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HOME & LIFESTYLE

How to Build a Skin Care Routine:

The Perfect 9-Step Skincare
Regimen
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Jun 8, 2021 • 4 min read

It’s not enough to have good skin-care products: For your products to be most effective,
you also need to apply them in the correct order. Your routine will depend on your skin Learn from the best.
type, the ingredients and formulations of your products, and the time of day. A good rule
of thumb, though, is to apply in order of texture, from thinnest to thickest, since thin
products won’t be able to penetrate thicker ones.

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The Perfect 9-Step Skincare Routine

Whether you have a three- or nine-step routine, there’s one thing anyone can do to
improve their skincare, which is to apply products in the right order. No matter your skin
concerns, you’ll want to start with a clean, toned base, then apply concentrated, active
ingredients, and finish by sealing in moisture—and, of course, SPF in the daytime. Here
are the steps for a good skincare regimen:

1. Wash your face. Morning and night, rinse your face water and rub a small amount
of gentle cleanser between clean palms. Massage face wash all over your face using
gentle pressure. Rinse your hands and massage your face with water to rinse your
face until you’ve removed the cleanser and grime. Gently pat your face dry with a soft
towel. If you wear makeup, you may need to cleanse twice at night. First, remove your
makeup with cleansing oil or micellar water. Try leaving dedicated eye-makeup OUR HOME & LIFESTYLE COURSES

removers on for a couple of minutes to allow the makeup to come off more easily and
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avoid rubbing your eyes. Follow up with a full-face gentle cleanse. Teaches Bread Baking

2. Apply toner. If you use toner, apply after cleansing your face and before
everything else. Pour a few drops of toner into your palms or a cotton pad and gently Brandon McMillan
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swipe onto your face. If your toner is exfoliating—meaning that it removes dead skin
cells with ingredients like glycolic acid—use only at night. Hydrating formulas can be
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used twice a day. Do not use exfoliating toner and retinoids or other exfoliators at the Teaches Gardening

same time.

3. Apply serum. Morning is a great time to use a serum with antioxidants—like a Gordon Ramsay
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brightening vitamin C serum—because they protect your skin from free radicals you’ll
encounter throughout the day. Nighttime is a good time to use a moisturizing serum
with hyaluronic acid, which keeps your skin from drying out at night, especially if
you’re using anti-aging or acne treatments that can irritate and dry out the skin.
Serums can also contain exfoliants such as alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) or lactic acid.
Whatever you’re using, always remember: Water-based serums should go
underneath moisturizer; oil-based serums should be applied after moisturizer.

4. Apply eye cream. You can apply regular moisturizer to your under-eye area, but if
you decide to use a specialized eye cream, you’ll typically want to layer it underneath
moisturizer, since eye creams tend to be thinner than face moisturizers. Try using an
eye cream with a metal roller-ball applicator and storing it in the fridge to counteract
puffiness in the morning. Using a hydrating eye cream at night can cause fluid
retention that makes eyes look puffy in the morning.

5. Use spot treatment. It’s a good idea to use acne spot treatments at night, when
your body is in repair mode. Be wary of layering acne-fighting ingredients like benzoyl
peroxide or salicylic acids with retinol, which can cause irritation. Instead, make sure
you’re doing the most to keep skin calm and hydrated.

6. Moisturize. Moisturizer both hydrates skin and locks in all the other layers of
product you’ve applied. Look for a lightweight lotion for the morning, ideally with SPF
30 or higher. In the evening, you can use a thicker night cream. Those with dry skin
may want to use a cream morning and night. POPULAR ARTICLES

7. Apply retinoid. Retinoids (vitamin A derivatives including retinol) can reduce dark Vitex Chaste Tree Care: 5
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spots, breakouts, and fine lines by increasing skin-cell turnover, but they can also be
irritating, especially for sensitive skin. If you use retinoids, know that they break down Aster Flowers: How To Grow
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in the sun, so they should only be used at night. They also make your skin extra-
sensitive to the sun, so sunscreen is a must. Understanding Trompe L’Oeil:
9 Examples Of Trompe L’Oeil

8. Apply face oil. If you use a face oil, make sure to apply it after your other skin-
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care products since nothing else will be able to penetrate the oil. Biting: 4 Tips To Minimize
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9. Apply sunscreen. It may be the last step, but nearly any dermatologist will tell
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you that sun protection is the most important part of any skin-care regimen. Protecting Tips To Get Thicker Eyebrows

your skin from UV rays can prevent skin cancer and signs of aging. If your moisturizer
doesn’t contain SPF, you still need to wear sunscreen. For chemical sunscreens, wait
20 minutes before going outside for the sunscreen to be effective. Look for broad-
spectrum SPF, meaning that your sunscreen protects from both UVA and UVB
radiation.

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Bobbi Brown teaches you the tips, tricks, and techniques for applying simple, natural makeup that makes you feel beautiful in your own skin.

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