Cleanser (AM & PM)
You should always be cleansing your face before both routines to prepare your body for your routine and to essentially give your skin a “fresh start” before further products are applied. It is recommended to use a lightweight cleanser, especially in summer, as you will be layering your skin with various products.
In the PM, makeup cleansers and removers should always be applied first if necessary. This allows the products you use to penetrate the skin quickly and work faster. Whether or not you wear makeup, you should do a “second cleanse” in the PM, as the “first cleanse” is essentially washing the dirt and grime off your face that you came into contact with throughout the day. This extra cleanse essentially preps your skin for your nighttime routine, leaving it fresh.
Toner (AM & PM)
Toners are an optional method to incorporate into both routines. If you decide to test their benefits, they should always be applied after facial cleansers. Toner can particularly be helpful in the PM to remove any residual makeup that wasn’t removed in your first two cleanses.
The goal of toners is to assist in prepping and nourishing your skin for the rest of your routine. Think of it as “pre-gaming” for your skincare routine.
If you are new to daily routines, gentler toners that contain lactic acid and a higher potency may be beneficial to start out with. As you get more experienced, you can rotate between different types of acid toners to combat different skincare issues.
For example, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) help to support collagen in the skin and reduce the apperance of aging signs, while polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) are for those with sensitive skin and act as non-irritants.
Serums (AM & PM)
This is another part of the skincare process that is optional and can also be more intimidating. There are countless serums that tackle certain problems and areas that it can be hard to keep up with. How are you supposed to know which serum is most beneficial for you?
Serums are often used for defeating signs of aging, treating acne and dark spots, as well as inflammation. This is only scratching the surface of the benefits of serums, and it will take some trial and error and research to see how your skin reacts to different products.
We recommend implementing Dēpology Matrixyl 3000 Collagen Serum into your daily skincare rituals. Our unique formula is designed to target and slow down the aging process.
Sunscreen (AM)
Sunscreen is not optional when it comes to taking efficient care of your skin. The sun’s UV rays can be harmful to your skin if heavily exposed and can also increase symptoms of the aging process. You shouldn’t be using anything lower than SPF 30 to venture outside, as anything lower will essentially be useless against the sun.
If you’re looking to condense your routine, there are moisturizers that contain SPF. This way, you can moisturize your skin while also prepping it to fight against the sun. Looking into products such as these will definitely save you time in the summer months when the days are longer and the sun’s rays tend to be stronger.
Eye Cream (AM & PM)
The skin around your eyes is the most delicate and thin layer of skin on the face. As a result, these areas are often among the first to show signs of aging and gather dark spots around the eyes.
It is common for people to wake up with puffy eyes in the morning, which is why people look to eye creams to make the area around their eyes appear less fatigued and brighter rather than darker.
Spot Treatments (AM & PM)
This step is up to the individual in particular, depending on what they want to get out of their skincare routine. If your skin is prone to redness, acne, or you have scars you want to get rid of, spot treatments can be beneficial to bring your skin back to its healthy glow.
Moisturizer (AM & PM)
Just as cleansing is the most important first step of having the best skincare routine possible, moisturizing is second in being one of the steps you must not forget when taking care of your skin. In applying moisturizer, you are allowing your skin to catch up and properly react to all the products you have previously applied to your face.
You can think of this step as applying a “coat” over your skin to act as an extra barrier and keep the products from escaping your skin quickly. Depending on your skin type, you can seek out the moisturizer that most benefits you, whether you have skin that tends to be oilier, drier, or a mixture of the two.
A bonus to your routine can be implementing facial mists, which are an additional method in hydrating your skin and further providing a layer to protect previous skincare products used. Ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acids are going to be what you’re going to want to look for in a facial mist, as opposed to products containing alcohol, which will dry your skin.
Face Oil (AM & PM)
This is when the routines start to differentiate from each other. While you want to apply face oil before sunscreen in the AM, you’re going to want to apply face oil as the final step in your routine once you have moisturized.
Moisturizer is considered a barrier to prevent the products from wearing out too quickly, which also goes for facial oils. It is only natural for the products to evaporate over time (hence why we have to continuously complete our routines every day), but by applying moisturizers and facial oils, you’re allowing the skin to retain that moisture and those benefits from ingredients in your products.
Retinol (PM)
If you’re at all familiar with skincare regimens, you’ll know that retinol products are among the best to incorporate into your life. Retinoids are primarily used to speed up cell turnover, as these products work quicker than others and you are often going to see faster results within a few months or up to a year. They are normally targeted to reduce aging signs such as fine lines and wrinkles.
While Vitamin C is another ingredient that can be used for these purposes, you shouldn’t mix the two together, as this can cause further skin irritation and increased sensitivity. Your skin is already prone to redness and irritation from retinoids, especially upon initial use, so you don’t want to exacerbate the issue.
If you want to use both, vitamin C is recommended more for your AM routine while retinol should be applied at night before going to sleep.
Our Anti-Aging Retinol Night Cream is sure to nourish your skin prior to sleep and increase cell turnover to revert your skin back to its youthful state. It is also able to be used on all types of skin so that everyone can access the benefits of retinol and combat the aging cycle.
