Anyone who cares about the face is under endless marketing attack of new skincare products, enriched with promising ingredients.
They are joined by the products recommended by the personal beautician or dermatologist, and after we have purchased here and there - the question arises what exactly to do with all this abundance on the face - and how it all fits together.
Keren Bartov, a cosmetologist who specializes in all skin conditions, explains that the first step in the morning is to cleanse the face by rinsing with facial soap.
Liquid serums (such as peptide serum or vitamin C serum) should then be applied.
After they dry, you can apply a thicker milky serum, top with moisturizer and sunscreen.
In the evening, it is important to start with a two-stage cleansing of the face, first with facial soap, followed by water with micelles.
Only then apply the rest of the products.
"I really like to use acids (alpha hydroxy, lactic, glycolic, salicylic or mandelic) and they should only be applied in the evening, and before the serums, because their job is to dissolve the intercellular glue to allow all the substances to penetrate the skin," says Bar Tov.
"Acid use must start gradually, moving from once a week to twice a week, and slowly increase. Even then after a month there may be peeling, and then the skin should be nourished every hour with substances that increase moisture and soothe."
As for the use of acids in the summer, Bartov says that acids should be avoided the night before going to the sea or the pool, but can be applied the evening before the days of office and home.
Retinol, on the other hand, should be applied at least a few days before going out for multiple sun exposures, and it is very important to apply sunscreen to the face every hour.
Which penetrates first
Spread according to the level of penetration, Photo: GETTY
Ronit Segev, a biologist, skin researcher and developer of skin care products, suggests a rule that is easy to remember.
"The order of application of the ingredients on the skin is according to their level of permeability, with the rule being to start with the lighter and more absorbent product, followed by applying the richer and thicker product, because a light substance will have difficulty penetrating a thick substance. In practice, when the serum is oily and thicker, it can be applied after the cream, if the cream is lighter, "Segev explains.
The same rule applies to sunscreen.
"It is recommended to apply sunscreen in the morning, on clean skin, and it will be effective both before and after the cream. If the moisture is light, you can apply the moisture first and let it be absorbed, and if the moisture is rich then it is better to apply the sunscreen. For the face is lighter. "
Segev also emphasizes that the acids should only be applied at night and on clean skin, as a first layer, but she adds that you have to wait about half an hour before applying any other product, so that it does not lower its acidity level.
The next product in line for application this evening is retinol, or products containing retinol, followed by the serum and face cream.
And what about the flooding of creams and serums containing collagen and hyaluronic acid?
Segev claims that they do not pretend to fill in wrinkles, give volume or treat age marks, as opposed to injecting the acid that does (collagen is not injected because it is allergic).
"Obviously, if the molecules of collagen and hyaluronic acid are large, they can not penetrate, so most products claim that these molecules are greatly minimized in such a way that they can penetrate deep into the skin. The problem is that only large molecules of hyaluronic acid Only by injection, "Segev concludes.
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