How to make your skincare absorb properly and sink in

Ever wonder why even after following all of your regular skincare steps, your face just doesn’t look right? It could be because you didn’t allow your skincare sink to really sink in, meaning you haven’t properly reaped the benefits of your products. The consistency of the your skin care products is important when it comes to what order you are applying them on your skin, allowing active ingreidents to absorb, without blocking them with heavier formulas. 

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Here’s a step-by-step guide of the order to apply your skin care, in order to get the most out of your regime:

1. First thing’s first: cleanse your face when you wake up. Not only will this get rid of any sweat or grime that may have accumulated from a dirty pillowcase overnight, it will give you a fresh base to start with for the day ahead. It doesn’t really matter whether you cleanse by splashing water, sweeping a micellar water drenched cotton pad, or go for the same cleanser you use in your shower, but cleansing in the morning is an important step. If you are using a regular cleanser, be sure to use gentle circular motions and long strokes, taking care not to tug on your skin. 
2. Follow your cleanse by patting your face dry with a clean towel. Make sure you are patting, as similarly to your cleansing technique, you want to avoid tugging on your skin. 
3. If you use a serum in the morning, now is the time to apply that. I personally apply a few drops of Skinceuticals C E Ferulic (available at skinceuticals.com.au) onto my fingertips and then press into my face, allowing a minute or two for that to sink in. 
4. Follow with your eye cream. The consistency of an eye cream is heavier than that of a serum, so applying it over the top is important as the serum is directly on your skin, allowing it to absorb. 
5. Next, it’s time to moisturise. Apply liberally to your face and neck, allowing two-three minutes for it to sink in to your skin. As a moisturiser is usually the heaviest formula, it is important for it to go on last, as it locks in the moisture from your products underneath. 
6. In my opinion, the most important step comes next, sunscreen. Relying on the SPF in your foundation often isn’t enough to ensure your skin is protected (you should really be applying multiple times a day). So, to keep skin protected apply a generous amount of SPF 30 (at least) on top of your moisturiser and before your foundation. My favourite formulas are Dermalogica Super Sensitive Shield SPF 30 and Ella Bache Great SPF 50+ Face Saver Lotion.
7. If you prime your skin before applying make-up, ensure your face is dry and apply much like you did the moisturiser. Allow up to five minutes for the primer to sink in so that you have a perfect base on which to apply your make-up. 

For a night-time routine, the order is much the same, however I would recommend cleansing more thoroughly (a double-cleanse always does the job), and skipping the sunscreen and primer. 

Following these recommendations will ensure your skin reaps the benefits of every step in your skin care regimen, and will assist in a more even make-up application.

Do you do anything differently in your skin care routine? Let us know how many steps your routine involves.

Main image credit @gigihadid