Are You Applying The Wrong Amount of Skin Care Product?

Are You Applying The Wrong Amount of Skin Care Product?

One of the most common skin care mistakes is applying too much or too little of product. When applying professional skin care products in particular, it’s important to keep in mind that they are highly concentrated. This means that you need to use even less to experience their full benefits.

Follow this guide for application quantities that are just right: 

1.) Cleanser (Blueberry-sized amount):

Over time, using too much cleanser (or over cleansing) can compromise your skin’s moisture barrier. This jeopardizes its natural ability to keep your skin hydrated and balanced, leaving you with a dry and irritated complexion. On the other hand, using too little can impede a thorough cleanse. When dirt and debris are left behind, pores can become clogged, causing breakouts. Make sure to use lukewarm water and avoid rubbing your skin too vigorously.

2.) Toner (3 spritzes):

Toners complete the cleansing process and prep your skin for the rest of your routine. This step removes lingering impurities and replenish the skin with essential moisture and hydration. This helps your skin to better absorb the subsequent skin care products in your routine. Toners should be used morning and night, immediately after cleansing. Apply three spritzes of toner directly onto the skin — or, moisten a cotton pad and gently sweep the toner across your face and neck. 

Pro Tip: Apply toner while your skin is still slightly damp — this helps its active ingredients absorb more efficiently.

3.) Exfoliant (Raspberry-sized amount):

Exfoliating regularly is essential for a healthy skin care routine. While your skin turns over naturally, it can get bogged down by a buildup of oil, dead skin, and impurities on its surface. Exfoliation helps boost skin cell turnover by sloughing away dead skin and  clearing the way for new skin cells to rise to the surface. 

While exfoliation plays a major role in skin health, it can be easy to overdo it. Exfoliating too often — or with abrasive products — can cause more harm than good.

To gently but effectively exfoliate your skin, I recommend the following:

• Powder Exfoliants: For a powder exfoliant like the Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafolaint or Stone Crop Fizzfoliant, dispense one to two shakes into the palm of your hand. Add a few drops of water/cleanser and gently massage the paste into your skin. Rinse thoroughly! 

4.) Face Masks & Treatments (Cherry-sized amount for the face and neck):

Masking is one of the best ways to give your skin an immediate boost. Face masks contain concentrated amounts of vitamins and nutrient-rich ingredients that are delivered under occlusion which helps them to absorb more efficiently. There is a face mask for every skin type and skin concern. When it comes to applying a face mask, less is more. Simply emulsify a cherry-sized amount of mask in your hand with a few drops of water. Apply evenly and allow it to dry for five to ten minutes. Gently remove with lukewarm water.

5.) Serum, Oil, Or Concentrate (Pea-sized amount or 2-3 drops):

When it comes to oils, serums, and concentrates, a little goes a long way! These potent formulas contain concentrated amounts of active ingredients that boost the skin’s overall health and target specific skin concerns and conditions. They can be used separately, or layered to enhance their benefits and tackle multiple problems at once. Because they are so highly concentrated, you only need a small amount to experience its full benefits. For a serum or oil, pressing three drops into clean skin. For concentrates (which have a lotion-like texture), even less is more. Apply just one to two pumps for optimal results.

6.) Moisturizer For Face Vs Body (Blueberry-sized for the face & cherry-sized amount for the body):

We’re all guilty of being a bit heavy-handed when it comes to applying moisturizer, but more isn’t necessarily better. Applying too much moisturizer can actually limit the skin’s ability to properly absorb its beneficial ingredients and cause product to accumulate on its surface. The result: Congested pores and lackluster skin. 

For your face skin care routine, get the most out of your moisturizer, apply a blueberry-sized amount to your face, neck and decolletage. Use gentle, upward-sweeping motions, starting from your chest and moving towards your hairline. This action stimulates circulation and gives your skin a health-looking glow.

When it comes to body care, you can apply a cherry-sized amount of moisturizer to improve dryness anywhere on your body. Slather it on your legs, arms, hands, neck, elbows, stomach — you get the idea! 

7.) Eye Cream (Grain of rice amount for each eye):

The eye area is the thinnest and most fragile part of your face. For this reason, it can quickly display dryness, dark circles, puffiness, and the visible signs of aging. Packed with vitamins and nutrient-rich ingredients, eye creams moisturize and soothe dry skin as well as reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark under eyes. This delicate area needs to be treated with care. When applying eye creams, a pea-sized amount is plenty for the entire eye area. I recommend dispensing one pump of eye cream and gently patting it into the skin around both eyes, taking care to avoid pulling and stretching. 

8.) SPF (Pea/Blueberry size amount):

Applying sunscreen is a non-negotiable: Sufficient sun protection is key to protecting your skin from irreversible sun damage. This is an essential skin care step that shields skin from the drying and aging effects of UV exposure. A pea to blueberry size amount is great!

When To Apply Skin Care:

When you apply your skin care is just as important as the amount of product you use. You should always be applying thinnest to thickest! While most skin care products should be applied both morning and night, there are weekly and monthly treatments that you can add to enhance your daily routine.

Here’s a guide for what to apply when:  

Daily (Morning And Night)

• Cleanser
• Toner
• Serum/Oil/Concentrate
• Moisturizer
• Eye Cream
• SPF (only AM)
• Night Cream (only PM)

Weekly (1-2 Times)

• Exfoliate (after toning)
• Mask (after toning and/or exfoliating)

Monthly/Seasonally

• Professional treatments