The Right Way to Use Skincare Products

You may not have known that there are wrong and right ways to use skincare products. But, using skincare products in the correct order is essential for optimal skin vitality! If applied in the wrong order, they may not be effective, and might not deliver the results you were looking for. Here are Seaflora’s easy to follow guidelines on how to properly apply your skincare products (in the right order) for beautiful, healthy skin.

Remember These 3 General Rules for Success

• Thinnest to Thickest Texture: Start your routine from lightest to heaviest products. After cleansing, apply the toner to prep the skin for the next layer. Layer serums next, then apply your heavier creams like moisturizers and sun protection last.
• Water-Based before Oil-Based: Apply water based products which hydrate, before your oil-based ones which seal in the hydration. Pro-tip: Hyaluronic acid treatments should be applied after hydrating and before moisturizer.
• Lowest to Highest pH: It is a good idea to know the approximate pH of your products when using active ingredients. Acidic products (pH 3.0 to 4.0) should always be applied before more neutral ones (pH 5.0 to 7.0).

The Right Way to Apply Skincare; Let’s Break It Down

Step 1: Cleanse

The first step in your facial skincare routine should always to cleanse. Aim for twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Cleansing the skin will remove harmful environmental factors built up on your skin during the day, helps regulate sebaceous oil, and gently sloughs off dirt and dead skin cells for fresher skin. Pro-Tip: Your cleanser should not strip the skin or leave it feeling tight. A good cleanser is gentle and cleans without stripping moisture. Remember, using your skincare products the right way also means using the right products for your skin type and concerns.

Step 2: Tone

You should apply toner after cleansing (or after exfoliating/masking is preformed 2-3 times a week: see below). Toner helps to shrink pores, perfectly balance the skin’s pH, clarify the skin, and even out skin tone.

Okay, maybe all toners are not capable of all that, but Sea Splash Toning Essence certainly is! Our toning essence can even used as an aftershave and prevent ingrown hairs which harbor acne-causing bacteria. Seaflora’s toner opens up the skin barrier and prepares the skin for maximum absorption of following products. Sea Splash Toner also contains alginate, a compound found in seaweeds that builds the delivery system through the dermal layers. That means, all the rich nutrients found in Seaflora skincare products can penetrate even deeper into your skin!

Step 3: Apply Serum

The next step in your routine is to target skin concerns with a serum, which should be applied as directed after your toner. It’s important to preform this step before moisturizing as a serum will penetrate deep into the skin, releasing its potent concentration of vitamins, minerals, and other key ingredients more effectively underneath your moisturizer.

Step 4: Moisturize

Moisturizing should come after a serum or a toner and should be done every day; morning and night. Using the right moisturizer for your skin type is essential! Using the wrong moisturizer for your skin type and concerns can cause oily skin, acne, dry skin, flakiness, irritation, the list goes on! Keep in mind the products you use may change with the seasons to keep up with your skin’s needs. For example, it is common to need a richer moisturizer in the winter when the air is cold and dry and a lighter one in the warm summer months. Moisturizing reduces the chance of skin problems, and the appearance of blemishes. It also reduces signs of aging and keeps skin soft and healthy throughout the day.

Pro-tip: Finding the right products for your unique skin can be overwhelming with all of the options available on the market today. If you’re unsure, you can take our skin quiz for some free advice on which products and routines are best for your skin. Seaflora’s website also you to sort by products skin type, skin concern, series, or product type to help you find your perfect routine.

The Right Way to Use Exfoliators and Masques

Exfoliating should only be preformed 2-3 times a week. Preforming this step every day can cause excess oil production to occur, doing exactly the opposite of what you’re looking for. Exfoliating helps unclog pores, prevent acne, even the skin tone, boost circulation, and promote lymphatic drainage. It’s also an excellent way to help other products penetrate deeper into the dermal layers, enhancing the effectiveness of the products.

Masques should also only be used 2-3 times a week and after exfoliating. Using a masque is like giving your skin a good work out. We call it skin fitness! Depending on your targeted skin concern, you may choose a masque that boasts Vitamin C and antioxidants to brighten and even out the skin tone while strengthening the skin’s elasticity. A masque with Kaolin Clay and botanical oils is essential for revitalizing the skins appearance and restoring irritated or inflamed skin. Masques are perfect for a little self-care spa day to give your skin an extra boost of beneficial vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients. Pro-tip: Can’t seem to tame those fly-away hairs? Try our Seaflora headbands to keep them out of your masque!

Don’t Forget The Eye Care!

Eye care should be one of the last steps in your routine. Some people like it before moisturizer, some like to apply it after. Because moisturizer and eye care aren’t layered, it doesn’t really matter which step you do first. Incorporating face yoga, acupressure, or facial massage is also highly recommended to aid in graceful aging.2

Applying your eye products with a Zinc Ion applicator can be beneficial for puffy under eyes and people looking for a relaxing eye massage. Eye care is essential to calm the dark circles, fine lines, and puffiness caused by squinting and sun exposure. If you’re looking for extra self care, try our 100% pure Seaweed Eye Masques. Rehydrate these masques and place them under the eyes by themselves, or after applying one of Seaflora’s eye treatments. Using the applicator, massage the seaweed over the eye area and let rest for 10 minutes. These wild, organic seaweed eye treatments can be reused 2-3 times, then put directly into the garden or kitchen compost to add their beneficial superfood compounds to your soil!

Congratulations! You can now be confident in your skin routine decisions and get the most out of every skincare products by knowing the right way to use skincare products!