WHEN TO APPLY FACE CREAM
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SUMMARY
- When to Apply Moisturizer: the Key Steps of a Skin Care Routine
- Taking Your Skin Type and Needs Into Consideration
- The Right Skincare Products Depending on the Moment
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When to Apply Moisturizer: the Key Steps of a Skin Care Routine
A successful skincare routine involves essential steps that ensure your skin stays balanced and healthy. Here is a reminder of these steps, but don't hesitate to read the full article we wrote explaining what a skin care routine is for more detailed information.
Daily Cleansing
Cleansing is the first essential step for any routine. Some words of advice :
Always choose gentle cleansers, such as The Cleansing Emulsion, that will clean your skin while leaving it moisturized. This advice applies, of course, to delicate skin, but it is also fundamental for oily or acne-prone skin.
You can use warm water or lukewarm water, but never clean your face with hot water, as it might make your skin dry.
Toning
Apply a toner or essence to rebalance your skin's pH, dissolve limescale, and prepare your skin for better product absorption.
Exfoliation
Promote cell renewal and improve skin texture by exfoliating once or twice a week and getting rid of dead skin cells. Depending on your skin type, you can choose from gentle scrubs, chemical peels, or cleansing brushes.
Treatment
Address specific skin concerns with specific skin care products. These serums and treatments (e.g. hyaluronic acid) can have specific objectives such as preventing the visible signs of aging, radiance, fighting dark spots, or imperfections, etc. They can also target specific parts of the face or body, like eye creams.
Moisturizer
This is the moment to keep your skin hydrated and healthy by using a facial moisturizer suitable for your skin type and condition.
Sunscreen
Shield your skin from sun exposure and harmful UV rays by applying broad-spectrum sunscreen daily in the morning. Apart from protecting you from skin cancer, it will also help reduce brown spots and wrinkles caused by sun damage.
Taking Your Skin Type and Needs Into Consideration
To achieve soft and healthy skin, it is fundamental to adapt your routine to your specific skin type. Whether you have dry, oily, or sensitive skin, tailoring your skincare routine to meet your skin's specific needs is crucial for optimal results.
Dry Skin
For those with dry skin, applying face cream twice a day is a necessity. It is important not to let your skin dry after cleansing without applying your facial cream. This helps lock in moisture and prevents dehydration throughout the day. Look for products with rich, hydrating active ingredients to nourish your skin. These will help protect your skin from the effects of environmental factors. (You can always have a look at our article on what causes dry skin for more info.)
Oily or Combination Skin
Individuals with oily or acne-prone skin should focus on lightweight, non-comedogenic face creams. Combination skin will benefit from balancing products, like The Fluid Cream by Beau Domaine. Applying face cream in the morning helps maintain a balanced complexion. Nighttime is equally important; choose oil-free and mattifying formulations to avoid clogged pores and excess oil production.
Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin, choosing the right face cream is crucial to prevent irritation. Opt for fragrance-free and hypoallergenic products. Applying face cream gently in circular motions helps distribute the product without causing unnecessary friction.
The Right Skincare Products Depending on the Moment
Morning: Protect and moisturize
When you apply moisturizer in the morning, it helps protect your skin from external aggression throughout the day. Using barrier-boosting ingredients helps prevent the effects of environmental damage: UV rays, pollution, extreme climatic conditions such as cold, wind or intense sun...
A morning moisturizer helps prevent dehydration and maintain the skin barrier. Several applications may be necessary during the day, depending on your activity (repeated exposure to the sun), your skin type (in case of excessive dryness, atopic skin...). However, avoid applying your cream over make-up.
Remember to apply sunscreen over your cream to protect against harmful UV rays. UV rays are one of the main causes of premature skin aging.
If you're wearing make-up, apply your face cream before applying make-up. This creates a smooth base for foundation application and helps prevent skin dryness caused by some make-up products. You can also use a day cream specially designed to be worn under make-up to improve its stability throughout the day.
Evening: Repair and Nourish
Night creams are designed to provide essential nutrients for cell regeneration. They also help reduce the signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles.
During the night, the skin naturally repairs and regenerates itself. It's an essential process in which the skin actively participates while we sleep. During these precious hours of recuperation, several phenomena take place:
Cell renewal: The production of new skin cells is at its peak during the night. This replaces damaged or aging cells, contributing to fresher, younger-looking skin.
Stimulation of collagen and elastin: The production of collagen and elastin, two proteins essential for skin firmness and elasticity, is at its peak during the night. This helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and maintain skin firmness.
Damage repair: Aggressions suffered by the skin throughout the day, such as exposure to UV rays, pollution and stress, are repaired during the night. That's why it's important to use an antioxidant-rich moisturizer to support this repair process.
Increased hydration: Overnight, water loss tends to decrease, enabling the skin to retain its moisture. This is also the time when moisturizing products can be more effective, as they are better absorbed.
Reduced sensitivity: Skin's sensitivity can diminish during the night, making it more receptive to the soothing and regenerating ingredients in night care products.
The night is a key time for skin regeneration. By applying your skincare cream in the evening, you optimize this natural process.
If you use specific treatments, such as The Serum by Beau Domaine, it's best to apply it before your moisturizer. Targeted treatments have active ingredients that require maximum absorption, and applying them to clean skin before your night cream is the best approach.
