For the best skincare routine, how much cream, oil, serum and lotion should you use? Experts give tips on achieving glowing results
- Layering your products is a widely known and important part of skincare, but not so well known is how much of each product to use to avoid negative side effects
- From cleansers to toners and moisturisers to sunscreen, we reveal how much of each formula is best for your skin, and what determines how much you should apply
When it comes to building a proper skincare routine, one of the most talked about steps is the correct layering of products – applying the lightest creams first and the densest last as a general rule.
Another important consideration in skincare that isn’t talked about as much, however, is the amount of each product to use.
Applying the wrong amount of a skincare product can result in issues such as irritation, inflammation, redness, unwanted pilling, residue on the skin, or insufficient protection. So it pays to learn exactly how much of each formula is needed to do its job correctly.
There are two crucial factors that determine how much of a product to apply. The first is its texture – for example, a drop of facial oil can be spread over an extensive area, but a drop of moisturiser will most likely only cover your chin. The second factor is the concentration of active ingredients in the formula.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr Marisa Garshick explains that one of the first signs you are using too much of a product is a sudden episode of dry, irritated, flaky skin or the product not absorbing correctly.
“You’ll know you’re using too much when the product moves around the skin and doesn’t actually sink in,” she says. So how much of each product do you need to apply? Here’s what experts recommend.