In 2021, it’s not unusual for the best skin care advice to be found on Instagram captions or comments. Especially when said Instagram is that of one of Australia’s most in-demand facialists, Melanie Grant.
And today’s lesson? skin care layering.
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You only need to spend two minutes in our bh forums to discover that the best skin care tips and tricks come from like-minded beauty lovers sharing their latest discoveries and insights.
And lucky for us (although this particular conversation didn’t take place on a bh forum) Melanie shared a tip she was reminded of recently by supermodel and client, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
“If you’re using an active serum, apply your eye cream first to act as a protective barrier to the delicate skin around your eyes,” she wrote. Why haven’t we ever thought of that?
Image credit: @melaniegrantskin
But wait, the advice doesn’t stop there. Melanie continued with three more basic tips on what (and what not) to do when it comes to effectively layering your skin care.
1. Thinnest to thickest texture
“Apply from light to heavy. Start with your most watery products, such as toners, serums, mists and essences” she said.
“Heavier products, such as lotions, moisturisers, oils and creams come next, followed by sunscreen as your final step.”
2. Water-based before oil-based
When it comes to the skin care ingredients we should never mix, oil and water-based products are up there.
“Oil can prevent water from penetrating,” explained Melanie. “So water-based products need to be applied first. Let them absorb, and then apply oil-based products on top.”
3. Lowest to highest pH
Encouraging us to familiarise ourselves with exactly what we are putting on our faces, Melanie also suggested that “if you’re using active ingredients, it’s important to know their approximate pH levels and go from lowest to highest”.
“So, acidic products (pH 3.0 to 4.0) should always be applied before more alkaline (pH 5.0 to 7.0,” she said. However, “in saying that, it’s best not to combine too many actives”.
Image credit: @melaniegrantskin
Now, before you go stocking up a cart full of the mentioned products that you didn’t already own, Melanie reminds us to remember that “less is definitely more”. And, “this is just an example of what goes when.
Finishing with her final piece of advice: “It’s best to keep your routine simple and avoid layering too many products or combining too many actives.”
Main image credit: @melaniegrantau
Helpful article, I just tend to use eye cream whenever I remember and not in any particular order when using other face products.
I had just her article about this on her Instagram page yesterday and have always done it before active ingredients but sometimes I do forget to do before a thicker face cream. I am in awe of her.
I usually use lots of eye cream now I will be cutting back.
I put my on eye cream first and then moisturiser etc.
Thanks for your quick and helpful reply 🙂 Great to know that it’s working really well for you.
Hydrating. Creates also somewhat like an invisible “film” and area does not dry out. Unlike moisturizers, this is not there, but it is. Quenches my under-eye skin. If I was to apply stuff over, does not ball up with anything. It is interestingly only eye product I have used in past and now. And will use.
What’s your verdict on the NIOD eye serum, Yoh? 🙂
I don’t use eye creams. Do have atm NIOD eye serum that is great, but that is only “eye” labeled product I would use really. This area, as my whole face , gets same treatment. Acid-all over. Retinol-all over. etc. Moisturizer only if good for face I use all over too.
This advice makes sense.
Less is definitely more with eye cream, too much causes puffy eyes
I had no idea about the lowest to the highest ph.
They all look so angelic
I usually apply my eye cream after toner and before my moisturiser. I’m currently using Kiehl’s Avocado eye cream, and I really like it.
Very helpful
I’m a bit slack with eye creams, especially if I’m wearing my contacts. I wouldn’t really know what pH my products are.
So many things to remember.
Will have to try this as I usually apply serum first.
I do like to keep my skincare routine simple and not use too many products. It’s just easier for me that way and I find that my skin looks much better
Wow a beauty expert not plugging her own range! How refreshing!
Applying the eye cream first to protect the area from other products is actually a really good idea
I usually do eye cream last. So, I should be protecting my delicate eye area from active serums? When I use serum, I try to apply it as close to my lash line as possible – that’s where ageing has wrought the most carnage! Hmm, I think I’d still prefer to stick with my method.
Ditto! I knew the first two tips, but I never considered the ph.
Also how are we supposed to know pH of the products?? Never considered this…
Interesting concept… Eye cream before serum?? Mm. Not sure. I usually do my serum wait a minute then eye cream then moisturiser then wait before sunscreen…
I usually apply my eye cream after my essence but before serum and moisturiser. No real reason its just how Ive always done it.
I apply thinnest to thickest except for eye cream which I apply after essence and before serum.
I’ve always applied my eye cream first only because I thought it was protecting the eye area.
This advice totally makes sense. I am now going to change the way I apply my products.
I always apply my eye cream and then serum and night cream.
Great tips!
Such great advice will have to follow those Skincare Rules.
Great advice
Good to know!
Great to know.
Interesting.
Good tips here; the eye area is so delicate
I use eye cream. I keep my skin care routine quite simple , I don’t have lots of time in the morning.
I’m going to start doing this
very interesting
I always start my skin care routine by applying eye cream first too. It’s habit. The eye cream just happens to be the smallest size skin care product in my regime too.
hmmm all about the low to high
I will have to try this.
Learnt something here. Thanks
Had no idea eye cream first. I had been applying serum first to my face then eye cream.
Interesting…
Lightest to thickest is great simple advice to remember. I do eye cream after toner but before moisturiser.
I am not sure if my serum is considered active or not
I need to start using eye cream so thanks for this informative article.
I am happy to keep my skin care routine very simple.I like the advise of not layering too many products with active ingredients.
I always apply moisturiser before my eye cream.
Nice to know about these tips.