Start with thin, go to thick and finish with thickest!
Do your prep work! Exfoliate first, dead cells area a barrier and this is essential for ALL skin types! This can be done with a cleansing brush or with cleansers that contain acids such as glycolic or beta acids. This prep work is important and it will enhance the penetration of all products.Go in order! Smooth on skincare products in order of density, from thinnest to thickest. Its like Southwest Airlines, your skin has a first come first serve policy, whatever goes on first penetrates first. Whatever your concern is, wrinkles, zits, sunspots, the most active ingredients should go on first such as antioxidant serums. Next would be the thickest products such as moisturizers and sunscreens. This is a great daytime routine; the exception is retinols which should only be used at night! (more to follow on that topic!)
Apply to just prewashed skin! Damp warm skin acts like a sponge and quickly absorbs whatever comes its way. Make sure the skin is not wet, just damp! If the skin is wet the products will simply wash away. When your skin is well hydrated, ingredients penetrate easily between the cells and work their way down to aid in stimulating collagen production, neutralize free radicals or do the specialized work the product is designed to do. The exception to this rule is sunscreens (especially mineral based ones) as these products are all designed to stay on top of the skin to reflect the suns rays!
