How to Build a Skincare Routine:
ORDERING AND LAYERING
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A skincare routine is more than just a series of steps – it’s a dedicated practice that nurtures your skin and promotes its overall health and radiance. Skincare routines involve a careful selection of products and a specific order of application, working together to address your skin’s unique needs.
A well-crafted skincare routine not only helps maintain your skin’s natural balance but also gives you a little moment of self-care. Whether you’re aiming for clearer skin, a more youthful appearance or simply a chance to pamper yourself, a consistent skincare routine is key to achieving healthier-looking skin.
In this comprehensive guide, NIVEA walks you through everything you need to know about how to order and layer your skincare products so you can enjoy healthier skin day after day.
Skincare routine
ORDERING AND LAYERING
When you’re layering products it’s important to start with lightweight products like cleansers, toners and serums, then move on to heavier products like moisturisers. That way each product can penetrate your skin effectively and provide the intended benefits.
Not everyone needs a complicated 10-step routine, as skincare needs can vary based on individual skin types and concerns. A basic 3-step skincare routine consisting of cleansing, moisturising and sun protection can be perfectly sufficient for some people.
Having a longer skincare routine offers more targeted and advanced solutions, addressing specific concerns such as ageing, acne or hyperpigmentation with the use of additional products including serums, exfoliants and masks.
The choice between having a basic, intermediate or advanced routine depends on your own goals and preferences, with some people opting for simplicity and others prioritising a more comprehensive approach to skincare.
Building a 24 hour face skincare routine:
STEPS TO INCLUDE
Step 1: Cleanse
Start your morning skincare routine with a thorough cleanse to remove dirt and impurities, preparing your skin to absorb the nourishing ingredients in your care routine.
Benefits may include: Awakens and refreshes skin, controls excess oil, supports pH balance, helps skin absorb care products, helps maintain pore size.
Can I skip cleansing?: Cleansing is essential in any skincare routine, so it shouldn’t be skipped. Having thoroughly cleansed skin is the foundation on which you’ll apply all your care products.
Tips: Use a cleanser that suits your skin type, apply gently and avoid scrubbing, use lukewarm water, avoid harsh ingredients such as alcohol, and pat your face dry instead of rubbing.
Step 2: Tone
Toning finishes the morning cleansing process by removing the final traces of dirt or residue and helping to balance your skin’s pH levels.
Benefits may include: Balances pH levels, removes leftover residues, adds hydration, refines pores and improves complexion, boosts radiance, helps control skin conditions.
Can I skip toning?: Toning is generally beneficial for skin and for boosting radiance, however in some situations it’s fine to skip it. These include following a minimalist routine, experiencing negative skin reactions or if you’re using a 2-in-1 cleanser and toner product for step 1.
Tips: Use a toner that suits your skin type and targets any specific concerns, apply by gently patting on with your fingertips or a soft cotton pad, avoid toners containing alcohol, avoid overuse (generally more than twice a day).
Step 3: Serum:
Serums are lightweight, fast-absorbing and deeply penetrating products that offer high concentrations of active ingredients, formulated to target specific skin concerns. They’re the super-boost of any beauty routine.
Benefits may include: Faster results than creams alone, extra customisation for your routine, additional hydration, radiance, firmness or smoothness depending on their formulation.
Can I skip serum?: Skipping serum means missing out on a big opportunity to power up your skincare routine and target any specific concerns. Serum is often the most effective product at achieving the results you’re after. However, if you have no particular concerns or want to stick to a minimalist 3-step routine, you may choose to leave serum out.
Tips: Select a serum that targets your concern, get to know what different ingredients do (e.g. Vitamin C for brightening, Hyaluronic Acid for hydrating), allow 1–2 minutes for full absorption, and remember that a small amount goes a long way.
Step 4: Eye cream
Eye creams are specifically formulated to nourish the delicate skin around your eyes, helping to target common concerns such as dark circles, puffiness and crow’s feet. These can also be used after moisturiser, provided you leave the under-eye area clear for application.
