November is National Healthy Skin Month, so you may be looking into some of the best skincare ingredients on the market, how to build a great skincare routine, and how to get healthy skin. One of the most common questions people have about starting a routine is the correct skincare routine order一 should I use cleanser before toner? When do I moisturize? Whatever questions you have, we’ve got you covered!
Daytime Skincare Routine
Keep in mind that your skin is different from everyone else’s, so you may need to alter your routine to suit your personal needs. Follow the below as a rough guideline, changing things as you see fit.
1 - Cleanser
When you wake up in the morning, it’s time to start fresh. Use your favorite cleanser (we’re partial to our Anti-Pollution Facial Cleanser, of course) to clear away any accumulated oils and dust from your (hopefully) restful night of sleep. With this clean base, we’ll move on to the next steps.
2 - Toners, Serums, Eye Creams, and Spot Treatments (Optional)
Toners prime your skin to receive other treatments, but not everyone’s skin needs toners to reap the benefits of the serums, creams, and treatments that follow. If your pores are tight, rather than loose and open, after your cleansing wash, use a toner before you add other treatments to your skin一 this will help your skin cells absorb product more easily.
3 - Moisturizer
Everyone needs a moisturizer! Even if you think your skin is super oily, moisturizer is still a must, helping to curb and tone down your natural oil production. Moisturizers should go on after any serums, eye creams, and spot treatments because you want those closest to the skin. Moisturizers, contrary to what the name suggests, lock in moisture, rather than supply it to the skin.
4 - Physical Sunscreen
Using a daily SPF is one of a dermatologist's favorite recommendations for healthy skin. However, it’s important to not use a chemical sunscreen at the end of your skincare routine一 this is because chemical sunscreens need to be as close to the skin as possible in order to work properly. Physical sunscreens work no matter what layer they are on. If your skincare routine doesn’t require treatments and serums that need to be closer to the skin, you can certainly change the order of the products you apply.
5 - Makeup (Optional)
If you want to rock a little bit (or a lot) of makeup, now’s the time to layer it on. If your makeup foundation has sunscreen in it, you may even be able to skip the previous step!
Nighttime Skin Routine
The day has come and gone. But there’s still some work to be done before plopping into bed.
1 - (Optional) Makeup Remover
Another favorite piece of advice from dermatologists; for the love of all that is holy, do not sleep in your makeup. So if you wore some stunningly fabulous makeup during the day, start by removing it. (Just remember that this does not count as your cleansing step!)
2 - Cleanser
Use the same cleanser you did during the morning routine unless you notice that it struggles to lift all of the day’s dirt and grime from your face. Some people find that they need a stronger cleanser for the nighttime half of their skincare routine. If you notice that your toner is pulling additional color and particulates out of your skin after you have already cleansed, it’s time to upgrade to a better cleanser.
Rejuvaskin’s Anti-Pollution Facial Cleanser
After a day out in the city, it’s extremely important to remove microscopic particles like pollutants and oxidants, after all, pollution really does affect our skin. Our Anti-Pollution Facial Cleanser uses a natural cleansing formula and Expo-P to lift stubborn pollutants and other tiny particles from your face where other products can’t reach. We highly recommend this product for people that live in, travel to, or work in cities.
3 - (Optional) Toners, Skin Care Boosters, Treatments, Peels, and Other Serums
Again, whether you apply these products will depend on your skin. Overnight is a great time to replenish your skin’s stores of vitamins, minerals, and other substances. Additionally, some acne-prone skincare routines will include nighttime treatments to prevent and treat pimples. Follow your skin’s queues for this step and try not to over-apply products.
4 - Night Moisturizer
You can certainly use the same moisturizer at night that you use during the day, but some people choose a thicker moisturizer to help them lock in more moisture while they sleep. Depending on how your skin feels every morning, you can adjust the amount and type of moisturizer you apply一 you may even need to switch things up in the winter as the air dries out in your bedroom.
Got anymore routine-related or healthy skin questions? Stay tuned to our social media this month, where we’ll be exploring a wide variety of skin tips, hacks, and what it really means to have healthy skin!