How to Apply Your Skincare Products

Often, there is no one best way to apply your skincare products, but using them consistently is key to achieving your skincare goals! However, when applying your skincare it is essential to think about the amount of product, the order of application, and the action of applying the product. 

When doing all three of these things properly, you will achieve maximum product absorption and in return see better results!

Application Basics

When we don’t apply our skincare properly this can cause issues such as pulling, pilling product, a sticky residue, heaviness, not feeling like you have enough hydration or moisturization, and so forth.
 
 
When applying skincare, there are two main motions: patting or pressing and massaging. Using these two motions properly will allow you to get the most out of your product. 

How much ‘slip’ a product has will help you determine which motion to use. Can it glide across the face to work into the skin, or does it needs to be pushed or patted on? The temperature of a product will impact the slip as well. Colder products are thicker in texture whereas warmer products are thinner.
 
Lastly, where you START the application is where the most product will be applied. Starting with a large amount of product on a small area and trying to work it around the face from there may not be the best idea.

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Skincare Application Techniques 


Cleanser
Dampen your face with warm water & lather one pump of our Vitamin C Cleanser in your hands. Massage in circular motions around the face for 60 seconds. Rinse with warm water & pat dry.

The length of time matters when it comes to cleansing because you want to ensure that you are removing your other products and cleaning your skin effectively. 

Scrub
When we use a scrub it comes after cleansing & before toning and balancing. Application here is so important when we exfoliate because we want to keep the skin safe.

You can gently massage our Microdermabrasion Exfoliator scrub onto damp skin. If you want to you can let it sit for a few minutes to let the exfoliating acids work deeper. Rinse and pat dry. 

It’s really important with scrubs that we don’t press too hard. Using too much pressure when apply a scrub can cause damage to the skin by creating irritation or creating micro-tears. 


Face Masks
Masking application varies depending on the product. You should consider is the type of mask, the texture, and if it is rinsed off, massaged in to absorb, or wiped away. This helps you know if you do this before or after toning and what your best application technique will be.
 
Enzyme Mask
After cleansing and/or exfoliating, swipe on a thin layer of our Restorative Enzyme Mask (either massaging it on with your hands or with your Mask Brush) & let the mask sit for ~15 minutes. Rinse off with a damp cloth.
 

Sheet Masks
Lay the mask down and then smooth them on to the skin.  Upon removal you can choose to massage or press in the excess product, depending on the slip you feel, or you can rinse or tone off the excess. 
 
You can use a facial roller over the mask to help the product really absorb into the skin. Place this roller in your refrigerator overnight before use for a cooling effect & to help reduce puffiness. 
 


Toner
Toning is meant to restore the proper pH to the skin and help prepare it for the next steps of treatments, like serums moisturizers.
 
To get more clarifying you can use a cotton round. For a hydrating essence and leave more product on the skin, use your hands to press it in or lightly massage. Allow the toner to fully dry before moving on to your serums. Learn more about our Hydrating Toner here!
 


Serums
Daytime
Vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid Serums are generally applied on slightly damp skin. They are packed with hydrating humectants that want to grab on to water.

Put 4-5 drops of product into your hands and press in using your whole hands. Applying down onto the neck is ideal. Allow product to absorb into the skin for 30 to 60 seconds. 

Important note: 4-5 drops should be enough for your face, neck and décolleté. If this feels like too much you can always use less.  
 
 
Nighttime
Products containing Retinol should be applied to dry skin in pea-sized amounts.

Dab it around the face and then give it a gentle glide with your fingertips. If you use a retinol sandwich, there will be more glide because you are applying it on top of a moisturizer. Because retinol can be irritating it is best not to overstimulate the skin on application. Avoid the nostrils, mouth, and eye areas. Click here to learn more about the Retinol Sandwich Method.
 
 

Boosters
After serums, let’s get boosting! Each type of booster will need to be applied different based on the type of product.

10% Niacinamide Booster has more slip and works best when pressed in and following with a long glide around the face, neck, & décolleté. 

Eye Care is a delicate application, so it is best to dab on the product so you don't tug or pull at your skin. If using our Eye Gel you can massage it in using light, circular motions while working outward with your middle or ring finger. You can use your roller here too to work on puffiness and dark circles.
 
Moisturizer
Generally moisturizers are going to have good slip and you can massage them in gently. Use a long gliding motion for the best results. 
 
It is important not to overdo the massage and agitate your products. Too much pressure can create pilling when we don’t let your layers absorb, we use too much of each layer, or we agitate the layers with too deep of a massage on the skin.
 
 
The Actives Glyco-Peptide Anti Wrinkle Moisturizer or the Retinol Moisturizer are ideal for an evening routine after using retinol. The Vitamin C Moisturizer or the Actives Glyco-Peptide Anti Wrinkle Moisturizer are ideal options for exfoliation routines.

Neck Cream
If you want to target crepey neck skin and décolleté, our Tighten & Lift Neck Cream is a great option. When applying neck cream, use a  circular pulsing motion up the center of your neck and down the sides then from the center to your collarbones.


Oils
If you are new to oils, just a drop or two will do! Pressing in oils is my ideal method because pure oils can help push our products deeper, but we don’t want it to pull our moisturizer.
Focus on areas you want more glow, press it in all over or dab it round the eyes. You can even massage it into the lips for more smooth, subtle skin. 

Shop All Facial Oils Here
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11 comments

Please add a product with SPF30+ – to a day moisturizer.

Carol

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