How to layer your skincare the right way, according to experts

Step 1: Cleanser

Credit: Sephora

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The first step to building a good foundation for your skin is to always cleanse. And so if you're looking for a good cleanser that does the job without stripping your skin's natural oils, then consider investing in gentle and effective formulas.

Dr Gun-Young Ahn, a dermatologist in South Korea and founder of Gowoonsesang Clinics, recommends that even with the new routine of masks, we should all be paying more attention to the cleansing portion of our skincare. For starters, try looking for one with salicylic acid so that it won’t clog the pores. Also to prevent maskne, she mentioned that the key is to cleanse the skin before you put on the mask and after you’re home.

From left to right:

— Gallinee Face Foaming Cleanser, $30
— KENZOKI Hydration Flow Hybrid Cleansing Milky Foam, $52
— Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, $63

Step 2: Toner

Credit: Sephora, Kiehl's

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Even if you can't fully commit to an eight-step skincare regime, a toner can be a seriously clutch part of your routine. Applied after cleansing and before moisturising, is usually known as the in-between skincare step that preps the skin for serums and moisturisers, while getting rid of excess sebum and stubborn dirt or makeup leftover on your face after cleansing.

From left to right:

— Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight Toner, $52
— Caudalie Vinopure Clear Skin Purifying Toner, $35
— Kiehl's Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner, $59

Step 3: Serums

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There are a million and one serums in the market for you to choose from, and while some of us have a bad habit of buying new serums every other week, they are totally optional. So why do most of us still include them in our routine? Well, serums are essentially used to deliver a highly concentrated, potent dose of active ingredients to the skin. Some serums help protect your skin from free radicals, while others, like the ones that include vitamin C are usually used to tackle signs of ageing while maintaining a smooth, even, and glowy complexion.

In these current times when we're all still wearing masks, Jay Kim, AHC’s Master Aesthetician, shares that people living in humid climates might want to keep their products to a minimum. And so it’s best to look for multi-tasking products that have multi-functions and benefits. Take, for instance, a serum that helps hydrate the skin while protecting it from inflammation.

From left to right:

— Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex Serum, $230
— Drunk Elephant B-Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Serum, $68
— Lancome Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate Serum, $230

Step 4: Eye cream

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After spending all that time staring at your laptop or computer, you'll want to treat your eyes to some TLC. Sure, some might think that your usual moisturiser might just do the job, but the skin around our eyes is thinner than the rest of our face, it’s important to take care of it if you want to beat the signs of ageing.

From left to right:

— Origins Ginzing™ Vitamin C & Niacinamide Eye Cream To Brighten & Depuff, $54
— Charlotte Tilbury Refillable Magic Eye Rescue Cream, $100
— SK-II Skinpower Eye Cream, $153

Step 5: Spot treatment

Credit: Kiehl's, Sephora, Guardian

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Pimples and acne are complicated issues that can be caused by a variety of factors, and takes some time for us to figure out what is triggering our breakouts.

Now, spot treatments have increasingly gained more popularity since we started wearing masks because of the pandemic (read: maskne), and usually, the culprit can come down to irritation or clogged pores. To tackle these skin concerns, it's important that we use products that contain ingredients like Salicylic acid, Centella Asiatica, Glycolic acid, and even green tea — as it helps to prevent maskne.

Salicylic acid is oil-soluble and so it can penetrate through clogged pores to dissolve blackheads and whiteheads all while regulating the production of sebum. Centella Asiatica, otherwise known favourably in Korea as Cica, is a soothing ingredient, just like green tea. Glycolic acid is also an AHA that helps reduce clogged pores to minimise the likelihood of breakouts.

From left to right:

— Kiehl's Breakout Control Targeted Acne Spot Treatment , $52
— Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion, $43
— La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I Targeted Breakout Corrector, $20.34

Step 6: Moisturiser

Credit: Sephora

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Whether you have oily or dry skin, a moisturiser forms an integral part of your skincare routine. Not only does it hydrate your skin, but it also helps to maintain a healthy skin barrier and traps all the skincare products underneath it to make it even more effective.

From left to right:

— Guerlain Abeille Royale Rich Day Cream, $226
— La Mer Crème De La Mer Pink Ribbon Moisturizing Cream (Limited Edition), $155
— Tatcha The Water Cream, $102

Step 7 (AM) and Step 8 (PM): Face Oil

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Many tend to undermine the power of a good face oil. However, for the unacquainted, face oils are usually used to help seal all the ingredients that were applied on your face to make it more effective — which is somewhat similar to that of a moisturiser. However, many have the misconception that these face oils are only meant for dry skin — which we beg to differ because there are oils like jojoba and rose-hip which work to decrease the secretion of sebum for acne-prone skin. Other oils like marula and aloe are also known to be used to soothe sensitive as well as easily irritated skin.

From left to right:

— Kora Organics by Miranda Kerr Noni Glow Face Oil, $91
— Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil, $102
— Farmacy Honey Grail Ultra-Hydrating Face Oil, $73

Step 7 (PM): Retinol

Credit: Kiehl's, Sephora

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If you don't already know about retinols, then it's about time you should. Best known for its ability to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, retinoids work to churn out smooth, supple skin after consistent use. On top of that, these retinoids also help to fade dark spots, clear pores, reduce scarring, prevent breakout and brighten your complexion. Usually, it takes about four to six months for you to see the difference in your complexion.

However, if you're new to using retinol, we would recommend slowly incorporating it into your routine. For starters, apply one pea-sized amount of retinol to your face for one night in the first week, and for two nights in the second week.

From left to right:

— Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum, $130
— Selfless by Hyram Retinol And Rainbow Algae Night Repair Serum, $46
— Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum, $128

Step 8 (AM): Sunscreen

Credit: Sephora, innisfree

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Though it might not seem necessary, sunscreen is always essential. Even when we’re trying to keep our skincare to a minimum under the mask. Dr Gun shares that not all masks can block out UVA and UVB rays and typically face masks only give you around SPF seven of sun protection – which is why we need to be wearing sunscreen.

Nam Vo, makeup artist and Instagram phenomenon, voices the same concern and advises against skipping sunscreen. And Holly Thaggard of Supergoop! emphasises that the key is just to use sunscreen and use one that you love.

From left to right:

— Supergoop! PLAY Antioxidant Mist With Vitamin C Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++, $32
— Laneige Watery Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++, $36
— innisfree Anti-aging Serum Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++, $33

This article was first published in The Singapore Women's Weekly. Additional reporting: Shazrina Shamsudin/Her World