DYK You’re Likely Applying Your Skincare All Wrong?
Correct skincare application is a great way to amp up your routine with little effort and zero cost. That makes it a no brainer in our eyes, agreed?
Applying your skincare products correctly might not seem as important as the ingredients they contain, but your technique can actually make them work harder and more efficiently. Of course, if you slap your moisturizer on like you’ve not a care in the world, it’s not going to harm your skin, per se, but wouldn’t you rather know how to get the best from each and every product in your regime? Getting more bang for your buck in the process and helping your skin be the best version of itself?
We know where we stand on that one.
So on that note, here’s a quick guide on how to correctly apply the most important products in your skincare routine.
How Best To Apply: Cleanser
Washing your face feels like a pretty elementary step in your routine but, trust us, a few tweaks to your cleansing technique are guaranteed to make a huge difference. Of course this depends on the formulation, but the general rule is that gels and foams are best applied to damp skin because water helps them emulsify so they’re able to cut through oils and surface debris. Cleansing oils, creams, lotions and milks, on the other hand, work more efficiently when they’re undiluted, so you’re better off applying these to dry skin.
Whatever formulation you choose, try to spend two or three minutes massaging the cleanser into your skin to get the best results. Use circular motions all over your face and neck, and concentrate on areas like the side of your nose where sebum can become trapped.
Once you’ve massaged it all over for a few minutes, a great trick is to leave the cleanser on your skin for an extra minute before rinsing. This helps to really soak up any extra debris that might be lurking around. Then rinse thoroughly with warm – NEVER HOT – water and pat dry with a clean, cotton face towel.
How Best To Apply: Toner
After cleansing, comes toner which is great step for topping off your cleansing routine and treating the skin while gently preparing it for the rest of your skincare regime.
Again, depending on the formula, most toners are applied using a cotton pad but try to stick with reusable options which can be thrown in the laundry after each use. Regular cotton wool pads may seem ‘natural’ but they’re not compostable and require tons of water and energy to produce.
As your application technique goes, this one is pretty straightforward. Simply soak your cotton pad then lightly sweep it over your skin without using too much force – you don’t want to drag the skin as this can cause surface damage.
We like to start at the center of the face, swiping upward and out to help lift the skin. And remember to use both sides of the pad to ensure a thorough tone.
How Best To Apply: Face Serums
Hard-working and extremely beneficial to your skin, facial serums should always come after toning (or cleansing if toning isn’t your jam) and before moisturizing. This is because they’re thinner, more lightweight and have a smaller molecular structure than moisturizers, enabling them to penetrate the skin deeper and more efficiently. If you apply moisturizer first this will leave a barrier on the surface of your skin, stopping your serum from getting its job done.
Because of their concentrated nature, only a small amount of serum is ever needed – one or two drops is often the sweet spot. Use your dropper to apply your serum to the palm of your hand, then work it between your hands to help you distribute it more evenly. To apply, gently press and tap it into all areas of the face and neck, using upward movements but with very little massaging motion. Instead, allow the serum to absorb naturally into the skin.
How Best To Apply: Eye Treatments
The skin around your eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face so when it comes to applying eye creams and gels it’s imperative you go gently. Like, super gently.
Go for a small amount of product (a pea-sized amount is usually enough for both eyes) and use your ring fingers rather than your forefingers to apply it. This ensures you apply less pressure to this fragile area – smart huh? Some people like to smooth their eye treatment around the eyes but we prefer to tap the product around the entire orbital bone area as this not only helps to stimulate circulation but also reduces drag and potential damage.
Important note to remember: always allow your eye treatment a minute or two to sink in and settle before moving on to moisturizer and/or makeup.
How Best To Apply: Moisturizer
You might be tempted to rub in your moisturizer with a strong, firm hand but, as with most of your skincare regime, a lighter touch is always best. Saying that, however, giving your skin a little workout while your moisturize is never a bad idea!
How much moisturizer do you need? Roughly a quarter-sized amount should be more than enough for your entire face and neck, but always read the label on your product – it’s not just there to look pretty, you know.
Warm your product for a few seconds between your hands (as long as they’re clean, of course!), then use your hands and pads of your fingers to work it all over the face in circular motions, working up and out towards your hairline. This light, massage approach will improve blood flow and encourage lymphatic drainage to pep up dull, tired skin and really get your glow on.
How Best To Apply: Sunscreen
Finally, one of the most important steps: sunscreen. Unless you’re doubling up with a super-smart SPF serum (which we can help you out with, right here!), sunscreen should always be the last step in your skincare routine. Also, unlike the rest of your formulations, it’s the one you can slather on to your heart’s content. In fact, on this occasion, more is definitely more.
Most experts agree that about ½ teaspoon or a nickel-sized amount of sunscreen lotion ensures adequate protection for your face and neck. Squeeze it into your hand then smooth a good layer all over your skin. Oh and if you’re going to be spending lots of time outside, reapply frequently. No arguments.
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![Should You Switch Up Your Skincare During Pregnancy?]()
Do you know which skincare ingredients are fair game when you’re pregnant, and which most certainly aren’t? Not a problem, we’re here to make things a whole lot simpler…
Pregnancy brings incredible changes to your skin, including that infamous ‘pregnancy glow’ which often has the complexion looking the best it’s been in a long time. But it’s not all rainbows and butterflies. During pregnancy, you can also experience unexpected breakouts, extra sensitivities and dark spots that most certainly weren’t there before.
