— SKINCARE
Are You Using the Right Amount? Toners, Serums, and Creams Explained
Have you ever had this happen? You come home at the end of a long day, ready to pamper yourself with your skincare routine…
And as you layer on your serums, moisturizers, eye creams, and all of your other products, your skin starts to get stickier and shinier…
And by the end of your routine you feel like you’re wearing a mask.
Well, the reason for this is you’re using too much of your skincare products!
In the case of skincare, less really is more. And I bet it would surprise you how little of each product you need to get noticeable results.
So read on to find out how much cleanser, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, and more to use.
Step 1: Cleanser
When you wash your face at the end of a long day, it might be tempting to grab a ton of your favorite cleanser and go to town.
After all, your skin comes into contact with dirt, bacteria, and environmental stressors all day.
But in reality, too much cleanser can dry out and irritate your skin.
And it’s important to avoid that “squeaky clean” feeling that can sometimes happen when you wash up.
So all you need is a dime-sized amount of cleanser to effectively remove dirt, oil, and makeup.
Step 2: Toner
Using toner after cleansing returns your skin’s pH balance back to normal, and removes any leftover impurities your cleanser might have missed.
But using an excess of toner won’t cleanse your skin any more than a small amount would…
So limit yourself to a few drops on a cotton pad.
It should be damp, but not dripping when you apply it to your skin.
Step 3: Essences and Serums
My advice is to add an essence or serum to your skincare routine.
Serums have high concentrations of effective ingredients, and their thin texture penetrates deep into the skin.
They can give you anti-aging benefits, fight dark spots, hydrate, or target other specific concerns.
So it can be tempting to get excited and want to slather your skin with these powerful formulas… but don’t!
The concentration of these ingredients mean that they are effective in small amounts.
So for an essence or serum, all you need is a pea sized amount. Simply rub it in between your hands and press it evenly into your skin.
That’s it!
Step 4: Eye Cream
Eye creams can feel super thick and luxurious, and since thinning skin and darkness around the eyes is a problem area for many of us, it can be tempting to slather them on.
But the formula of eye creams include very high concentrations of specialized ingredients — and using too much can lead to irritation of this sensitive area.
Plus, too much eye cream might even cause milia — those annoying, white bumps that pop up around the eyes sometimes.
So a “less is more” approach is really beneficial.
Try splitting a pea-sized amount of eye cream between both of your eyes.
Step 5: Moisturizer
Applying a lot of moisture might seem like a good idea if you have dry skin, but your skin will only absorb what it can use, and the rest will just sit on top of your skin as wasted product.
So to effectively moisturize and hydrate your skin, all you need is a quarter-sized dollop.
Again, rub your moisturizer between your fingers to evenly distribute it, and then press it into your skin gently.
In the Morning: SPF
Since this is such a crucial part of your skincare routine, you might think that dousing your skin in SPF is the right move, but some sunscreens can leave a white cast and give you a greasy feel.
So limiting your application to a quarter-sized amount will lead to a good balance between protection and absorption.
Of course, it’s also extremely important to reapply your sunscreen throughout the day, so don’t forget to do this, too.
(If you’re wearing makeup, there are several products like setting sprays and powders that contain SPF so you can reapply your sunscreen without ruining it.)
So the next time you’re ready to go through your skincare routine, remember these amounts.
You’ll save product, and in turn save money!
And you won’t end up looking like a disco ball. 😉
