Tag: cleanser

layering skincare products for maximum effectiveness

Layering Skincare for Maximum Effectiveness

Posted on by Editorial Team

Achieving healthy, glowing skin isn’t just about using the right products—it’s also about applying them in the correct order. Layering your skincare products properly ensures that each one is absorbed effectively, maximizing its benefits. If you’ve ever wondered which product goes first or why certain steps matter, this guide is for you.

Why Layering Skincare Matters

Applying products in the right sequence helps them penetrate the skin properly. Lightweight, water-based products should be applied first to hydrate and prepare the skin, while heavier, oil-based products should be applied last to seal in moisture and active ingredients.

In What Order Do I Layer Skincare Products?

Step 1: Cleanser

Start with a gentle cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and makeup. Cleansing ensures that your skin is fresh and ready to absorb the following products. If you wear sunscreen or makeup, consider double cleansing with an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser.

Product suggestions:

  • For oily skin: gel or foam cleansers with salicylic acid
  • For dry skin: Cream or oil-based cleansers like our facial cleansing oil and makeup remover
  • For sensitive skin: Fragrance-free, hydrating cleansers

Step 2: Toner (optional)

Toners help balance your skin’s pH and remove any remaining impurities. They also prep your skin to absorb serums and moisturizers more effectively.

Product suggestions:

  • For oily/acne-prone skin: Astringent toners with witch hazel or BHA
  • For dry skin: Hydrating toners with hyaluronic acid or rose water
  • For dull skin: Exfoliating toners with AHAs like glycolic acid

Step 3: Serum

Serums contain concentrated active ingredients that target specific skin concerns like wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, or hydration. Choose a serum based on your skincare goals.

Product suggestions:

Step 4: Eye Cream

The delicate skin around the eyes is thinner and more prone to wrinkles, so an eye cream can help keep it hydrated and smooth. Apply with your ring finger to avoid tugging the skin.

Product suggestions:

  • For dark circles: Vitamin C or caffeine-infused eye creams
  • For dry skin: Thick creams with ceramides
  • For combination skin: Balancing lotions with both humectants and emollients

Step 6: Face Oil (optional) or Moisturizer

If you use facial oil, it should be applied after moisturizer to seal in hydration. Oils are especially beneficial for dry or mature skin.

Product suggestions:

  • For hydration: Rosehip or squalane oil
  • For reducing signs of aging: Argan or marula oil
  • For acne-prone skin: Jojoba or tea tree oil
  • For sensitive skin: A gentle brightening moisturizer like our age-defying Vitamin C face creme

Step 7: Sunscreen (Morning routine only)

Sunscreen is the most important step in any morning skincare routine. It protects against UV damage, premature aging, and hyperpigmentation.

Product suggestions:

  • For oily skin: matte-finished gel-based SPF
  • For dry skin: Hydrating SPF with added ceramides
  • For sensitive skin: Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide

Final Tips for Layering Skincare

  • Wait between layers. Allow 30-60 seconds for each product to absorb before applying the next one.
  • Use products with compatible ingredients. Avoid mixing strong actives like retinol and vitamin C in the same routine unless recommended by a dermatologist.
  • Adjust your routine as needed. Your skin’s needs change based on weather, age, and lifestyle.

Choosing the right skincare products to layer can be a challenge, but by following these guidelines, we hope to make it easier.

Summer skincare tips Pinterest

Summer Skincare Tips

Posted on by Editorial Team

The hot, dry Summer months bring challenges when it comes to skin maintenance. Whether it’s skin problems or the need for protection, here are a few of our best Summer skincare tips.

Use Sunscreen

A sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher is our best line of defense. A good sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB radiation and attendant skin damage. UV radiation exposure, like smoking, is a primary cause of premature skin aging. And let’s not forget the risk of skin cancer. Some estimates are that 1 in 5 Americans will develop one of the three forms of the skin cancer by the age of 70. So the best protection against these concerns is regular use of a good sunscreen. We wrote a previous article about Summer sun, Vitamin D and sunscreen that discussed the benefits of barrier sunscreens. We also feel that tanning beds, which carry the same risks as sunlight, should be used with caution.

