The general rule is to apply products from the thinnest to thickest consistency, so serums should come before moisturizers and facial oils.
An easy way to determine the correct order for your skin care products is to start with the products that are the most fluid or lightweight in consistency and work up to the heaviest consistency. With this philosophy in mind, eye cream should be applied after serum and before moisturizer and SPF (in most instances).
One easy rule to keep in mind is that you should apply products based on thickness or texture. If your eye cream is richer and heavier than your moisturizer, it should go on after your moisturizer. If it's lighter then it's fine to apply it before moisturizer.
Here at Rejuvaskin, we recommend that you use your retinoid face serum first to give it time to soak into your skin. After you've applied your retinoid face serum (avoiding sensitive areas), go in with the retinoid eye cream directly under your eyes.
Eye serum or eye cream should always be the last stage of your skincare routine, no matter what other products are involved. This means that at night time eye cream should be the last thing you do before bed, and in the morning eye cream should be the last thing you do before you leave the house - simple!
Should You Use Both Eye Cream and Eye Serum? If you're looking to determine whether or not you can use an eye cream and an eye serum together, the answer is yes—it can be especially beneficial for those with drier skin types.
Serum and Moisturizer: 1 minute
Goldenberg's go-to recommendation for timing between serums and moisturizers is about one minute. This wait has the same reasoning: Sixty seconds — give or take — gives each product a moment to delve into your pores.
Oil and water don't mix, which is why the order in which you apply your products is important. If you were to apply your moisturizer first, your serum would sit on the top of your skin without ever getting absorbed. It can't penetrate through the oils in your moisturizers, and it may cause your moisturizer to separate.
"It's best to layer lighter products like serums before heavier products like moisturizers," board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D., tells mbg. This is because moisturizers contain some occlusive ingredients, which help them trap moisture in the skin but prevent other ingredients from penetrating.
There is no wait time required between applying your serum and moisturizer. You can even choose to mix them together in the palm of your hand before applying. (Exception: a daytime moisturizer with sunscreen shouldn't be mixed into other formulas since doing so could hinder the level of protection).
Yes, serums, creams and other products can be used around the eyes, but it's important to ensure that whatever you use is safe for that area. Some items have ingredients that may be too harsh to use around the eyes, especially for those with sensitive skin or certain conditions.
If already using a gentle serum, it is also perfect for the skin around the eyes as long as it is the same skin type as of the face. Retionol serums, Vitamin C serums are effective serums which work for under eyes.
In short, no harm will come from applying an eye cream on your whole face, except maybe to your bank account. It can be beneficial when your skin is going through an especially temperamental or parched period (e.g., you experienced a negative reaction to a new skincare product).
“Around 30 secs to 1 min is a sufficient gap between layers in the skincare step. The exception is post serum / spot treatment and retinol. You should allow 3 – 5 mins before applying the next layer to allow surface skin penetration. Apply sunscreen only after there are no traces of moisturiser on the face.
Well, it depends. If you don't have dry skin and aren't in a dry environment or climate, it's possible to use just serum without moisturizer. However, using both may harness the most benefits for your skin. When you use a serum, it delivers active ingredients deep into the skin.
As for what moisturizer to pair with your favorite hyaluronic acid serum? Dr. Shah suggests one with ceramides or niacinamide. “Ceramides hydrate the skin, and both ceramides and niacinamide help strengthen the skin barrier, which allows the skin to hold on to moisture and stay more hydrated,” she says.
For maximum absorption, serums should be applied to freshly cleansed skin. Apply the thinnest facial serum first, or, if serums are the same consistency, start by addressing your primary skin concern. Massage a few drops into the skin, then wait until absorbed before applying your secondary serum.
The general rule of thumb is to treat specific areas, like your eye area, after you've already used your face moisturiser. The eye cream should be one of the last products you use, the only thing that should follow it is sun protection if you apply your eye cream in the morning.