The Perfect 4 Step Skin Care Routine

Just about everyone loves a good self-care pampering day.

Treat yo self. Don’t cheat yo self.

The idea of maintaining an 8 to 10 step Korean skincare routine can feel indulgent and downright deserving at times.

But the truth is we don’t' always have all of the time to apply and let the products soak in. When you have work, school, and children to care for sometimes 10 or 15 minutes is all the time you have before you’re out the door or on your way to bed. I'm pretty much saying that some of us live like a Rhianna song, “Work! Work! Work! Work! Work!” and need the routine to be pared down while still being effective.

Simplicity is another reason why you may choose to skip the daily 8-10 steps. If the routine is too much, too long, or too difficult most of us will have less motivation to do it each day and night. Yes, if you’re like me, you have a bathroom cabinet full of serums and creams that you don’t use every day.

Why is the order important?

Experts say that to receive the full benefits of the active ingredients in the product the order of application is important. Applying product from thinnest to thickest helps each toner, ampule, and cream to penetrate the skin according to what you’ve purchased it for.

Pro Tips:

Slather on your products during any free time you have in the evening.

If possible, start your nightly routine a couple of hours before you lay down in bed for sleep. You can do this while finishing up your last bit of homework, reading or watching television.

If you can’t fall asleep without seeing if Rue from Euphoria will finally get her life together then make the most out of it.

Double Cleansing is still 1 Step

It's always a good idea to wash your face twice. Think about how stubborn makeup, setting sprays, and sunscreen can be. Those products are designed to last all day and one wash won't be enough. You can use an oil cleanser before your normal face wash to make the job easier.

Apply product from thinnest to thickest.

The watery product goes first. This means toner, serums, moisturizer, and possibly an oil if you have dry skin to lock all that good moisture in.