Add A Toner Or Mister To Your Routine

If you don’t normally use a toner or a skin mister as part of your skincare regimen, you might want to try them now. Increased heat and humidity may contribute to increased sweat and sebum production, resulting in skin eruptions. A toner can help by soothing and refreshing skin, removing traces of cleanser, balancing pH, and helping remove excess oil. Those with oily or combination skin seem to benefit most from a using a toner. There are different formulas, however, that work with all skin types.

A skin mister is often used after a toner or even over makeup to help lock moisture (with ingredients like squalane and shea butter), to mattify (with ingredients like silica) or to prevent breakouts. The important thing to look for are ingredients that match your needs; plain water may be refreshing, but it can ultimately leave skin feeling dryer with repeated use.

Cleanse Gently And Often

It goes without saying that summer heat and humidity necessitate more frequent cleansing and bathing. So you may want to switch to a cleanser that does the job without stripping the skin. Products like micellar water, cleansing balms and oil cleansers (like our 2-in-1 Facial Cleanser and Makeup Remover) cleanse and nourish skin with natural humectants, oils and antioxidants. And if you’re shampooing often, be sure to use a sulfate-free shampoo and nourishing scalp oil to prevent over-drying. Ingredients like charcoal, kaolin clay, and essential oils like rosemary, tea tree and peppermint can refresh, rejuvenate and strengthen scalp and hair.

Don’t Forget to Moisturize

You might think that with all of the excess moisture in the air, you don’t need to moisturize. But it’s not necessarily true. Too much perspiration combined with low humidity can leave skin feeling dry and dehydrated. So choose a lighter formula that protects skin against environmental stressors and enhances and locks in moisture. (Try our Age-Defying Vitamin C Face Creme with Niacinamide, for example.)

By the same token, body moisturizers can soothe sunburned skin, clear pores with ingredients like salicylic acid and AHAs, and retain moisture with ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Maintaining proper hydration can go a long way towards keeping your body’s largest organ – and the entire body – functioning properly. Increased perspiration puts us at higher risk for becoming dehydrated, especially as we age. In addition to drinking water, foods with high water content like cucumber, watermelon, luttuce and oranges can add lots of hydration. Proper hydration also helps the skin rid itself of toxins. You’ll know that you’re properly hydrated if your urine is straw-colored.

We hope that these summer skincare tips will see you through the season with happy, healthy and stress-free skin.

Give Yourself A Spa Facial At Home

Give Yourself A Spa Facial At Home

Posted on by Lydia D

Give Yourself A Spa Facial At Home

Do you want to give yourself a spa facial at home? It’s easier than you think. Although regular days at the spa can be a wonderful way to treat yourself, it may not always be achievable. But you’re in luck. With a little time and effort, you can reap the benefits of a “spa day” without a day at the spa. Here are some tips:

  • Set aside at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted time. Turn off the cell phone. Turn up the mood music. The end of a busy day or weekend are good times. Being relaxed is part of the experience.
  • Have all of your products on hand; 1) facial steamer; 2) gentle cleanser; 3) exfoliator; 4) pore-cleansing mask; 5) moisturizer; 6) headband, head wrap or cap; 7) facial brush, sponge or washcloth; 8) pitcher of lemon water.

Once you’ve assembled your products and you’re ready to go, here are the steps that we recommend for your DIY facial:

  • Pull your hair back and secure with the headband or wrap.
  • Open pores using your facial steamer. If you don’t have one, take a washcloth and run it under hot water. Place on your face briefly to increase circulation prior to cleansing. Alternatively, heat water in a saucepot. Turn it off and stand above it with a towel over your head and allow the steam to reach your face. (Be careful to avoid burning yourself.)
  • Pour a small amount of cleanser into your palm; wet and massage into your face with slow, upward motions. Be especially gentle around the eye area. Don’t rush this part; it’s important to get your skin really clean. If you prefer, use a clean washcloth, facial cleansing brush or Konjac sponge to work the cleanser in. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
  • Use a sugar scrub or other exfoliator to gently slough off dead cells. Use the same upward motion to put it on. Avoid the eye area. Rinse thoroughly.
  • Now it’s time for your mask. Clay and mud masks are popular for clearing pores. Which one you use depends upon your skin’s needs and your personal preference. Or you may prefer a sheet mask. Avoid the eye area. Leave on for at least 10 minutes or until it fully dries. Peel or wash off gently. Pat dry.
  • By now your skin should be glowing! At this point you can use your favorite moisturizer to sooth and protect, as well as to restore moisture and achieve optimum pH (about 5.5). A night cream containing peptides or a daytime lotion with sunscreen would also be appropriate depending upon the time of day. Treat the eye area to a gel or cream specially made for the delicate skin around the eyes.

