It’s easy to become bamboozled about which products to include in your daily skincare regimen and in what order.
Maybe yours currently involves a fancy 10-step routine? Or maybe you’re more of a wash, rinse, repeat kinda’ person?
The truth is that each skincare routine is as unique and individual as the person following it.
But as the natural skincare movement has become trendier on social media, and there’s a constant slew of new potions and lotions being released almost weekly (sometimes daily!), finding the perfect routine can feel a little intimidating.
But hey, it shouldn’t be that hard. Not with a few handy hints up your sleeve.
Here are some pointers on how to pick the right products and the correct order to apply them to get the most effective results.
Does order *really* matter?
Turns out, yes it does! The aim of any natural skincare routine (or any routine for that matter!) is to nurture your skin, treat troublesome areas and protect it from further damage. Even the simplest cleanse-treat-moisturise-regimen requires an orderly approach.
‘Why is this?’ we hear you ask. So that each product can work at optimum levels and deliver the best skin-loving results.
For example, you wouldn’t tone your skin before first cleansing it. Cleansing is an essential step, as it rids the skin of dirt and grime and assists your tonic or toner to do its job—rebalance and refresh the skin and prepare it to drink up your moisturiser and/or serum.
The golden rule is to apply skincare products from the lightest to the heaviest. Many skincare products contain active (read: good) ingredients that we want our skin to absorb. Without the correct order of application, these amazing ingredients simply sit on the skin’s surface and can’t work their magic.
So whether you want complexion perfection or a healthy glow, applying your skincare in the correct order will ensure your skin gains the maximum benefits of each product for better overall results.
The essential steps
So, we know in which order we should apply our skincare (thinnest to thickest), but what products are necessary to help us achieve our glowing skincare goals?
For some people, their morning and evening skin regimen is the same. And that’s okay. For others, it differs—for example, they might add in an exfoliant or extra treatment product. It really depends on your skin’s needs and individual habits.
However, it’s worth noting that while you sleep your skin goes through a reparative stage, so the evening is a good time to apply products that address certain skin concerns. You might apply a detoxifying mask or an exfoliating scrub once or twice a week, based on your skin concerns.
Typically, your skincare routine should involve the following steps:
1. Cleanse (essential)
Cleansing should be one of your top priorities. To get the most from your skincare products you need to apply them to clean, debris-free skin. Build-up of oil, bacteria and environmental pollutants can prevent ingredients from being absorbed by the skin. So, don’t be tempted to simply splash a little water on your face and head out the door. Instead, look for a gentle cleanser that whisks away excess oil and dead skin cells but without leaving your skin feeling tight, dry, and stripped of its natural oils.
While it’s perfectly fine to use the same cleansing product A.M. and P.M., you might like to double cleanse in the evening—to totally rid your skin of daytime funk and gunk! You might start with a cleansing balm, like our Cloud 9 Deep Cleaning Balm, and follow with a water-based gel cleanser.
Once your skin is nice and clean, this is where you can also choose to apply your masks or scrubs, but it’s best not to do these every day.
2. Treat (optional)
Now this is where your skincare regimen gets interesting, and you can tailor it to meet your skin’s specific needs. Whether you suffer from breakouts, acne, dryness, dehydration, pigmentation, redness or wrinkles, there’s a treat designed to treat your skin concern.
Here are Woohoo we have 2 types of treats – tonics and serums – and they can be layered or used individually.
There’s a good reason why many skin enthusiasts are obsessed with serums and tonics/mists. Think of them as a big dose of active ingredients, delivered to your skin when it’s clean and ready to absorb all the goodness.
While treats containing vitamin C are great for daytime use (to help combat free radicals), you might choose a more calming serum for the evening. Soothe and nourish your skin as you sleep, let’s go!
Oh, and don’t be tempted to apply your moisturiser first. The beautifully lightweight water-based nature of tonics and serums means that applying them on top of your moisturiser (which is thicker and oil-based) hinders their ability to be absorbed by your skin. Allow a couple of minutes for your treat to fully soak in before applying your moisturiser too.
In addition to serums and tonics, eye creams should be applied before you moisturise due to their lightweight texture.
3. Moisturise (essential)
Following your treat, it’s time to moisturise. Whether you choose a moisturising oil or cream really comes down to skin type and preference. Nonetheless, this is one step you must not miss, no matter what day or season it is.
Moisturisers are designed to hydrate and nourish your skin. They also help prevent water loss to keep dehydration at bay, which can assist in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. What’s not to love?
Hint: try something a little more lightweight during the day, and a richer more reparative cream or oil in the evening.
For the day we love an ultra-light bio-retinol gel cream, or a light Vitamin C cream. Then for your night routine, consider a rich repair cream, luxe ultra-rich beauty cream, or a brightening facial oil.
4. Protect (essential - i.e. apply sunscreen)
Don’t be fooled into thinking the final step in your skincare routine is the least important. Oh no Siree! Protection, in the form of sunscreen, is an absolute must to help defend the skin against the harmful effects of UV rays.
As well as helping protect your skin from sunburn, did you know that sunlight is the number one cause of premature skin ageing? Be it chemical or physical sunscreen, applying sunscreen really is a no-brainer way to take the best care of your skin.
Here at Woohoo we're currently working on creating a SPF product, so watch this space :)
The bottom line
Your natural skincare regimen shouldn't feel like a chore, so keep it simple. Find what works for you and choose products that are suited to your skin type and combat your concerns – your skin will thank you for it!
