In What Order Do I Apply My Skincare Products?

When it comes to creating a beauty regimen, it’s not always clear when to use each product – and in what order. But, it actually does matter if you want your skin to soak in the full benefits of each product.

So, where to start? An easy rule of thumb is to apply your products from the thinnest (or lightest) consistency to the thickest (or heaviest). Or, think of it this way: liquid to cream. This is because your serums are going to be backed with antioxidants – we know ours are – that you’ll want to penetrate the skin. And, then, your creams and moisturizers will have emollients that need to sit on top of the skin before soaking in.

This regimen is all about waking up and prepping skin – and protecting it from the sun, pollution, and other harmful aggressors.

No. 1 – Cleanser
In the morning, start by splashing your face with cold water. And, use a gentle milky cleanser if you used a heavy night cream or sleep mask the night before.

No. 2 – Toner or Essence
Hillary likes to use a botanical or antioxidant essence if her skin is feeling dehydrated – or she just wants a little extra moment of pampering.

No. 3 – Antioxidant Serum
Serums are nutrient-dense and loaded with goodness that addresses specific skin concerns, so it’s best to keep them as close to the skin as possible. To really maximize absorption, you can use a roller to work the serum deeply into the skin and set lymphatic cleansing in motion. (Don’t forget your neck and decolletage).

Try: Beauty H-A-C Face/Neck

No. 4 – Eye Serum or Cream
Use an eye cream or serum consistently once or twice a day to maintain the health and thickness of your thin eyelid skin. This will help maintain a smoother more taut appearance. Hillary recommends covering the ENTIRE eye area, all 360 degrees, including the lids. If you want a quick pick-me-up, opt for a serum or cream with caffeine in it, like our Beauty H-A-C Eye. Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, which means that it causes blood vessels to contract, minimizing veins and dark circles. Coffee is also a diuretic that pulls out the puffiness from excess fluids.

Try: Beauty H-A-C Eye

No. 7 – Moisturizer
Everyone needs a moisturizer. Even if your skin is on the oily side. Most experts recommend applying moisturizer while your skin is still damp, so you can lock in that hydration.

No. 6 – SPF
Never leave home without a physical SPF (rather than a chemical SPF). A physical SPF is like putting on a coat of armor, which gives you total sun blockage right away. Containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, physical sunscreen sits on the surface of skin, deflecting sunlight so it doesn’t even have the chance to penetrate the surface.

Your skin naturally repairs itself at night, so this routine is all about nourishing and pampering.

No. 1 – Cleanse
To remove makeup and sunscreen, you can use an oil that emulsifies with water or an oil-based cleanser. If you want a gentle exfoliation, Hillary loves using surgical gauze pads to provide the tiniest amount of friction. (Plus, they’re affordable and planet friendly.)

No. 2 – Toners, Essences, Boosters
If you’re using a toner, you can continue just the way you would in the morning. We don’t recommend cocktailing too many beauty products here. Keep it simple and let your skin absorb the most-needed ingredients from your serum. Too many steps can increase the risk of irritation and decrease the likelihood of results.

No. 3 – Serum & Roller
Like the rest of the body, the skin does the majority of its repairing and restoring during the night. So, don’t be afraid to really slather on the serum of your choosing. We love our Beauty H-A-C Face/Neck because it's packed with Holistic and Clinical ingredients that nourish and repair skin. At night, we apply it all over the face and neck and take our time with the roller. It’s great to activate lymphatic cleansing before bed because there’s plenty of time to eliminate toxins while you sleep.

Try: Beauty H-A-C Face/Neck

No. 4 – Eyes
Use a hydrating eye cream – like Beauty H-A-C Eye – and make sure to follow it up by sweeping a smaller roller from the inner to outer eye to release toxins. This is especially important if you’re a side sleeper. By applying a serum and rolling, you can help reduce the appearance of fine lines.

Try: Beauty H-A-C Eye

No. 5 – Moisturizer or Sleep Mask
Go all in for an extra dose of delicious hydration. Your skin has all night to really let these nourishing ingredients absorb and sink in.

See? We don’t have a 20-step beauty routine. We believe in keeping it simple and allowing your skin to actually absorb the ingredients without getting overwhelmed and irritated. Listen to your skin and find what works for you. And, when you do, share it with us @beautyhac.