How to Layer Skincare Products to Get the Most out of Your Routine

The order in which you apply your skincare products is important for ensuring they are effective and that you are getting the most out of your routine. Here is a general guide to layering your skincare products for optimal results.

Please note this is a guide for those who DO NOT have a Malassezia-related skin condition such as Malassezia Folliculitis (Fungal Acne), Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema), Seborrheic Dermatitis (Dandruff), Pityriasis Versicolor, Razor Bumps, Hot Tub Rash, or Barber’s Itch. If you are struggling with any of these conditions, you first need to calm the Malassezia yeast overgrowth with a different skincare routine:  A Good Skincare Routine for MALASSEZIA-AFFECTED SKIN.

1. Cleanser: Start by cleansing your skin with a gentle cleanser. I recommend double cleansing. For the first cleanse, use an oil cleanser to remove dirt, oil, sunscreen, and makeup. Then use a hydrating cleanser that will gently exfoliate, remove invisible debris, and leave behind humectants that bind water to the skin. In the morning it’s fine to skip the oil cleanser and just use a hydrating cleanser.
2. Exfoliating Mask: The skin can benefit from a little extra exfoliation once or twice a week to remove the outermost layer of dead skin cells. Gently removing the outer layer allows the skin to absorb nutrients more easily and can help reveal fresher skin. But be careful! Just because the outer “dead” layers do not have a nucleus does not mean that you don’t need them! Don’t use scrubs and avoid anything that changes the pH of the skin to make it too high (such as baking soda or soap) or too low (such as skin peels). And don’t use anything that dries the skin. I really like Corum Barrier Repair Manuka Mud Dead Sea Skin Polish because it uses all-natural ingredients to gently exfoliate without drying. 
3. Serum: Serums are concentrated products that target specific skin concerns such as wrinkles, oiliness, dark spots, or acne. They can be water-based or oil-based. All water-based products need to be applied before oil-based products to allow the active ingredients in water-based products to be absorbed. If water is applied on top of oil, the water, and active ingredients in the water, will just sit on the surface and not go into the skin. Corum Super Serum is a water-based (aloe juice, actually) serum that addresses many different concerns in one easy-to-use product. It even hydrates, protects, and nourishes the delicate skin around the eyes. No extra eye cream is needed! 
4. Moisturizer with Oil and Butter: A moisturizer with certain natural plant oils and butter is perfect for feeding the skin the nutrients it needs to look its best. Lotions are mostly water with a little bit of oil. Creams are a mixture of oil and water with a larger portion of oil than a lotion. Oil serums are blends of oils. Soft balms are a blend of oils and butter and they feel like a heavy cream. The drier your skin the more oil your moisturizer should contain. Just make sure you are using the right kinds of plant oils to promote skin barrier repair.
5. Wax and Butter Balms are solid moisturizers like Corum Lip Butter and Corum Zit Zap that help protect, nourish, and seal in moisture. These are especially useful on the lips, around the eyes, and on the arms, legs, and feet. They go on after other skincare ingredients because they create a protective seal to keep the good stuff in and keep the bad stuff out. (Don’t worry, the skin can still “breathe” under oil and wax products.) Balms stay on the skin longer than other kinds of products, which is why deodorants often come in stick form and why Corum Zit Zap is so effective.
6. Sunscreen protects your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays, which can cause premature aging, sun spots, and skin cancer. Those with oily or acne-prone skin should look for a mineral powder sunscreen and apply it with a clean sponge. Since there is still some question about the safety of chemical sunscreens, I recommend powder or liquid mineral sunscreens for everyone else. Reapply all sunscreens every two hours when exposed to the sun. Depending on the type of moisturizer and sunscreen you choose, you may need to apply it under rather than on top of your moisturizer. Experiment and see which works better.