What are the best skincare products? Does it really matter what order I apply my skincare products in?! If a product is expensive, does that necessarily mean it is better than a cheaper version?! Can you mix a retinol cream with exfoliators?! When should I start using eye cream?!
Skincare can be confusing. Especially when you factor in the endless amounts of contradicting information online!
Be careful who you trust and what you read. I can’t tell you the amount of times I have been scrolling through Pinterest or Google and saw someone attempting to answer these ‘common skincare questions’ but they were so incorrect it made me cringe.
In this post, I am going to answer the most common skincare questions and clear up some of the insane skincare myths to the best of my ability.
If you have any additional questions, leave the in the comment section below and I will respond ASAP. I am here to help!
*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means if a purchase is made through one of the provided links, I will receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
Q1: What is the correct order I should be applying my skincare products?
One of my most popular posts talks about the correct order to apply your skincare products and why it matters. This is probably the most common skincare question I see and I am not surprised because lets be honest, it can be confusing!
In summary, the correct skincare routine order is:
- cleanser
- toner
- serums
- eye cream
- additional treatments (masks, acne, peels, etc. )
- moisturizer
- sunscreen
I realize in the beginning that can be a bit over whelming and a lot to remember.
To help, I created a skincare cheatsheet that you can download and print.
Download the printable from Etsy by clicking here!
Q2: What are your top recommended skincare products?
Below is a list of my all time favorite skincare products for each step to my skincare routine.
- Cleanser:
- Toner:
- Serum:
- Eye cream:
- Treatment:
- Moisturizer:
- SPF:
Q3: When should I start using an eye cream?
Typically, people start using an eye cream until they start noticing signs of aging. This is a huge mistake!
The skin around your eye is the most delicate due to how thin it is. Typically, it is the first spot to show signs of aging and sagging.
Regardless of what every company and advertisement says, once you start showing signs of aging there really is no “magical reverse serum” that makes your skin wrinkle free (other than botox/fillers, of course).
However, there are preventatives steps you can take to eliminate aging or slow it down. The trick is you want to stop it in the early stages so (hopefully) the wrinkles don’t shows up.
So, with that being said, there is no such thing as “starting too soon” when it comes to caring for your skin and eyes.
My best advice is to prevent this aging early on by using a thick, dense eye cream. (My favorite is It Cosmetics). Keep the skin around the eye supple and intact.
Q4: Why do you recommend DOUBLE CLEANSING my face before bed?
Lately, one of the most common skincare questions I have been getting is why do I recommend double cleaning.
First cleanse = washing off your makeup. Second cleanse = washing your face.
Think of double cleansing like taking a shower. You wouldn’t take a shower without taking your clothes off, so why would you wash your face without taking your makeup off?
You want to remove all your makeup, and any traces of dirt/oil before you try to clean the skin.
Skipping the second cleanse can lead to bacteria build up, makeup residue and other junk that can lead to breakouts and aging. (neither of which we want)
The best cleanser I have ever used: Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm by Clinique
Q5: Does the order I apply my skincare products really matter?
YES. The order you apply your skincare products definitely matters.
Certain products enhance the other. For example, you are ALWAYS going to want to use a toner right after cleansing and before any additional serums/moisturizers. The toner helps absorb and enhances any products.
(You can read more about this in my post on The Importance of Toners by clicking here.)
TIP: If you have the time, try not to rush this process as you want them to allow them to fully absorb into your skin before moving on to the next one. (Wait about a minute or so in between each serum).
Q6: How often should I be using a Vitamin C serum?
Typically, a vitamin C serum is recommended to use every day. I use mine (Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum) every morning, following my toner.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that your skin craves.
Adding this to your daily skincare routine helps perform skin-brightening, hyperpigmentation-correcting, balancing out the skin tone, firming of the skin, fewer wrinkles and fine lines, plus many more benefits.
Something you should know about vitamin c serum is that it typically takes around 2-4 weeks to start seeing results when used consistently.
Also, vitamin c has a relatively short shelf life. It is recommended that you store it in a cool environment, like the fridge or invest in a skincare fridge.
Q7: What goes first, Vitamin C or Hyaluronic Acid?
A general rule of thumb to follow when applying serums is lightest to heaviest.
After cleansing and toning your skin, you should apply vitamin C because it has a thinner consistency. This will aid is smoothing and brightening the skin.
Then, you should follow up with Hyaluronic Acid serum or cream because it is a bit thicker (heavier). This will act as a plumper for you skin, providing lots of hydration.
Q8: What can you NOT mix with vitamin C?
As mentioned before, Vitamin C is a powerful serum.
It is a pretty universal ingredient that does wonders for most everyone! However, there are a few products that you will want to be careful around when using vitamin c.
The products listed below can create a bad reaction or cancel each other out when layering with vitamin c.
- vitamin c + benzoyl peroxide
- vitamin c + retinol
- vitamin c + AHA/BHAs
- vitamin c + niacinamide (vitamin B3)
If you want to use retinol or any of these products, I recommend you use it in the evening and use the vitamin C in the morning. Or, swap the product out every other night for the vitamin C.
I hope this helps answer all of the most common skincare questions!
If you have more questions, leave a comment below or send me an email at cassandra@livinglikelola.com and I would be happy to keep helping you all out.
More posts on skincare:
- PSA: Your skin NEEDS a toner
- The correct order to apply your skincare products
- Why I am loving Charcoal soap
- Lazy girl skincare hacks
