Skincare order of operations

With so many options and valid reasons for order, it can get confusing on how and when you should be using your skincare products.

I shower, drink water, and wear clean clothes. Why should I do anything else for my skin?

Excellent question! Aside from personal hygiene, taking care of your largest organ (your skin) is just as important as any other organs or parts of your body. You brush your teeth, you eat your veggies, and take steps to lead a healthy lifestyle. But what about your skin? It literally covers every inch of your being, yet is the most neglected.

Our skin needs nourishment too. Healthy skin doesn't just look great, it also protects you from ailments like viral and bacterial infections! Your skin is your body's FIRST defense acting as a physical and chemical barrier against the environment, preventing microorganisms and harmful substances from entering the body, blocking ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and maintaining the body's water balance.

So diet and exercise ARE important but so is replenishing your skin directly by using toners, serums, and moisturizers. These items when formulated specifically can give your skin a boost in the vitamins and omega fatty acids it needs to keep your epidermis and dermal layer healthy and functioning properly.

So what is the correct order in which I use my products?

I will not tell you, that it doesn't matter, because it absolutely does.

1. Exfoliate - this should be done 2-3 times a month depending on your environment and your skins natural cycle. Have you ever used lotion and it started to pill everywhere on you suddenly? Then this is a good indication that it is time to exfoliate.

2. Wash - After exfoliation its time to cleanse your skin with a gentle soap! Harsh cleansers are not necessary nor recommended. You do not need alcohol or any other irritants slathered all over you.

3. Toner - Alot of people skip this step, however the benefit of using a toner ensures leftover impurities are removed, you're also balancing the skin's pH, minimizing pores, hydrating and preparing the skin for better absorption for the rest of your products! I strongly recommend always using a toner.

4. Serums - Now that your face has been cleansed and balanced this is the best time to take advantage of your serums powerful benefits.Your skin is freshly prepared to absorb everything. When possible try and give your serum 10 minutes to soak into your skin before moving on to the next step, so it doesn't end up just on the epidermis. When moving too quickly and adding multiple products, you can end up creating more of a film on the face that you'll notice later in the day if you sweat. You might even simply feel tacky instead of soft and smooth.

5. Spot treatments/targeted areas - After waiting 10 minutes now is a good time to use any of your "specific area" treatments for under the eyes, acne, or wrinkles. These are typically things like skin activators which are serums and rollers that are highly concentrated and curated for specific purposes. It is also a good idea to give your skin time to absorb these as well before moving onto the final step!

6. Emollients - Your final step is to lock in all that goodness with a great face and body lotion. Your lotion will give your skin an added barrier of protection and hydration through some kind of humectant. Humectants are substances that naturally draw and retain water to them and their surroundings i.e. your skin! Hydrated skin is happy skin!

This is the most common order of operations in a typical skincare regiment.