Proper Product Application

Hey Beauties!!  Lisa K. from Washington, DC is facing this problem:  "I have a counter full of products that I am supposed to apply each morning.  I have a feeling that I'm not putting my these things on the right order.  Is there a rule of thumb that I should follow?"

Well Lisa, the short answer is YES!  There is a method to the madness.  You should be applying products in order of their weight - "thinner feeling" products go on first, and "heavier products" go on last.  This is done to ensure that products are properly absorbed into the skin in the right way.  Here's a quick rundown of how you should be applying products:

(1) Make-up Remover - I suggest using a make-up removing product  whenever possible to remove make-up instead of relying on your cleanser.  Most cleansers are effective but you want to make sure that ALL traces of make-up are removed during the cleansing process.

(2) Cleanser - use a skin type appropriate cleanser.

(3) Exfoliant- gently, especially if you're doing it more than 2x per week.  Great for prepping the skin for the introduction of active ingredients.

(4) Toner - only if it contains active ingredients.  Recently, I have been LOVING Boots Skin Brightening Toner which is only $7 from CVS. It contains a bevy of alpha-hydroxy acids  as well as other fantastic plant extracts. If a toner does not contain actives, its just hyped-up water and a wasted purchase.

(5) Serum - especially if you have mature/dehydrated skin.  Look for something that contains hyaluronic acid for maximum hydration.

(6) Treatment - especially for those of you that spot treat acne, blemishes, discoloration, etc.

(7) Moisturizer -  with a skin type appropriate skin moisturizer.

(8) Sunscreen - Sunscreens should be applied to dry skin 15-30 minutes BEFORE going outdoors.  I am not a huge fan of double-duty products (those that contain sunscreen).  I think think it should be applied independently of make-up and should be reapplied at least once during the day for those a with especially fair or sensitive skins (i.e. burns easily, tans minimally).

(9) Makeup- should always be applied last.  If you would like to mix a bit of foundation into your moisturizer for a tinted moisturizer, that's completely fine.  Just make sure that you apply your sunscreen as well.

One quick tip - I recommend exfoliating at night.  By exfoliating at night, you give your skin the full night to rejuvenate itself and you'll wake up with a great glow.  Also, daytime exfoliation leaves your skin more susceptible to the damage done by UVA/UVB rays, which means that if you exfoliate during the day, you'll have to be especially diligent about using sunscreen!