Gone are the days of a simple 3 step skincare routine. With a multitude of serums, oils, masks and tools now making their way into our bathrooms, it can be a little overwhelming to decide what to use and in what order.
There is a method to layering skincare and the order you choose to apply your products can make a significant difference to your skin. Applying your products in the wrong order can result in reduced absorption of their precious bio-active ingredients, making it less likely you’ll see the glowing results that you were hoping for.
HOW TO LAYER SKINCARE
Knowing the best order to apply your skincare might sound tricky, but it’s actually pretty simple. Post cleansing, products with a thinner consistency such as toners and serums are the most readily absorbed, meaning they should be applied first. After that, thicker formulas such as moisturisers and oils can be applied to boost hydration, protect the skin and lock in all of the goodness from previously applied products. Still a little confused? We’ve got you covered! Read on for an example AM and PM routine to get the most out of your skincare.
MORNING
Cleanse
At LAMAV, we love to preach about cleansing (especially double cleansing - more about this in the PM routine!). How you choose to do it is up to you, but it simply must be done. Choosing the right cleanser for your skin type is the first step to effectively cleansing your skin and ensures a clean canvas in preparation for applying your leave on products. 
If you have oily or acne prone skin LAMAV’s Sweet Orange Balancing Cleanser is the right product for the job. This refreshingly lightweight gel cleanser contains renewing, antioxidant rich bio-actives to assist with breakouts along with fruit derived AHA’s to breakdown excess sebum and dead skin. You’ll achieve a purifying clean without stripping or irritating the skin.
Skin feeling a little sensitive or dry? Try our Hydra-Calm Cream Cleanser to nourish and boost hydration as you gently cleanse away excess oil and impurities.
If you’re not a fan of the AM cleanse, we get it. At the very least, a warm face washer gently wiped over the skin can also assist to remove any excess oil and flaky skin to ensure there are no barriers for your leave on products to get to work.
Tone
Whilst toners aren’t an essential skincare product, they can provide additional benefits to most skin types. Toners offer a calming mist of hydration that should always precede moisturiser. If you have oily or acne prone skin, LAMAV’s Probiotic Toner contains a unique blend of probiotics to help balance the skin’s microbiome, and the addition of AHAs continue to improve cellular turnover after cleansing. This balancing toner will also reduce inflammation whilst minimising the appearance of large pores.
If glow is more your go, try LAMAV’s Rose Hydrating Mist Spray. The perfect way to prep your skin with additional hydration whilst balancing and brightening the skin thanks to the addition of Vitamin C rich native extracts and hyaluronic acid. Pro tip - throw in your handbag for glow boosts throughout the day.
Serum
Now that your skin is clean and prepped, it’s time to target and treat according to your skin concerns. Hydration, brightening and protecting are all beneficial to protect your skin from environmental stressors while supporting age defence throughout the day. Serums are applied prior to moisturising as they are generally lightweight and offer higher percentages of actives than your daily moisturiser alone. Serums are designed to treat, moisturisers are designed to hydrate.
If age defence is your skin goal then reach for LAMAV’s Hyaluronic Hydra Max Serum or Commiphora Plumping Serum. If your skin is dull, uneven or you’re battling breakouts, you’ll want to add our Daily Vitamin C Serum for an antioxidant boost and some serious brightening.
Moisturise
After applying a targeting serum, it’s essential to apply a moisturiser that’s suitable for your skin type (yes, even if you have oily skin!). Moisturiser will keep your skin balanced, hydrated, and supports a healthy skin barrier - essential for optimal skin function!
The final moisturising step of your AM ritual should be your eye product. Depending on the type of eye product you have in your kit and the actives it contains, you can generally apply eye creams twice per day. Additional hydration and protection in this delicate skin area is always welcome to defend against premature ageing. However, if you use an eye serum that contains Vitamin A it’s best to leave this for nighttime to avoid irritation and if the consistency of your eye product is oily it may affect makeup application. Eye products in gel or cream form are best for the morning. Try our Anti-Dark Circle Eye Gel or Firming Eye Lotion.
SPF
Do we really need to explain why this is non-negotiable? Sunscreen is the best product for age defence, preventing pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles forming before they’re due! We apply SPF post our skincare routine as it blocks other products from absorbing into the skin and provides us with one final shield of protection before we face the day.
NIGHT
Skincare from day to night can look very different, however, similar principles apply. Read on for our PM skincare guide.
Double Cleanse
Double cleansing is the first step we recommend to anyone who is looking to improve their skin’s overall health or treat a skin concern. Double cleansing at night is essential to remove SPF, makeup and the excess oil and dirt that has accrued on our complexion throughout the day. LAMAV’s Marula Oil Cleanser is the perfect first step in a double cleanse for all skin types. This lightweight oil cleanser melts away SPF and waterproof makeup with ease (and without irritation!). It’s also a great excuse to give yourself a 60 second facial massage to improve blood flow, reduce inflammation and encourage collagen production while you cleanse. Follow up with LAMAV’s Sweet Orange Balancing Cleanser or Hydra Calm Cleansing Cream and you’ll be left with clean, hydrated and glowing skin.
