With the ever-growing number of lotions and potions on the market from cleansers to toners, serums to oils, day to night creams and more, it’s no wonder there is confusion around which products are really necessary for our skin, let alone which order you should apply your skincare!

Here’s the thing, we all have unique skin needs, dependant on our skin type and concern, so it’s important to create our own skincare ‘cocktail’ based on these specific needs! But if we use the wrong products (not everyone for example can tolerate AHA’s), pair two products together that are formulated with ingredients that don’t ‘gel’, or do not wear our skincare in the correct order, we just won’t see the results we are hoping for, or worse could wind up with blotchy, irritated skin instead. Eek.

So to save time, stress and money! We have detailed below the exact order you should apply your skincare so you can get the most out of it! Along with what products and ingredients to use for your skin type and concern too!

Cleanser

Toner

Serum

Eye Cream

Treatment (eg. Spot)

Moisturiser

Sunscreen (day) Face Oil (night)

Step 1: CLEANSER

Cleansing daily is essential for skin health and the first step to layering skincare like a pro for optimum results. And despite conflicting views cleansing twice daily is imperative.

Firstly, you need to cleanse at night to remove the days dirt, makeup and impurities. Then again in the morning to remove any excess oil and dead cells that are likely to have accumulated on your skin overnight. Without cleansing, your skin will be more prone to breakouts, dehydration, and premature aging. And remember you need a clean, oil and grime free face for all your skincare ingredients to properly absorb into your skin!

At night opt for a cleansing oil that literally dissolves makeup (including waterproof!) without stripping your skin then follow with a gentle, creamy cleaner (which you should use in the morning too). For more information on cleansing and how it will improve your skin tenfold click here.

Try;

ELES Transformation Cleansing Oil – ideal for all skin types it will literally melt away makeup and impurities while maintaining a balanced, hydrated and smoothed complexion.

Phytomer Perfect Visage Gentle Cleansing Milk – If you love milky cleansers this is your one! Formulated for all skin types even those with super sensitive skin, it gently removes makeup and residue without disturbing the skin’s protective barrier.

Phytomer Oligopur Purifying Cleansing Gel – the perfect option for oily skin types this lightly foaming, velvety soft gel cleanser effectively eliminates impurities and excess sebum thoroughly cleansing and purifying the skin.

Pevonia CleanRefresh Foaming Oil Cleanser – my everyday go to, this lightly foaming luxurious cleanser is suitable for all skin types, but especially recommended for dry skin! It’s lipid rich, alcohol-free and soap-free and feels a-mazing on the skin. Skin is actually clean, hydrated, softer and smoother after every use!

 

Step 2: TONER (or lotion)

Ah, the step that everyone skips, but a vital step in optimising the effect of your skincare! Essentially toners help to remove any excess dirt and traces of oil, balance the pH of your skin and prime your skin for ingredients that follow to be better absorbed!

Try;

Phytomer Rosee Visage Toning Cleansing Lotion – Perfect for all skin types this little gem ensures any left over signs of residual makeup or oil is completely removed.

Phytomer Oligomarine Flawless Skin Tonic – perfect toner for oily, blemish-prone skin. 

Pevonia Hydrating Toner – Formulated with Hyaluronic Acid, Licorice, and Vitamin E, it works to hydrate, revive and fully refresh the skin. Great for anyone with worried about ageing, dehydration or devitalised skin.

Medicalia Gentle Toner – wonderful for those prone to rosacea and sensitive skin.

 

Step 3: SERUMS

You might be wondering if you really need a serum in your skincare routine, but I’m here to tell you why you definitely do!

Serums are the heavy lifters when it comes to your skincare routine, they are essentially shots of extremely concentrated nutrients, hydrators and antioxidants that will really amp  up your skin’s health as soon as you apply it. Serums actually tend to perform above and beyond many regular skincare products because they are formulated with a higher concentration of targeted active ingredients and have the ability to penetrate deeper into the dermis. So if you want your skin to live its best life don’t skip on the serum! To learn more about why you need a serum and the best anti-ageing serums for every skin type, click here.

Try;

Phytomer Hydrasea Ultra-Moisturising Polarized Water Serum  – the ultimate thirst quencher for dehydrated and devitalised skin.

Vie Collection Vita C Concentrated Solution – the best for serious skin brightening. Vitamin C promotes a healthy, radiant glow.