Benefits may include: Targeted action on common concerns such as dark circles or eye bags, helps prevent signs of ageing, improved texture and hydration, enhanced makeup application.
Can I skip eye cream?: Younger individuals with no specific under-eye concerns, or anyone looking to stick to a basic skincare routine, may choose to skip eye cream. If you have oily skin you may also find that a regular moisturiser is enough to keep the area hydrated.
Tips: Choose an eye cream that targets your concerns, apply by gently tapping with your ring finger, avoiding contact too close to the eyeball, start with less and add more if necessary, and be patient for results.
Step 5: Moisturiser – Day cream
Day creams provide essential moisture and hydration throughout the day, helping to keep your skin feeling supple and looking its best. They also help provide daily protection against environmental stressors.
Benefits may include: Moisture, sun protection (if they contain SPF), free radical protection, skin barrier support, makeup base, additional targeted actions based on formulas (anti-ageing, glow boosting etc.).
Can I skip moisturising?: Moisturising is recommended even in basic skincare routines – it’s a cornerstone step and therefore inadvisable to skip. Only those with particularly oily skin may choose to skip and apply a light sunscreen instead; in that case it’s still recommended to find a moisturiser formulated for oily skin that can help control excess oil to prevent breakouts.
Tips: Choose a day cream for your skin type and concerns, remember that SPF provides additional protection, apply more generously than serum, allow it time to absorb (particularly if you’re applying makeup), and dot it all over your face and neck before gently massaging into your skin.
Step 6: SPF
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is essential to keep your skin shielded from harmful UV rays throughout the day that can cause damage. Sunlight is quite often the main cause of many skin concerns, including dark spots and premature ageing – so SPF is essential for maintaining a radiant complexion.
Benefits may include: UVA/B protection, helps prevent sun-induced dark spots, helps prevent photoageing, maintains skin health, helps prevent sunburn.
Can I skip SPF?: SPF is essential to skin health, even in minimalist routines. You should apply it whenever your skin is going to be exposed to sunlight to protect it from damage.
Tips: Aim for at least SPF 30 or higher, apply generously and regularly, check sunscreen expiration dates, and avoid the sun during peak hours.
Step 1: Cleanse
Difference vs. morning: While in the morning you’re refreshing and awakening your skin, in the evening you’re looking to remove any makeup, sunscreen, dirt or impurities accumulated throughout the day and prepare it for night-time care products.
Benefits may include: Helps prevent breakouts, enhances care product absorption, promotes cell renewal, supports night-time repair and regeneration.
Can I skip cleansing?: Similar to your AM routine, it’s not recommended to skip cleansing in the evening unless you’re following advice from a dermatologist.
Tips: It’s popular to double cleanse in the evening, using an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup and sunscreen, followed by a water-based cleanser to clean the skin.
Step 2: Tone
Difference vs. morning: Toning in the evening serves a very similar purpose but instead wicks away any final traces of makeup or daily dirt. It can also help to further neutralise daily free radicals.
Benefits may include: Same as AM routine.
Can I skip toning: Same as AM routine.
Tips: Same as AM routine.
Step 3: Serum
Difference vs. morning: The purpose of serum is still very similar, however you could consider targeting different concerns in the evening than in the morning.
Benefits may include: Same as AM routine.
Can I skip serum?: Same as AM routine.
Tips: In the evening you may want to look for a serum that is specifically formulated for hydration and overnight repair; those containing Hyaluronic Acid are particularly good at this. Using the same serum in the morning and evening is perfectly fine, however switching them up can help you target different concerns.
Step 4: Spot treatments
Difference vs. morning: While you could apply these treatments (such as retinoids for anti-ageing or acne treatment) in the morning, these products can sometimes make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, which is why they’re usually recommended for night-time use.
