With the multiple products in your routine, putting too much of the product or too little can give you zero results or worse it can irritate your skin. So, be careful not to go overboard and slather your face with too much product, you should use just enough to give you the results you want. How much to use depends on a myriad of factors starting from your skin type, ingredients in the product to the product itself
You should be watchful of potentially irritating ingredients like retinol and exfoliating acids like AHAs and BHAs. Too much of these ingredients can be bad and lead to irritation, inflammation and worse damaging the skin barrier.
General rule of thumb should be to use a green-pea size amount of actives, including serums and other facial products that contain such concentrated ingredients. Sunscreen is one product where more is better in order to get the SPF benefits you need.
So, here's a break-down of how much you should be using on your face each day and night.
Cleanser
Choose a cleanser that is gentle and maintains hydration without leaving your skin greasy. While there may be numerous gentle cleansers in the marker, finding the right cleanser may pose a challenge for oily/or acne-prone skin. There may be certain cleansers that can be irritating and drying while containing natural botanicals which can trigger rashes and other forms of irritation. Look for cleansers with Zinc Pidolate - it's an ingredient that effectively removes dirt and dry skin while maintaining the skin's natural pH level. Apply 5 pence sized amount to create a thin layer of the cleanser on your face. Gently wash your face with the cleanser for 2-5 minutes and avoid scrubbing your face with towels or cleansing cloths
Serum
Serums are now an essential step of any skin care routine, mostly applied before your moisturizer. They tend to be more targeted towards the problem areas on your face and are more lightweight than moisturizer, making it less thick or greasy as creams and easy to absorb in your skin. By design creams and lotion are heavier as they are meant to give your skin hydration while serums are actives that help address a particular problem. The actives in serums are more concentrated and will therefore be potent. However you should be careful when applying high level of actives that can be irritating to the skin. Aim to apply a big pea size amount on the face and neck, try not to apply too much as it can clog your pores.
Eye cream
The skin around your eyes thins out as you grow older, it is the most fragile part of your skin and in need of hydration to make it more supple and less dull looking. You should apply a small pea size amount daily in the morning and night.
Moisturisers The type of moisturisers you apply can vary with your skin type, with gel type moisturiser being more appropriate for oily skin types/skin with acne and heavy moisturiser for dry dehydrated skin. The goal is to maintain the skin's hydration and elasticity. A moisturiser with antioxidants will help fight free radicals and prevent premature aging. Depending on the moisturiser you use a 10 pence sized amount of a heavier moisturiser to a slightly lesser amount for gel type moisturisers should work. Sunscreen If there is a must have skincare product, sunscreen is it and it is one such product that you must use especially in your day time routine, all round the year. It helps protect your skin from harmful UV rays, thus preventing your skin from premature ageing and skin cancer. The problem is that not enough people use it and don't use enough of it. 10 penced sized amount of the product should be used to cover the exposed area of your skin. When it comes to reapplying the product, the frequency is based on multiple factors such as how long you are spending outdoors, if the product comes off with sweat and the intensity of the sun. The SPF of the product is only valid for 2 hours after applying the product. If you are outdoors for longer then it is important to reapply every 2 hours. Exfoliant
Exfoliants help remove dead skin cells, help the product penetrate better and helps improve skin cell turnover. Despite the benefits of exfoliants everyday use is limited to skin irritation, peeling and burning. It should be used once or twice a week and a 5 pence sized amount should be used.
Now, is the question of how it should be applied?
Do you pat, dab or rub?
Well, serums creams and lotions are easier to absorb so it's better to pat it gently on to your skin. So products such as serums, moisturiser and eyes creams should be pat applied on to your skin. This technique is more gentle and it does not irritate the skin. The plus side is that it helps with blood circulation and evenly distributes the product. It is important to apply your eyes creams in this manner, starting from the inner area to the outer area.
Rubbing your skincare product could be more harmful than helpful leading to irritation and breakouts. Leave the rubbing for when cleansing your skin to achieve the foam effect. Remember to rub your face in a circular motion to achieve the best results.
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II DISCLAIMER: Every skin is different, not everything works for everybody. I recommend you test the product before completely using any new product. II