Is it wise, therefore, to overhaul your entire skincare routine during these transformative months? Or is it more prudent to simply be conscious of the changes happening to your skin so you can make informed decisions on what to use, what to avoid and how to maximize that glow?
We believe the latter. Here’s how…
What Happens To Your Skin During Pregnancy?
In a word, hormones. As your body goes through the important process of supporting a growing fetus and preparing for childbirth, your hormones go through significant changes. Of course, these fluctuations are crucial for the health of both yourself and your unborn baby, but their effects on the body can be huge. Tender breasts, mood swings, aches and pains are some of the obvious noticeable impacts. And then there are the visible changes to your skin. These include things like stretch marks, spider veins and skin tags which can appear anywhere on the body.
When it comes to the face, the most common skin changes are:
Melasma
Often called the ‘mask of pregnancy’ melasma is a type of hyperpigmentation that causes dark patches on the face. Studies show that melasma affects around 90 percent of pregnant women making it one of the most common skin concern during this time.
Acne Breakouts
Hormone fluctuations can stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum and overload your skin with oil that it really doesn’t need. The result? Clogged pores and pesky breakouts.
Irritation
According to the American Pregnancy Association your body produces 50 percent more blood when you’re pregnant. This can be a great thing, often giving you fabulously glowing skin. However, this increase of blood flow, when combined with crazy hormones, can also increase skin sensitivities, making some skin types reactive and prone to itching, redness, dryness and flaking.
The Two Skincare Ingredients To Avoid During Pregnancy
According to popular belief you should steer clear of many active skincare ingredients when pregnant, including things like vitamin C, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and benzoyl peroxide. And sure, these are all potent topicals that can cause irritation when used without due care. However, according to research, with the exception of two, most skincare ingredients act locally and therefore cause minimal risk to an unborn child.
The two no-nos to really be aware of? Hydroquinone and retinoids.
Hydroquinone is a topical ingredient that’s extremely effective for lightening the skin and fading dark patches. This makes it very tempting for pregnant skin which can often being plagued with melasma. However, it’s estimated that somewhere between 35 and 45 percent of hydroquinone is absorbed into the bloody stream. Some research shows no links to adverse effects for an unborn child, but this absorption is a major red flag. Our advice? Don’t go there.
Better choices are to minimize sun exposure to avoid exacerbating dark spots, wear a broad-spectrum mineral-based sunscreen like SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Facial Serum daily, and try safer skin-brightening ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide and exfoliating acids in small doses.
Retinoids are the holy grail for healthy skin, working hard to help minimize the visible signs of aging and simultaneously decrease the severity and frequency of acne breakouts by accelerating cell turnover and boosting collagen production. They’re very potent beasts, however, and should always be treated with respect. Especially when pregnant. Oral retinoids, in particular have been shown to cause birth defects so these should be avoided at all costs.
And topical retinoids? While these are widely believed to be fairly low in risk, they’re best kept at arm's length to be on the safe side. This includes everything from tretinoin (a prescription retinoid) to milder retinol.
Instead, try bakuchiol which is nature’s gentle alternative to retinol and generally considered safe for use during pregnancy.
How To Build The Best Pregnancy Skincare Routine
The key to managing changes in your skin during pregnancy lies in using gentle, pregnancy-safe products. While widely deemed safe, there are questions around ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, high concentrations of salicylic acid, certain essential oils, phthalates and parabens so you might want to give those a wide berth. Other than that, being sensible with your skin, listening to its needs and treating it with tender loving care is the best way to encourage healthy, glowing skin during this time.
Here are five quick tips to help you along the way.
1. Avoid Over-Cleansing
Cleansing is vital to balance sebum and remove potentially pore-clogging debris from the surface of your skin. Just don’t go mad with stripping formulations that can screw up the skin’s important barrier function and exacerbate irritation. Stick with gentle, balanced cleansers and use lukewarm, rather than hot water to rinse the skin.
2. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Apply a hydrating Hyaluronic Acid or Niacinamide Facial Serum after you cleanse and before moisturizing to boost moisture, help reduce inflammation and improve both the tone and texture of your skin. These ingredients are both safe and extremely beneficial for most skin types during pregnancy.
3. Patch Test Everything
Even ‘safe’ ingredients have the potential to irritate the skin, especially when it’s more sensitive during the hormone frenzy that comes with pregnancy. To avoid any mishaps and unwanted inflammation, always patch test your products before using them on a daily basis. Not sure what that means? We can help with that, right here.
4. Embrace Mineral Sunscreen
Although limited, certain research points to chemical sunscreens having the potential to have harmful effects on the human body so, to be safe, we recommend sticking with mineral formulations only. Mineral sunscreens like our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C use the FDA-recommended zinc oxide to protect the skin.
5. Give Botox & Laser Treatments A Rest
Gentle facials that incorporate pregnancy-safe ingredients can be a great way to boost the look and feel of your skin. Always consult with your facial or aesthetician first, however, and know that many dermatological treatments like chemical peels, laser treatments and injectables should be paused until after your baby has been born. The FDA classifies Botox, for example, as a category C pregnancy drug which means there’s insufficient evidence to determine its safety.
Should You Switch Up Your Skincare During Pregnancy?
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