All great skin starts with great skin care, a baseline routine that you can follow morning and night. Our baseline skincare plan features the essentials to help keep your skin balanced and feeling great. But to get the most out of your skincare products, it’s very important to apply them in the correct order both in the morning and at night. A comprehensive skincare routine can seem daunting at the best of times, but with our easy to follow order for applying products, you’ll be an expert in no time. Always start your skincare routine with a clean face. Cleansing should be done in the morning and double cleansing in the evening. If you’ve forgotten to take your makeup off the night before, ensure this is fully removed before beginning your routine. The general rule is to apply products from the thinnest to the thickest – so start with the lightest products. You should also apply water-based products before oil-based ones. Give your products time to absorb. Wait 1-2 minutes to give your product time to absorb into your skin, before moving on to the next step. Cleanse the skin before toning, then apply eye cream to the eye area. Follow this with serum and finish with a moisturiser with SPF (between half and full teaspoon of SPF). For your evening skincare routine, as there’s no need for an SPF at night, use a hydrating night cream instead. 1. Cleanse Skin needs to be cleansed morning and night. A good cleanser should not only cleanse your skin but nourish and maintain its moisture too. If you can, use a prescribed cleanser for your skin type so it doesn’t strip your skin from its lipid barrier and natural defences. Read our guide to choosing the best cleanser for your skin type. 2. Mist Skin mist is a great way to get extra moisture into your skin. Spritz your face with the mist before applying any products to allow the skin to absorb the nutrients from the following products. Both Thalgo and Ultraceuticals have a beautiful skin mist in their range of skincare. 3. Eyes Your eyes are one of the biggest ageing giveaways. The delicate area around the eyes need love and attention. This is where eye cream comes in. Apply morning and night to the eye area for best results. For the best way to apply eye cream, see below. 1. Pump small amount of eye cream (about the size of a grain of rice) and warm across your fingertips. 2. Starting at the arch of the brow, begin gently spreading the eye cream, following the orbital bone out toward the temple. 3. Repeat underneath the eye towards the nasal ridge. 4. Treat #1 Your first ‘treat’ step is to apply a serum that your Total Body Concept Therapist has prescribed for your skin needs. This could be the Ultraceuticals Even Skintone, Serum, Brightening Serum, Clearing Lotion or Pore Refiner Serum.This is a lightweight serum that absorbs easily into your skin (which means other serums can be applied on top). 5. Treat #2 The next ‘treat’ step is to apply a second serum, which could be the skin protecting C23 Firming Serum for the morning and Skin Perfecting A Serum for acne and anti-ageing in the evening. 6. Protect Ultraceuticals’ B2 Hydrating Serum and Protective Antioxidant Complex are designed to protect your skin. As the name suggests these products protect the skin. This step is applied over the top of your serums in the morning providing extra protection and under your final step, SPF. B2 Hydrating serum TO HYDRATE, REJUVENATE AND REPAIR Use a fast absorbing oil-free serum or gel for intense hydration. The right product will penetrate your skin at a deep level, instantly smoothing, hydrating and plumping your skin. You will see visible results in the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, and gives your skin a supple and dewy appearance. Try Ultraceuticals B2 Hydrating Serum for the best results. PROTECTIVE Antioxidant COMPLEX TO PROTECT THE SKIN FROM FREE RADICAL DAMANGE An antioxidant serum protects your skin from free radicals which ages your skin faster. Go for a serum like the Ultraceuticals Protective Antioxidant Complex that includes a powerful blend of antioxidants, for example, Chaparral, Silymarin, Provitamin C, Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid. These will help reduce the visible signs of premature ageing by helping to minimise free radical damage. Free radicals age your skin faster and can be found in car fumes, smoke and UVA and UVB rays. 7. Moisturise and SPF (morning) The sun is public enemy number one when it comes to our skin so make sure you apply sunscreen before you leave the house, and apply every two hours on your face and body if you are outdoors. Go for a non-whitening fast absorbing formula that protects your skin from harmful UVA & UVB rays to help reduce the signs of premature skin ageing. Try the Ultraceuticals Daily Protective Moisturiser for the best results against the sun. 8. Restorative Night Treatment Cream (night) Invest in a night cream and your skin will love you for it! During the night is the peak time for cell turnover and rejuvenation, so assist your skin by hydrating with a prescribed night cream for your skin type. Maximise your skin’s opportunity to reproduce healthy, buoyant cells during this precious renewal time. Try the Thalgo’s Lifting Correcting Night Cream or Thalgo’s Sleeping Cream Night Recovery Cream. Find out when to use and how to apply these products by booking a consultation at Total Body Concept. — If you liked this blog, head over to our Journal page to read more of our helpful skincare guides! If you live in Christchurch and new to the world of facials, get in contact with us or make a facial appointment here. Meet the Total Body Concept team on this page, or head over to our online store for some skincare retail therapy!
