Skincare Layering Tips for All Skin Types

By now you must know what a basic three-step skincare routine entails. But what if you wanted to up your skincare game with a multi-step regimen? Skincare layering gets a bit more complicated once you pile on products, especially with all the options available to you nowadays. Can an advanced skincare routine really make your skin healthier?

A 2019 study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology compared a simple regimen (cleanser and day cream) with an advanced one that included cleanser, toner, eye cream, serum, day cream, and night creams. The results? The multi-step routine outperformed the basic regimen in terms of improving superficial hydration, deep hydration, skin roughness, pore size, skin tone, and crow's feet depth. Below, we discuss how to layer skincare and why it's important.

Your daily skincare routine can impact the overall quality of your complexion over time. Aside from choosing effective products that are right for your skin type and concerns, applying your products in a specific order to boost their effectiveness. Ingredients can react with your skin and each other, affecting how they perform. If you're unsure which skin issue to address, consult with a dermatologist to find the best routine for you.

Skincare layering doesn’t mean addressing all your problems at once. Formulas don’t work that way. They could cancel each other out or create a chemical reaction that leads to irritation. Focus on your most immediate concern. If your priority is acne management, use products that deal with acne, such as Eskinol's Pimple Relief Serum. Infused with cica from Korea and green tea extracts, it helps clarify, treat, and soothe pimple-prone complexions.

Layering skin care from the thinnest to the thickest consistency is the way to go. Your skin absorbs thinner, watery formulas – such as serums – quicker, so pat those on first. It allows you to get the full benefit of the active ingredients. Layer them with your thick lotions and creams to seal everything. 

Emulsions, lotions, softeners, and essences hydrate and come in more lightweight formulations that your skin can quickly absorb. They can help protect skin from irritation when you apply a potent, nutrient-dense treatment or serum. Meanwhile, some moisturizers contain emollients or occlusives that create a barrier on the skin. Because they’re meant to prevent water loss, apply them last in your skincare routine.

POND'S Bright Miracle Day Cream is the perfect end to your AM regimen. It contains ceramides that help soothe the skin while locking moisture in. Pair it with POND'S Age Miracle Anti-Aging Eye Cream with Prebiotics and Blur Technology to Reduce Wrinkles, which also targets aging skin with niacinamide, prebiotic complex, and blur technology.

At night, you can add POND'S Age Miracle Ultimate Youth Night Cream to your routine. It penetrates the skin to help inhibit melanin formation, brighten skin tone, and stimulate skin renewal while you sleep.

If your skincare routine is too long, you may end up not sticking to it. Too many steps can also mean a lot of products that increase your risk for irritation. Understanding ingredients and formulations can help make the most of skincare layering and give you your best skin yet.