| If you are serious about your skin care and follow a regular skin care program, then you would be using a variety of skin care products. A good skin care regimen makes use of cleansers, toners, moisturizers, exfoliants and other specialized skin care products like sunscreens, primers, prescription products and so on. However, do you know the correct order of application of these products?
The order in which you apply your skin care products does a great deal in determining their performance and efficiency. Hence it is important you apply them in the correct sequence. Here is a sequential order of some of the most common skin care products used in a skin care regimen.
Step 1: Cleanser
Cleanse your face with a mild cleanser that suits your skin type and removes all the impurities and excess oil particles from within your skin pores without leaving the skin excessively dry.
If you have oily and acne prone skin, you should use a mild anti-acneic cleanser like the iS Clinical Cleansing Complex. It is a powerful anti-acneic cleanser that contains potent antioxidants to fight against the free radicals. It can be used on sensitive skin as well. On the other hand if you have dry skin you should use a creamy cleanser that hydrates the skin as it cleans. Try Obagi-C Cleansing Gel that contains hydroquinone and Vitamin E.
Wash your face at least twice a day, once in the morning and once at night with tepid water. Make sure the water is not very warm as it may strip off the natural oils of your skin.
Step 2: Exfoliant
You can skip cleansing your face if you plan to exfoliate it!
Exfoliation scrapes off the dead skin cells from the surface and promotes the growth of new skin cells from underneath. It also promotes circulation and makes the skin appear more radiant. However, take care that you do not over-exfoliate your skin lest you end up damaging your skin cells.
Depending on your skin type you can either use a scrub like Nia 24 Physical Cleansing Scrub or an exfoliating lotion like the Obagi Nu Derm Exfoderm Forte that contains alpha hydroxy acids and caters to normal to oily skin types or Obagi Nu Derm Exfoderm that contains phytic acid and caters to normal to dry skin types.
Step 3: Toner
Toners help contract the skin pores and restore the normal pH balance of the skin. In addition, it also removes any residue particles left behind by the cleaners and exfoliants.
Toners tend to leave the skin very dry, therefore use a mild alcohol-free toner like the Obagi Nu Derm Toner. It contains a unique combination of natural ingredients and herbs along with a natural astringent called 'Alum' that tones the skin and adjusts its pH balance.
Step 4: Special Prescription Products
After the cleansing, toning and moisturizing comes the turn of applying any special skin care products that you may be using like acne care products, anti aging skin care products, pigmentation correction products and so on. After you have cleansed and toned the skin, it becomes much more receptive to the prescribed products.
Step 5: Serums
Then comes serums if you use any. Antioxidant serums eliminate the free radicals and prevent any corresponding damage. The iS Clinical Pro-Heal Serum is a revolutionary formula that contains potent antioxidants along with Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin A and olive leaf extracts. It heals the skin and improves skin texture and tone.
Step 6: Eye Creams
The application of eye creams should precede moisturization. This is because the moisturizer locks in the active ingredients of the eye creams and serums. Use an eye cream that contains potent antioxidants and SPF contents. Try Kinerase Under Eye rescue. It Improves the appearance of the under eye area by reducing puffiness, under eye circles, fine lines and wrinkles. Kinerase Under Eye Cream also moisturizes and brightens. It contains Kinetin which is a plant based ingredient that helps retain moisture..
Step 7: Moisturizer
Moisturization comes before sunscreens. This is because moisturizers generally contain more oil than water and applying it first may just cause the lighter skin care products to slide off.
Step 8: Sunscreen
If your moisturizer already contains SPF contents and you don't plan to venture out in the sun very much then you don't need to use additional sunscreens. However, if that's not the case, make sure you wear a broad spectrum sunscreen with minimum SPF 15. Try the Nia 24 Sun Damage Prevention SPF 30 or iS Clinical SPF 25 Treatment Sunscreen.
Dr. Marilynn Syrett is a professional physician and skin care expert. Apart from writing articles about the various facets of skin care, she also reviews several skin care products from brand names like Obagi and iS Clinical. |
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