturiser but it’s usually richer and thicker which makes it perfect for drier skin types or to apply when you sleep.
When you’re sleeping, your skin is in recovery mode, working to regenerate itself and repair the damage caused throughout the day. A night cream aids this process by detoxifying your skin, repairing cell damage, and targeting signs of ageing, so you always wake up to healthy, replenished skin. A night cream also has amazing anti-ageing active ingredients that are not used in a day cream as they cause sun sensitivity. It’s your perfect beauty sleep partner!
If you’re stuck on finding the right ingredients and products for your skin, consider delegating to us. We’ll take into account your skin type, lifestyle and environment to personalise a regimen for all your needs. All you have to do is tell us a bit about your skin!
