Turns Out We’ve Been Applying Our Eye Cream Wrong This Entire Time

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