As a general rule, face nourishers like serums, moisturisers and oils should be applied starting with the lightest formulas. Serums are thin and full of active ingredients you want to drive deep into your pores, so start with them before you move on to fuller-bodied creams.
– Always apply face cream or a moisturizer before applying the foundation even if your skin is oily. – If your skin is prone to breakouts or is prone to acne choose a cream containing alpha hydroxy or benzoyl peroxide. – A face cream should be applied daily , even if you aren't going to apply makeup.
While you can certainly use two different moisturizers for day and night, it's all up to personal preference. If you prefer to have fewer steps in your routine, you may want a cream that does double duty. However, if you're already using separate SPF and serums, one moisturizer might be all you need.
The difference between a moisturizer and a cream is that the moisturizer is a particular kind of matter that is used for restoring moistness into the skin or surface whereas cream is made from oil and used as a lubricant to avoid friction.
Use both hands to apply moisturizer to clean, still-damp skin. Use short but firm strokes with your hands to spread the moisturizer over your body and smooth it into your skin. Be sure to apply moisturizer in the direction of the hair follicle and don't rub too hard to avoid skin irritation.
Know when to go in reverse.
If your sensitive skin reddens with the thought of using even one treatment product, try putting on a simple, fragrance-free moisturizer first and then serums on top. "The cream will reduce the potency of the serums," says Dr. Hirsch, "but they'll also be less likely to cause irritation."
Goldenberg's go-to recommendation for timing between serums and moisturizers is about one minute. This wait has the same reasoning: Sixty seconds — give or take — gives each product a moment to delve into your pores.
Moisturiser cannot by itself make your skin dark or fair .
"If you use a night cream in the day, your skin will feel greasier and won't be protected from the sun. While if you use a day cream in the night, your skin will feel moisturized and nourished, but won't get a full range of anti-aging and moisturizing ingredients," she says.
"Skin's oil production peaks at midday, and there is less oil production at night. Therefore, when you lose that protective layer of natural oils, your skin loses more water, so it's important to replenish the water loss with a moisturizer overnight," says Sobel. "While you are asleep the skin goes into renewal mode.
Rogers recommends using a physical sunscreen with zinc and to apply it after your moisturizer. “Zinc is safe, effective and provides the broadest protection against UVA and UVB rays.”
If you over-moisturize, the leftover moisturizer just sits on your face. With nowhere to go, this extra moisturizer will eventually fill up the pores on your skin and clog them, resulting in the production of acne, whiteheads, and blackheads.
MOISTURIZER DO: TAKE YOUR SKIN CARE ROUTINE SERIOUSLY
That means cleansing and following up with moisturizer twice a day. Plus, applying moisturizer can help to give your complexion a radiant glow.
Moisturizers should be applied to clean skin after you cleanse your face, as they prevent skin from drying out post-wash. They're also most effective when applied to slightly damp skin, as they seal in moisture.
“When you use moisturizer every day, you run the risk of making your skin older, not younger,” he said to Refinery29. “If you apply a lot of moisture, skin will become sensitive, dry, dull, and interfere with natural hydration.”
Generally accepted advice about the use of moisturizers is to apply it twice daily––every morning and every night. It's the most commonly accepted practice because it ensures that the moisture content of your skin remains constant throughout the entire 24 hour period.
Moisture is another key factor when it comes to treating dark spots, according to Engelman. "Adding moisture back into the skin with oils and lotions can reduce the appearance of existing dark spots and prevent new ones from forming," she explains.
You should always use a moisturizer at night. Some people avoid using night cream to let their skin breathe, but this is far from the truth. Avoiding using a night cream offers no positive benefit to the skin. When skin is bare, any existing moisturize evaporates right out of it.
So even if you wash your face at night and your pillowcases often, an a.m. cleanse is best practice. Plus, if you're putting on products like treatments, serums, moisturizers, or night creams before bed, you'll want to wash those off in the morning before putting on your daytime products.
FACE SERUM
Remember to apply your facial serum before your face oil and/or moisturizer .
Because oil is the heaviest — or most dense — product in your routine, it's able to penetrate your moisturizer, allowing it to reach your skin, but the reverse isn't true. If you want to really amp up the moisture, apply your oil after applying moisturizer onto damp skin.
Moisturizer: Moisturizers should be applied after the application of acne medications. The use of a moisturizer often allows the acne medications to better penetrate the skin, and prevents medications from drying out your skin. Sunscreen: Sunscreen should be applied after both acne medications and moisturizer.
If you're dealing with acne, the right moisturizer serves 2 roles. First, it can help regulate oil production, which may help decrease breakouts. Second, it can help combat some of the negative side effects of the active ingredients in your acne-fighting products, like cleansers or spot treatments.