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Achieving glowing, healthy skin isn't just about using the right products — it's about applying them in the right order for optimal use, too. Layering your skincare products effectively ensures each product is working to their full potential, hydrating and permeating your skin as intended. Layering products without care may lead to ineffectiveness, irritation, or even breakouts. The science behind a perfect layering sequence is rooted in the absorption of a product as well as its compatibility with your skin. You'll want a layer routine that prioritizes the impact of active ingredients in each product based on how well target the affected layers of skin without any disturbance. A well-structured routine maximizes effectiveness while prioritizing skin hydration, repair, and protection against outside dirt.
But how do you know what comes first? There's been a lot of debate over which product belongs where in the layering sequence, and while it varies from skin texture to skin texture, we've come up with a simple breakdown for how to build your routine to optimize the results of healthy skin.
The most important rule in layering skincare is applying products from the thinnest to the thickest consistency. This allows the lightweight formulas to penetrate your skin before the heavier products sink in and lock the rest of the product on top. This generally means starting off your routine with water-based products like toners and serums before applying the heavier layers like oils and creams. If you apply a heavier product first, you might create a barrier that minimizes the effect of the active ingredients in lighter products. Before adding any layers, its essential to start with a clean slate. Cleansing is the first step to any good skincare routine as a good cleanser will remove extra dirts, oils, and leftover makeup on your face. You'll want to unclog your pores to ensure that your skin is at its best to absorb all your products.
Active products actively hydrate and exfoliate your skin with acidic ingredients like AHAs, BHAs, and retinoids, which are soluble products that increase exfoliation. These potent products should be applied second after cleansing to ensure you get the maximum absorption. Keep in mind — it's important to avoid layering conflicting active products. Retinoids and AHAs can be extremely harsh when used on top of each other and may lead to irritated skin. If you want to use multiple active products, you might want to consider alternating them, either using one every other day or using one in the morning and the other at night. A healthy tip: start with a lower concentration to build up your tolerance before using more product. Sometimes less is more!
Serums are jam-packed with concentrated ingredients and must be applied after cleansing but before moisturizing. Given that they're about the same consistency of active products, you can interchange the order of these two. If you decided to use multiple serums, start with the most lightweight option since they're the fastest absorbing ones. Hydration serums like hyaluronic acid should be applied to damp skin to increase exposure and draw in moisture to plump your skin. Antioxidant rich serums like vitamin C serums, are another great option. These should be applied in the morning to protect your skin from outside particles and harmful UV rays. Specific treatments that target special concerns like acne or hyperpigmentation should also be applied before heavier products to make sure they penetrate your skin on a deeper level.
Applying moisturizers and oils is the final step of a layering technique. Gel-based and emollient moisturizers prevent water loss by strengthen your skin's natural protection barriers. If you have oily skin, you may prefer a lightweight, water-based moisturizer to prevent extra buildup. Drier skin benefits from thicker creams to increase exfoliation and hydration deep in your pores. Oils should be placed second to last since their weight forms a protective barrier across your skin, locking in all the moisturizer from your products. Applying oils early on can prevent water-based serums and moisturizers from doing their jobs and absorbing properly. In the morning, always finish your routine off with a layer of broad-spectrum SPF to protect your skin from UV damage, premature aging, and hyperpigmentation.