Phytomer Acnipur Blemish Solution Fluid – to diminish the appearance of blemishes and prevent future breakouts.

Pevonia Soothing Propolis Concentrate – For seriously sensitive skin that needs calming, soothing and strengthening.

 

Step 4: EYE CARE

Unfortunately, the delicate skin around our eyes is one of the first areas to show signs of ageing, so this is not a step in your skincare routine that you should ever skip! In fact it’s essential we our eye area the same level of TLC as the rest of our face!

This step needs to come before your moisturiser because thinner products can’t penetrate thicker products and eye care products tend to be lighter and thinner than moisturisers to compensate for the fragile eye area.

Try;

Phytomer Pionniere XMF Reset Eye Fluid – anti-ageing wonder cream, perfect for night-time.

Vie Collection Chrono Eyes Puffiness – Dark Circles Wrinkle Cream – the best to combat eye ageing, dark circles and under eye puffiness.

Pevonia “C” Evolutive Eye Gel – formulated with anti-ageing dynamo Vitamin C and skin saviours’ hyaluronic acid and Ginkgo biloba, this gel is perfect is cooling and soothing congested and puffy peepers.

Step 5: MOISTURISER

A moisturiser not only infuses your skin with hydration but also helps trap in all of the products underneath it to make the ingredients even more effective.

In the morning opt for a lighter, gentle moisturiser that will nourish and hydrate skin but not feel heavy or greasy (after all who wants that!) Just make sure you let your moisturiser of choice sink in before applying makeup as you don’t want your makeup to slide off within an hour of application!

Try;

Phytomer Nutritionnelle Dry Skin Rescue Cream – this is a salvation for even the driest skin, bringing comfort, hydration and protection.

Phytomer Oligopur Hydra Matifying Control Cream – ideal for oily, combination or acne-prone skin, this mattifying cream restores clear and perfectly moisturised skin.

Pevonia RS2 Care Cream – perfectly soothing, calming and nourishing, this global best-selling cream for sensitive, rosacea and reactive skin types will render skin visibly calmed, soothed, and completely decongested.

At night skin goes into repair and regeneration mode so your moisturiser should be packed with skin ingredients to benefit your skincare concerns like hyaluronic acid, lipids, proteins and retinol.

Try;

Phytomer Night Recharge Youth Enhancing Cream – hydrating, nurturing and restorative, this anti-ageing night cream for all skin types is outstanding!

Pevonia Micro-Retinol Essential Moisturiser – while you should introduce retinol slowly, if you are worried about ageing, this is the ingredient your skin needs. This moisturiser will deeply hydrate, smooth, brighten and firm ageing skin. It’s idea for those with advanced signs of aging and sun damage exhibited by wrinkles, loose and sagging skin and uneven skin tone or dark spots. Really, it’s great for anyone who really want smoother, firmer skin and are not sensitive or acne-prone.

 

Step 6: SUNSCREEN/FACE OIL

By day go nowhere without applying your sunscreen, it’s literally your barrier of protection against free-radical damage, the no.1 cause of premature skin ageing!

Try;

Medicalia Sunscreen SPF 40 with Blue Light Shield – perfect for all skin types, it’s light-textured, non-greasy, tinted and ‘ocean/reef safe’ and it delivers powerful sun and blue light protection whilst also combating skin-aging free radicals from UV and infrared radiation!

At night you should always use a face oil – the very last step to your skincare routine. This is because the oil takes a while to penetrate and treat the skin, so applying it at night gives it time to do its job. Plus you wouldn’t want a face full of oil in the morning just when you want to apply your makeup!

Try;

Phytomer Rosee Soin Radiance Replenishing Oil – perfect for all skin types this face oil literally does as the bottle says. Enjoy softer, radiant and revitalised skin.

Pevonia Vitaminic Concentrate – Fast-absorbing, this soothing, silky anti-oxidant oil radically combats premature ageing, dehydration, and excessive dryness by locking in hydration and delivering moisture that stays! So you’ll wake up to smooth, supple, and seriously glowy skin every morning.

 

While these 6 steps include the basics for your daily skincare routine, you must not forget your exfoliator and face mask, to essentials steps to incorporate into your routine once or twice weekly as well!

To find out more about the benefits of exfoliation and the best exfoliant for your skin click here. And for when and why you should use a face mask click here.