Having a good skincare routine is a great place to start, but it’s not enough. Knowing the order in which you should apply your products and which ingredients shouldn’t be mixed together or you’ll cause skin reactions is crucial. It’s getting a little more complex, isn’t it?
To complicate things further, did you know that you also need to wait a certain amount of time between applying each treatment? Each product needs a little time to properly penetrate the skin. You can't just layer products one after the other without waiting!
Depending on the active ingredients, it may take several seconds or even minutes for optimal absorption. To make your routine truly effective and to avoid common mistakes, we're going to shed some light on this topic.
The main thing? Knowing how to use your products properly and, above all, respecting the absorption time of each formula. Your skin will thank you!
Why is it so important to space out the application of each product?
As mentioned above, each formula needs time to be properly absorbed by the skin. This time can vary from a few seconds to several minutes depending on the product.
But what really happens if you apply products too quickly one after the other? Don't worry, there's no disaster to worry about. However, as dermatologists explain, the formulas may mix, which can reduce their effectiveness.
Another important point: loss of effectiveness. If your product is not properly absorbed by the skin, it will not be able to deploy all of its benefits. Result: your treatment does not have the expected impact. Generally, the minimum recommended by dermatologists is to wait 1 minute between each application. This time can vary depending on the factors mentioned below. Don't be in too much of a hurry: this will give your skin time to benefit from the ingredients in your treatments.
How long to wait between each product?
Serums
Even though serums have a light texture and are quickly absorbed, they still need about a minute to penetrate deeply. Whether it's a purifying, radiance or anti-aging serum, it's important to give the skin time to assimilate the active ingredients.
Specific treatments like retinol, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C require specific soak times. Retinol products, for example, absorb very quickly, especially if they contain a high concentration of active ingredients. According to dermatologists, they have a different chemistry and melt quickly into the skin. As a result, these treatments are absorbed almost immediately, allowing you to move directly to the next step in your routine.
For a hyaluronic acid treatment, it is recommended to wait between 30 seconds and 1 minute before applying another product. After a retinol treatment, the recommended wait is 10 to 20 minutes. As for vitamin C, it is best to let the product work for 5 to 10 minutes before continuing your routine.
Eye contour cream
After applying the eye cream, it is recommended to wait about 1-2 minutes before moving on to apply your moisturizer. This allows the formula to work properly and penetrate the delicate skin around the eyes.
Moisturizing cream
The absorption time of a moisturizer varies depending on its richness. In general, allow between one minute and one and a half minutes for the skin to fully absorb it. After this time, your skin should not be sticky or have any cream residue.
The day:
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is always the last product in your routine. If you want to apply makeup right after, be careful! According to dermatologists, when sunscreen is mixed with other products, it dilutes and becomes less effective. The ideal application time is one minute, but some sunscreens may require 2 to 3 minutes for complete absorption and optimal drying. After applying sunscreen, it is recommended to wait 10 to 15 minutes before applying makeup.
The evening :
Night oil
For night oils, it is recommended to apply them at least 15 to 20 minutes before going to bed, to allow the skin to absorb the active ingredients deeply without losing any on the pillow.
