Most of the time, following a different morning or evening routine to take care of your skin becomes a tedious task-this is more if you have many products in your skincare routine and you have to use all of them- it becomes confusing to understand using which product before and which one after! The result- you tend to opt out of the routine and leave your skin uncared.

The main 2 questions that arise are -is it necessary to follow an order to use the product? And are the skin care routines different for morning and night? Let’s answer them first- Yes! Experts recommend following your products in a particular order so that you can maximise the benefits of each of them. And yes, the morning and evening skincare routines differ- not so much, but they do. If you are a beginner planning a routine or want to simply do your previous tedious routine, use these 7 basic routines to get healthy and glowing skin.

1. Cleanse Your Skin (Morning and Evening)

Cleansing your skin twice a day with a suitable cleanser to remove the oil, sweat and dirt is essential to keep it looking fresh. On getting up in the morning, splash your face with water and then use a cleanser before applying any makeup. At night, cleanse your face before going to bed. “Double cleaning technique” can be tried.- you first use cleansing oil to remove your makeup and then wash your face with your regular cleanser.

2. Use a Toner (Morning and Evening)

Toners prime your skin for the later ingredients (serum, moisturisers, etc.) to be well absorbed into your skin. You should be selective in choosing your toner — always look for a timer with beta hydroxy acids like salicylic acid (BHA) or alpha hydroxy acid like glycolic/lactic acid (AHA). Both are useful in opening clogged pores, removing blackheads and preventing acne breakouts. For dry skin, AHAs work better, and for oily skin, BHAs do wonders. Toners should be used after cleansing your face.

3. Apply Serums (Morning and Evening)

Serums are essential as they improve the health of your skin- they are the boosters or heavy lifters of the skin! Serums are made of concentrated nutrients, hydrators and antioxidants that keep your skin supple. In the morning, use a serum that contains antioxidants to protect your skin from irritation and environmental pathogens (Vitamin C serum). It is best to use a moisturising serum that hydrates your skin at night, preventing it from drying (serums containing hyaluronic acids). If your serum is water-based, apply it before moisturisers; if it is oil-based, use it before applying moisturisers.

4. Do Not Forget Eye Creams (Morning and Evening)

These should be applied before moisturisers as they are thinner and lighter than face moisturisers. As your undereye area is very sensitive, use the eye cream gently by dabbing it slowly.

5. Use Spot Creams (Morning or Night)

Spot treatment (creams) works best at night for scars, pimples, zits, etc., as during sleep your body is restoring and rejuvenating itself. If you are using a toner for acne or are using retinoids, then it is best to use the spot treatment in the morning, as overloading all the products on your skin at night may be harmful.

6. Always Moisturise (Morning and Night)

Moisturising your skin is an essential part of the routine. Always use a moisturiser irrespective of your skin type- whether it is oily or dry, as it keeps your skin glowing. Moisturisers keep your skin hydrated and lock in all the previous ingredients you have applied to your skin. You should use a lightweight moisturiser with sunscreen (SPF 30), and at night, as your skin is restoring its nutrients while sleeping, use a thicker moisturiser that contains hyaluronic acids, lipids and proteins.

7. Do Not Forget Your Sunscreen (Morning)

Last but not important is the sunscreen application! The role of sunscreen is to protect your skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun UVA and UVB. These rays can cause skin ageing, wrinkle, dark spots and even skin cancers. You should use broad-spectrum sunscreen (that covers both UVA and UVB) with SPF 30 or higher to protect your skin from the sun. It is advised not to use chemical sunscreens as they have toxic ingredients, which, when absorbed by your skin, can lead to detrimental effects.

Skin is the largest organ of our body, and we should take good care of it, as healthy and glowing skin means a healthier you! To know more about skincare routine, contact our expert dermatologists at Kosmoderma now!