The Importance of Layered Anti-Aging Products
Layering anti-aging products correctly is a crucial step to a successful skin routine. The correct order of wrinkle creams, toners, serums, moisturizers and sun protection allows each product’s ingredients to work effectively without affecting one another.
Our expert Erno Laszlo offers a skincare regimen by layering that can help you achieve better results and healthier skin. Read on to learn more about how to properly layer your anti-aging products.
1. Cleanser
Skin care layering is an essential part of a healthy skincare regimen. It involves applying various skincare products such as wrinkle creams, anti-aging serums, moisturizers, toners and sunscreens in a particular order so that they work together instead of against each other.
The first step is cleansing. This removes dirt, oil and impurities from the skin and leaves a fresh-faced complexion. It also creates a clean canvas that helps other products penetrate the skin. For example, if you apply a vitamin C serum after Layered Anti-aging your cleanser it is much more effective than if you applied it before.
The order of skincare products is important because each one has a specific role to play and they can interfere with each other if they are not applied correctly. The key is to apply the thinnest products first and the thickest ones last. This is known as the “thinnest to thickest” rule. For example, a toner is thinner than a serum and a serum is thicker than a moisturizer. Then finish everything off with a protective moisturizer.
2. Toner
The order in which you apply your skincare products makes a big difference in the effectiveness of their ingredients. That’s why it’s essential to understand the layering process. You need to know the right order in which to apply your wrinkle creams, anti-aging serums, eye creams, facial oils, and moisturizers so they work together rather than against each other.
The key to successful layering is applying the thinnest product first. “This helps ensure that the rest of your regimen goes on smoothly and does not create any potential irritation,” says Queller. She recommends this alcohol-free toner that is loaded with antioxidants, botanical extracts and hydrating hyaluronic acid.
For those with mature skin, look for a toner that includes glycolic acid, which is an alpha hydroxy acid that stimulates collagen production and reduces fine lines. For those who have dullness, a toner that contains lactic acid or papaya extracts can help. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, an alcohol-free toner with salicylic acid will minimize pores and help control excess oil production. You can even find some that help calm redness and brighten the appearance of dark spots.
3. Serum
A serum is a lightweight formula that delivers a concentrated blend of skincare ingredients for targeted results. Designed to target specific skin concerns, like anti-aging, pigmentation and hydration, serums are infused with powerful active ingredients that work to penetrate deep within the layers of your complexion.
As such, it can be difficult to decide which serums are right for you and how best to incorporate them into your morning or night-time routine. However, by incorporating a few simple rules when layering your serums, you can be sure that you’re getting the most out of each product you use.
Serums should always be applied in order of their viscosity, starting with the thinnest consistency and working your way up to the thicker formulas. This ensures that your skin is able to effectively absorb each ingredient before applying the next product over it.
In addition, you should avoid combining products with similar ingredients that could cause irritation. A perfect example is retinol and acid-based treatments, as they are best used at different times of day to avoid over-stimulating the skin. Instead, opt for a serum that features multiple beneficial ingredients, like a retinol-infused anti-aging serum with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide for brightening and smoothing effects.
4. Moisturizer
If you’re using wrinkle creams, anti-aging serums and moisturizers, proper layering can optimize your skincare routine. This technique can make your products more effective and work better together – especially when it comes to peptides, vitamins and antioxidants.
The basic rule is to apply products in skin care store near me order of their consistency, starting with the thinnest formulas and ending with the thickest products. This way, your lightweight serums and emulsions are absorbed before the heavier moisturizers and creams. Layering also prevents occlusion (when ingredients block each other from absorbing into the skin).
Moisturizers can come in a variety of forms, including soothing lotions, emulsified creams or a gel-cream. The right moisturizer will include hydrating ingredients like shea butter or aloe vera that are a great choice for all skin types.
Moisturizers are also where you can incorporate additional beneficial ingredients such as natural plant extracts, peptides, or retinol. These extra ingredients can decrease wrinkles, smooth the complexion or improve dark spots.
5. Sunscreen
Sunscreen protects your skin from UV rays that cause damage and can contribute to wrinkles, dark spots and sunburn. It can also decrease the risk of skin cancer.
Sun protection products are usually formulated to prevent UVB and UVA rays. They may contain either physical or chemical absorbers. Physical blockers, such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, are minerals that form a thin layer on your skin. They reflect UV rays, a little like a mirror or a window would. Chemical sunscreen ingredients — often called organic because they use carbon-containing molecules — absorb the UV rays. Examples include aminobenzoic acid, avobenzone, cinnamates, benzophenones and oxybenzone.
Some small molecular organic sunscreen filters have been reported to be photoallergenic and to cause skin irritation. In addition, some concern has been raised that sunscreens might impair vitamin D synthesis in the skin. These concerns are based on experiments that measured vitamin D synthesis before and after the application of sunscreen, rather than real-life recreational sunscreen use.