And that’s it! You can now face the world with a fresh face. It may take a little time, but it’s well worth the effort. Repeat once a month or as needed to restore that healthy glow. Your face will thank you.

which cleanser right skin type woman cleaning skin photo

Which Cleanser Is Right For My Skin Type?

Posted on by Lydia D

Which Cleanser Is Right For My Skin Type?

There are three basic types of cleanser – 1)soaps; 2) surfactant (or detergent) cleansers; and 3) soap-free (or oil) cleansers. It may be difficult to know which cleanser is right for your skin type, with all of the choices available. Below are the basic differences to help you choose.

Soaps

Soaps can be divided into bar soaps and liquid soaps. Soaps have been around for thousands of years. Essentially, a soap is classified as a product created by combining an oil or fat with lye, or sodium hydroxide. If this process doesn’t occur, it can’t be called a soap. An example would be WEBA’s Lavender/Rosemary Bar Soap. Soaps tend to be more basic, with a pH between 10 and 12, depending upon how much sodium hydroxide is left behind and whether or not they are “superfatted.” Unlike our bar soaps, which retain glycerin and use premium butters like cocoa and shea, commercial soaps remove the glycerin for sale. It’s important to read labels; not all bar soaps are created equal. Bar soaps travel well and cost less to use than liquid soaps.

Liquid soaps are made by combining fats or oils with potash, or potassium hydroxide. This is a “hot process” reaction – the ingredients are heated for a period of time until the reaction is done, after which water is added. If less water is added, you have a gel. More water produces a thinner formula. These also tend to be more basic. A major difference between liquid and bar soaps is that with liquid soaps, a preservative must be added due to the high water content. Again, read labels to see what preservatives or other ingredients are used.

Soaps, because they clean so well, are generally fine for people with combination or oily skin, although soaps can have ingredients added to them which make them more moisturizing for all skin types. Many also find liquid soaps convenient and more hygienic than bar soaps. It’s really a matter of personal preference.

Surfactant (detergent) cleansers

Surfactant cleansers include detergents (e.g. dish detergent, laundry detergent) and are generally synthetics (made in a lab). Many of the “Beauty Bars” are, in fact, a combination of surfactants formed into a bar under high pressure. Some surfactants like Sodium Lauryl Sulphate have fallen into disrepute lately, but there are other naturally-derived surfactants like Coco Betaine, which cleans more gently compared with soaps. These tend to be better for persons with problem skin (acne, ezcema, etc.). This class of cleansers is popular in shampoos, as well, because many have conditioning properties.

Soap-free (oil) cleansers

Soap-free cleansers can include oil-free cream and oil cleansers. They are good for dry, combination and oily skin and are good at removing makeup. Oil-free cleansers consist entirely of surfactants, some synthetic and some naturally-derived, with perhaps a wax and conditioning agents. Reading the labels on these products can be confusing because of the chemical names. What is polyethylene? (A plastic resin). What is Methyl Lactate? (A solvent.) It can also be difficult to determine whether ingredients come from plants or animals. Most have water as their first ingredients, necessitating a preservative. And just because these products are soap-free doesn’t mean that you can’t react to one or more ingredients. Companies are required to provide common names on their labels; you can search for information about an ingredient if you’re not sure what it is.

Oil cleansers are also soap-free, but usually contain a combination of oils along with other beneficial ingredients. Again, check the label if you want to be sure that you’re not sensitive to an ingredient like nuts or certain essential oils. One example of an oil cleanser is our Whole Earth Body Actives Gentle Facial Cleansing Oil and Makeup Remover. Ours is free of essential oils, perfumes and dyes. These also tend to be used exclusively for the face, unlike other cleansers. They tend to be less irritating to the eyes.

Our recommendation? It’s probably best to use a variety of cleansers, depending on your family’s skincare needs and their particular use. For travel, bar soaps are best. When skin is dry, try a cream cleanser. To remove makeup and excess oils, try an oil cleanser. Regardless of which you choose, always check labels so you know what is going on your skin, and to avoid irritation.

References:
Aussie Soap Supplies article on surfactants
FDA webpage on ingredient names and labeling