Are you using too much of your skincare product?
When it comes to skin care, many of us like to think that if a little is good, then a lot must be much better. But an extra pump of product won’t always yield superior results. Learn how much product you should be using, so you get the most bang for your buck and reap healthy rewards from your skin care.
Eye cream: When applying cream around the eyes, a small portion no larger than the size of a pea will easily protect and treat both eyes. After distributing the product between your ring fingers, gently pat the cream along the orbital bone and eyelid. Be careful with eye creams that are dispensed by pump. One full pump of eye cream is often too much, so use a half-pump or less depending on the particular cream. Using less won’t negatively affect your skin, and you'll cut your expenses in half.
Facial serum: Serums are lighter in texture and weight than a regular moisturizer; some have a consistency similar to water, so it’s too easy to apply too much. Try using between one and one and a half pumps on your fingertips, spreading evenly between both hands and gently patting the serum onto your forehead, cheeks and chin before smoothing over the rest of your face and neck.
Cleanser: It’s tough to resist dispensing too much cleanser, especially since we want to remove every last trace of makeup. But, over-washing your face can irritate it and even exacerbate acne. So, for all skin types, the best way to reduce the amount of cleanser you're using is to thoroughly splash the face with warm water - by prepping your skin with warm water, you’ll end up needing less cleanser. Next, squeeze out a dime-size amount of cleanser and rub your wet hands together briskly to create a lather before massaging into the skin.
Moisturizer: Regardless of what kind of packaging your moisturizer is stored in, start with a dime-size amount and use more if needed, especially if you have drier skin. As with cleansers and serums, warm your moisturizer between both hands before applying to the face to ensure even application. After you’ve applied moisturizer, your skin should feel hydrated, not heavy or sticky. If you find yourself blotting off extra moisturizer with a tissue, you're using too much.
Eye cream: When applying cream around the eyes, a small portion no larger than the size of a pea will easily protect and treat both eyes. After distributing the product between your ring fingers, gently pat the cream along the orbital bone and eyelid. Be careful with eye creams that are dispensed by pump. One full pump of eye cream is often too much, so use a half-pump or less depending on the particular cream. Using less won’t negatively affect your skin, and you'll cut your expenses in half.
Facial serum: Serums are lighter in texture and weight than a regular moisturizer; some have a consistency similar to water, so it’s too easy to apply too much. Try using between one and one and a half pumps on your fingertips, spreading evenly between both hands and gently patting the serum onto your forehead, cheeks and chin before smoothing over the rest of your face and neck.
Cleanser: It’s tough to resist dispensing too much cleanser, especially since we want to remove every last trace of makeup. But, over-washing your face can irritate it and even exacerbate acne. So, for all skin types, the best way to reduce the amount of cleanser you're using is to thoroughly splash the face with warm water - by prepping your skin with warm water, you’ll end up needing less cleanser. Next, squeeze out a dime-size amount of cleanser and rub your wet hands together briskly to create a lather before massaging into the skin.
Moisturizer: Regardless of what kind of packaging your moisturizer is stored in, start with a dime-size amount and use more if needed, especially if you have drier skin. As with cleansers and serums, warm your moisturizer between both hands before applying to the face to ensure even application. After you’ve applied moisturizer, your skin should feel hydrated, not heavy or sticky. If you find yourself blotting off extra moisturizer with a tissue, you're using too much.