Knowing how skin care products work together and the order in which to use them is incredibly important when developing a routine for optimal results. We’ll guide you through this journey by providing key details that clearly explain the following:
- Which core skin care products skin needs.
- When they should be applied in your routine.
- How each type of skin care product works.
- What results you can expect.
Whether you’re just wanting to put together a simple routine or interested in advanced skin care steps to address specific needs, here’s what you need to know…
Essential Routine Steps
An essential routine is made up of the core types of products everyone needs, regardless of skin type and skin concerns. These are the basic fundamental steps for healthy skin.
Essential Routine: MORNING
1. Cleanser2. Leave-on exfoliant (If using an exfoliant twice daily is too much for your skin to handle, skip morning application and just do this step at night.)
3. Moisturiser with SPF
Essential Routine: EVENING
1. Cleanser2. Leave-on exfoliant
3. Moisturiser (without SPF)
Advanced Routine Steps
While an essential routine lays the foundation for taking care of your skin, if you have more complicated/stubborn skin concerns (including signs of ageing, large pores, uneven skin tone, redness, blemishes) or simply want to do everything you can to keep your skin in tip-top shape, that’s where an advanced skin care routine comes into play.
This involves layering in boosters, serums, and other treatments for your particular skin concerns, building upon your essential routine steps. These advanced solutions can be used once or twice daily, or less frequently depending on your skin’s response and changing needs.
Here’s an example of what such a routine might look like.
Advanced Routine: MORNING
1. Cleanser2. Toner
3. Leave-on exfoliant
4. Targeted treatments, which may include specialised blemish-fighting products, boosters, serums, etc. Apply the blemish treatment (if applicable) first, then layer the rest in order of thinnest to thickest texture.
5. Moisturiser with SPF
Advanced Routine: EVENING
1. Cleanser2. Toner
3. Leave-on exfoliant
4. Targeted treatments of your choice, as mentioned above. If you’re using several treatments at once, you may find it best to alternate by applying some in the morning and others at night.
5. Moisturiser (without SPF)
Dr. Corey Hartman recommends “a simple regimen that addresses individual skin concerns, maximises the preventative nature of the routine and encourages consistency with its simplicity. Another great tip is to incorporate the antioxidant (vitamin C, vitamin E, niacinamide) into the morning routine to ensure that all bases are covered”.
How Each Product Works
Cleanser
What is this for? A gentle cleanser removes excess oil, dirt, impurities, sunscreen, and makeup.
Why do I need this? Starting with a clean face allows the skin care products you use afterwards to work even better. Skipping this essential step can lead to clogged pores, dry patches, puffy eyes, and redness.
What results will I see? Paula's Choice cleansers leave skin feeling soft, smooth, fresh and ready to receive maximum benefits from the other products in your routine.
Toner
What is this for? Well-formulated toners add vital skin-replenishing ingredients immediately after cleansing.
Why do I need this? Toners instantly give skin a generous amount of the important substances it needs to hydrate, refresh, and rebalance. They also help remove the last traces of makeup you may have missed during cleansing.
What results will I see? Paula's Choice toners deliver replenished and soothed skin. Those with combination/oily skin may see visibly minimised pores. Those with sensitive or dry skin may notice less redness and flaking.
What is this for? Leave-on AHA and BHA exfoliants gently remove built-up dead skin for smoother, noticeably renewed skin.
Why do I need this? Sun damage and other factors hinder skin’s natural shedding process. Exfoliants step in to eliminate this buildup, which would otherwise cause issues such as clogged pores, uneven tone, and dull, rough skin.
What results will I see? Paula’s Choice exfoliants can dramatically smooth skin, unclog pores, soften the appearance of wrinkles, and visibly improve uneven tone, leaving skin with a healthy, radiant glow. Take this quiz to find out which exfoliant is right for you.
Blemish Treatment
What is this for? A benzoyl peroxide acne treatment works on contact to disrupt the causes of blemishes.
Why do I need this? Research shows that benzoyl peroxide is crucial step if you want to minimise existing breakouts, while simultaneously preventing future blemishes.
What results will I see? With consistent use, Paula’s Choice blemish treatments reduce breakouts, control excess oil, soothe skin, and visibly calm redness.
Serum Treatments
What is this for? Serums help soften the visible signs of ageing for healthier, younger-looking skin.
Why do I need this? Serums filled with antioxidants and other anti-ageing ingredients help defend your skin from environmental assault, including the visible effects of pollution.
What results will I see? Paula’s Choice serums improve your skin in numerous ways, from calming redness to improving the appearance of wrinkles and skin texture, and helping skin look and feel more radiant and firm.
Moisturiser with SPF
What is this for? This essential morning step keeps your skin protected from the short- and long-term visible effects of sun damage.
Why do I need this? Sunscreens with antioxidants are essential to protect your skin from UV light exposure, which is the #1 cause of wrinkles, uneven skin tone, loss of firmness, and many other signs of ageing.
What results will I see? Protecting your skin allows it to begin looking younger and healthier. With liberal daily application of a moisturiser with SPF, you will significantly prevent future signs of damage.
Moisturiser (without SPF)
What is this for? State-of-the-art moisturisers instantly lock in hydration, while delivering additional beneficial ingredients.
Why do I need this? Moisturisers improve skin’s hydration balance, helping to keep it feeling smooth, plumped, and soft.
What results will I see? When you use the right Paula’s Choice moisturiser for your skin type, skin looks visibly smoother, younger, and replenished.
What About Eye Creams?
We left this step out of our routine guide because your regular daytime and nighttime moisturisers can absolutely be applied around your eyes. However, if you wish to use a separate eye product, choose based on how dry the skin around your eyes is and on other concerns you might have, such as wrinkles, or puffiness. During the day, always apply your eye cream before sunscreen, or look for an eye cream that has built-in sun protection.
References for this information:
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, December 2019, ePublication
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, May 2015, page 28; and November 2012, pages 1013–1024
Dermatology Research and Practice, February 2015, ePublication
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, December 2012, pages 1447–1454
Dermatologic Therapy, May-June 2012, pages 229–233
Skin Research and Technology, November 2010, pages 444–449
Cutis, December 2005, Supplement, pages 19–25