Benefits may include: Targeted action, works in conjunction with your skin’s natural repair process, preventative care.
Can I skip spot treatments?: If you have no specific areas of concern, or you’re following advice from a specialist, you may decide to skip this stage.
Tips: Introduce treatments slowly, follow the directions on the packaging, and always apply SPF the next day as some treatments can increase sensitivity.
Step 5: Eye cream:
Difference vs. morning: Eye cream serves a very similar purpose in the evening routine as it does in the morning routine, so you can follow the same advice.
Step 6: Moisturiser – Night cream
Difference vs. morning: While day cream provides support and protection for your skin throughout the day, night cream provides overnight nourishment, supporting your skin’s natural regeneration and repair process. Night creams often have thicker formulas, focused on intense hydration and skin barrier restoration as opposed to protection.
Benefits may include: Supports your skin’s natural regeneration and repair process while you sleep, helps you wake up to refreshed skin, ensures overnight moisture needs are met, higher concentration of active ingredients.
Can I skip night cream?: As with moisturising in the morning, it’s generally not recommended to skip in the evening. Skipping can lead to your skin becoming dehydrated overnight, and you’ll also miss a chance to support its natural regeneration and repair process.
Tips: Look for a night cream that complements your day cream, combining them both for 24-hour care to keep your skin healthy and nourished while targeting any specific skin concerns.
You can work these into your weekly routine to provide targeted benefits for your skin. Typically used 1–3 times a week, depending on the needs and goals of your face care routine, face masks come in different varieties including sheet masks, clay masks, hydrating masks and exfoliating masks.
Benefits may include: The benefits are numerous and depend on the type of mask you’re using. Typically all will contain a concentrated burst of active ingredients to target specific concerns. They’re also a great addition for a deep pamper and relaxation session. Regular use can enhance the efficacy of your daily face care routine.
Can I skip masks?: Most people can benefit from a weekly mask treatment, however if your skin is healthy and you’re happy with your complexion, you may choose to pass them up.
Tips: Select a mask that complements the goals of your daily routine, apply to cleansed skin, follow the packaging instructions, apply in a relaxing setting, and pop it in the fridge for additional refreshment (do check the packaging instructions first, as this may impact how effective the ingredients are). After use, massage in any excess formula or gently pat it away with a cotton pad.
Depending on your skin type and needs, you should exfoliate as part of your evening face care routine after cleansing 2–3 times a week for a deeper cleanse. This helps to remove any build-up of dead skin cells and promote cell renewal.
Benefits may include: Skin renewal, clearer pores, improved skin tone and texture, reduced likelihood of breakouts, improved efficacy of care products.
Can I skip exfoliation?: It’s best to get into the habit of exfoliating at least twice a week to deeply cleanse, prevent clogged pores and reduce a build-up of dead skin cells. Those with sensitive skin may exfoliate less often, whereas those with oily skin may exfoliate more often.
Tips: Choose an exfoliant based on your skin’s needs – whether that’s a mechanical scrub or a chemical (AHA or BHA) exfoliant – exfoliate after cleansing, apply gently and avoid excessive rubbing (let the ingredients do the work), and rinse off thoroughly.
NIVEA curated skincare routines
FOR SPECIFIC CONCERNS
NIVEA Q10 Power Anti-Wrinkle skincare routine
Skincare routines are essential for both men and women in achieving healthier-looking and radiant skin. While there are some commonalities in skincare routine steps, such as cleansing, moisturising and sun protection, there can also be individual differences based on skin type, concerns and personal preferences.
Men’s skincare routines might take into account factors like shaving and facial hair care, while women’s routines may include additional steps like makeup removal. Regardless of gender, it’s important that you understand your skin’s needs and choose products that address those factors.
Regularity is vital, as consistent skincare practices lead to long-term benefits. Ultimately, regardless of your gender, a well-crafted skincare routine is an investment in both self-care and skin health.
