By Eliza • 11 Comments
You wouldn’t think that something as routine as putting on skincare products could be done wrong. At least that’s what I thought. Recent information changes all that. There are certain rules to putting on skincare products that mean the best looking and feeling skin possible. You might be surprised to find that you’ve been doing it all wrong. I certainly was! Here are some common mistakes people make when applying skincare products. Once you know what they are, you can make important changes to your routine.
Experts say that a good rule of thumb when applying skincare products is to start with the one that has the thinnest consistency. Follow that with increasing thickness until you’ve applied everything in your routine. In general, this will be toner, cleanser, sunscreen, then moisturizer. This gives each product a maximum chance to soak in and do its job.
When your skin is damp, it allows the ingredients in your serum to penetrate deeply so they can do their work down in the deepest layers of your skin. That means serum usually comes after cleanser when your face is freshly washed, but still a bit moist. If your face gets too dry before you’re ready for the serum, simply dampen it with a washcloth.
It might be tempting to use a product that promises to take care of all your skin woes. While there are some great skincare products that can effectively do more than one job, those that promise to do it all are simply marketing ploys. Experts say that a single skincare product can’t do everything. You’re going to need at least a few items to cleanse, moisturize and anti-age your skin.
Though most skincare products have a pretty lengthy shelf life, they do expire. Chances are you’re using cleanser and moisturizer before it has a chance to go bad, but your lesser used products may not be good after a certain date. Resist the urge to buy huge containers of products you don’t use on a daily basis. That way they don’t go bad and you aren’t wasting money. You’ll know a product has turned if it has a strange smell or the consistency changes. It won’t work as good either so it’s better to buy a new container.
You know you should wear sunscreen on your face when you hit the beach or go to the park to play volleyball. Did you know that you should actually be wearing it every single day, even if there is snow falling? The sun’s rays can cause damage and aging to your face even if it’s cloudy outside. For that reason, you should wear sunscreen over your moisturizer and under your make-up all the time.
The final step in your skincare routine should be your eye cream, if you wear it. That’s because it is designed to reflect light and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Dab it on gently as your last step so you don’t wipe it away or lessen its effectiveness.
It’s so hard to get all your tasks done within a reasonable time frame. Believe me, I know. There are definitely not enough hours in most days to finish all your to do’s. Resist the urge to stay up late to get it all done. Getting enough sleep allows your cells time to turnover, which enhances your skin’s natural glow and leaves it looking young, fresh and healthy. All that stuff will still be there tomorrow (sigh) and you can tackle it with great looking skin when you get up in the morning.
Are you making any of these mistakes? I was too, but I’m happy to say I’m doing my best to keep my skin healthy from now on. Which habit are you going to change today?