Treat
Now that you’ve prepped your skin for action, it’s time to get serious. Night time is an ideal time to target your unique complexion concerns by incorporating stronger treatments that will give more effective results on clean skin while you get your beauty sleep. Now is the time to use serums and boosters that contain higher percentages of actives, such as Vitamin C and Bakuchiol (our chosen natural retinol alternative). For a brightening boost, choose LAMAV’s Collagen Support. To fight fine lines and premature ageing, we recommend Bakuchiol 4% Natural Retinol Alternative. And finally, to deeply nourish and restore the skin barrier, opt for Omega-3 Advanced Night Cream.
Moisturise
You may choose to use the same moisturiser for AM and PM, but you can also use the opportunity to target something different or more specific at night. Focus on what your skin needs right now - additional hydration, blemish control, age defence or brightening. You may also need to adjust your moisturiser (particularly at night) to support your skin through changes of the seasons. For the cooler months you may need to boost your skin with a heavier night cream and for summer you might opt for a lighter moisturiser or lightweight oil.
Speaking of oils, facial oils can be an excellent addition to your skincare routine, regardless of your skin type. The outer layers of our skin are made of lipids (oils) and are essential for our barrier health to keep good things in and environmental stressors out. You can use oils in the morning or night, however most people prefer to use in the PM as we also have makeup and SPF to consider in the morning. So, where do oils fit within our skincare routine? Well, it really depends on their consistency. LAMAV’s facial oils target various skin concerns and offer lightweight hydration so sit well prior to or after moisturising. However, to get the most out of their skin loving actives, we suggest applying after serums and following up with your moisturiser to lock them into the skin. If your chosen facial oil is a heavier consistency (such as rosehip) it may work better to apply after moisturising or even use on its own. When it comes to mixing and matching moisturisers and oils it’s up to you to play around with application order, depending on consistency and also deciding if you really only need to use one or the other (again, this may vary with seasons).
Eye Care
The delicate skin around our eyes needs a little extra care if you want to avoid premature ageing. Your PM ritual should contain an eye cream at the end of your moisturising routine and if you have something a little heavier to seriously repair and lock in moisture, now’s the time to reach for it. LAMAV’s Intense Repair Eye Balm is a must have for anyone wanting to lock in hydration, smooth and strengthen the delicate eye area.
THE FEW TIMES PER WEEK PRODUCTS
Exfoliate
Exfoliants are a great follow up to cleansing as they slough dead skin and further purify congestion, leaving a clean canvas for leave on product application. Exfoliation isn’t exclusively recommended for a PM routine, however as it can cause a little redness it may be best to leave until bedtime. As most of us apply our heavier duty actives before bed, it’s also a great time to take advantage of applying these products to a freshly exfoliated complexion. 
Try LAMAV’S AHA Face Exfoliant to battle breakouts with Potent fruit derived AHAs, antioxidant rich bio-actives and fine bamboo particles to gently remove rough skin without causing irritation.
If you’re part of the sensitive skin club but still want to experience the freshness of exfoliation, reach for LAMAV’s Jojoba Exfoliating Scrub. You’ll get all the purifying and smoothing benefits, with the addition of calming nourishment.
Beauty Tools
Whilst beauty tools aren’t necessary, they can deliver some serious health benefits to your skin and partner with your skincare products to assist with deeper bio-active absorption. 
For a skin smoothing, collagen boost try LAMAV’s Quartz Gua Sha and Roller Set with LAMAV’s facial oil for a gentle, de-puffing massage morning or night.
For a balancing and detoxifying facial massage experience reach for our Ayurvedic Kansa Wand, always pairing with a facial oil that’s suitable for your skin type.
For clearer skin, reduced pigmentation and a smoother complexion, use our Micro Dermal Roller 2-3 times per week on freshly cleansed, dry skin at night. Follow up with targeted serums, moisturisers and oils to amplify skincare absorption and results.
Face Masks
Face masks are a great once-a-week addition to your skincare routine to detoxify, brighten and hydrate. 
To brighten and treat pigmentation, apply LAMAV’s Glow Beauty Mask and enjoy the instant glow!
If age defence or blemishes are your skin concern, applying our Firming Treatment Mask will plump and firm the skin while improving tone and texture. 
Those with dry, sensitive skin will find instant relief from LAMAV’s Beauty Sleep Mask. Like a hug for your skin while you sleep, it will boost and lock in hydration while reducing redness and irritation. Pro tip - apply the night before a big event for an instant skin boost and glowing, radiant skin.
