How Much of Every SkinCare Product Should You Be Using in your Routine?

It seems a little excessive, the amount of skin care products on the market for various needs with almost endless steps... There are some basic steps and products to fill each step to consider but this is not meant to be complicated. Read more...

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Topics

• It seems a little excessive, the amount of skin care products on the market for various needs with almost endless steps... Can you share your thoughts on which products and steps are necessary and which might be unnecessary?

• Can you briefly explain why skincare should be a multi-step process (i.e. why you need to do more than just wash your face)?

• For each of the following skin-care products, can you please share 1) what it is 2) why it’s important 3) how MUCH you should be using 4) how to apply?

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It seems a little excessive, the amount of skincare products on the market for various needs with almost endless steps... Can you share your thoughts on which products and steps are necessary and which might be unnecessary in our routine?

The most important steps to a daily skincare routine are to cleanse, treat/repair, and protect the skin.

Cleansing involves using water plus soap or a cleanser to remove excess dirt, sebum, and oil, and buildup on the skin. Generally speaking, a simple cleanser is sufficient however some may find it helpful to add an exfoliant at this step. If you have trouble with acne-prone or oily skin it can help to consider cleansers with added ingredients to address these issues.

Treating and/or repairing your skin involves understanding if there are any challenges that your skin faces- for example, acne, dry skin, wrinkles, etc. These challenges can be addressed by the addition of products designed to address these factors. This is where you will find a lot of variability. Toners, Serums, Essences, Masks, etc… There is not one “necessary” product or product type- this is where routine becomes individualized based on desired results.

Protecting the skin involves understanding the importance of keeping the skin’s barrier intact. Moisturizing and hydrating the skin effectively is important here as is applying a sunscreen or sunblock to protect the skin from harmful UV rays.

Can you briefly explain why skincare should be a multi-step process (i.e. why you need to do more than just wash your face)?

There are a lot of people that swear by just splashing water on their faces- and this is totally fine!

The point of a multistep process is to address common issues or concerns that arise as well as consider the prevention of some skin challenges when it comes to protecting the skin.

Our skin is our largest organ, our first line of defense protects us from the environment, infections, and temperature variations, cools our skin by sweating and flushing, and is an important sensory organ

Our skin is a dynamic organ that is constantly changing. As our first line of defense, our skin produces oil and sebum to protect us from outside allergens and pollutants. This oil and sebum can build up leading to clogging of pores. Our skin has an immune system that provides surveillance against bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the environment. Our skin protects us from harmful UV rays and free radicals from cigarette smoke and other sources, but can also be susceptible to damage.

By recognizing the key roles the skin plays it can make it easier to understand why each step in a skincare routine plays a role in addressing these complexities.

For each of the following skin-care products, can you please share 1) what it is 2) why it’s important 3) how MUCH you should be using 4) how to apply?

Sunscreen

1. Protects our skin from harmful UV rays.

2. Can prevent skin cancer and premature aging of the skin

3. A full shot glass (about an ounce) covers exposed areas of the skin. This can vary based on body surface area

4. Application technique is based on the type of product. If the sunscreen is a lotion or cream, apply a thin layer and rub into the skin. If it is a spray, apply by spraying the skin to see a thin film over the skin. Be cautious when applying on windy days or at the beach as much of the product can be lost to the air and not make it to your skin.
   

Face wash

1. Cleanses excess oil, sebum, and dirt from our skin.

2. Can prevent the accumulation of oil, dirt, and sebum from building up on our skin. This buildup can clog pores or even host bacteria, yeast, and other organisms on our skin.

3. A ‘dollop’ or nickel size amount should be enough to have adequate coverage

4. Add a little water to help spread evenly and gently apply to your skin and rinse

Toner

1. The origin of toners was to pH balance the skin and help remove excess oil

2. Potentially can reduce residual makeup buildup

3. A moistened cotton swab

4. Wipe cotton swab across your skin
   

Serum

1. Serums are lightweight products that do not have the thickness or greasiness of a cream or lotion.

2. A simple way to deliver more potent ingredients to the skin

3. Just a few drops can go a long long way

4. Apply a thin layer over the skin. Many are meant to go underneath moisturizers or other products.
   

Daytime Moisturizer

1. Emollients and hydrating agents for the skin

2. Daily effective method to restore hydration to the skin, maintain skin turgor and make the skin less susceptible to environmental stressors.

3. A dime size amount is generally enough to cover the face.

4. Apply a thin layer and gently rub into the skin.
   

Eye Cream

1. Daily creams to address the signs of aging around the eyes

2. Depending on the concern, these creams can reduce discoloration around the eyes, add hydration, reduce puffiness, and improve fine lines and wrinkles.

3. Droplet size or half a pea size amount on the tip of your finger.

4. Dot above and below the eye with simple finger taps and gently rub in.
   

Nighttime Moisturizer

1. Emollients and hydrating agents for the skin

2. A daily effective method to restore hydration to the skin, maintain skin turgor and make the skin less susceptible to environmental stressors and allow the skin to repair itself overnight.

3. A dime size amount is generally enough to cover the face.

4. Apply a thin layer and gently rub into the skin.

Mask (hydrating/exfoliating)

1. Emollients or exfoliating agents for the skin

2. Method to deliver concentrated products to the skin over a short period of time

3. Often come already in mask form. May come in stick form or in a jar

4. Apply a visible layer to the skin. Allow to dry. Rinse.

Acne treatment

1. Exfoliating or antibacterial ingredients for the skin

2. Treat the cause of acne by reducing oil buildup that can clog pores and actively treat acne by exfoliating clogged pores.

3. Often come as spot treatments, cleansers, or other topicals.

4. If spot treatment, apply directly to the affected spot overnight and rinse in am.