I read your reviews of the MDSUN products and I am very interested in giving them a go. I am 60 years old and am looking to change a routine that includes [easyazon_link identifier=”B00095W7D4″ locale=”US” tag=”cosmeticswiki-20″]Skinceuticals CE Ferulic[/easyazon_link] and [easyazon_link identifier=”B00LLJI36C” locale=”US” tag=”cosmeticswiki-20″]SkinMedica TNS Recovery Serum[/easyazon_link]. At night I started using Retin-A. I am unsure which of the products I would need and the order in which to use them — which eye cream, and when to use pads, for instance. I live in New England where it is dry skin season now! Many grateful thanks for your time and advice! -E
Dear E,
The right order to use any skincare products is as follows:
- Makeup remover. (Not always necessary when you are already using a cleanser, but if you choose to use both, use the makeup remover first.)
- Cleanser.
- Exfoliator. (If you are using a treatment pad, such as an AHA/BHA pad from MDSUN like you mentioned or any other brand, this is when you would want to use it.)
- Toner.
- Treatment Products. (This designation also includes Retin-A, but only at night). If you are using multiple treatment products, apply them from lightest consistency to heaviest.
- Serums. (This is when you would apply your [easyazon_link identifier=”B00095W7D4″ locale=”US” tag=”cosmeticswiki-20″]Skinceuticals CE Ferulic[/easyazon_link] during the day, or the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00LLJI36C” locale=”US” tag=”cosmeticswiki-20″]Skinmedica TNS Serum[/easyazon_link] you mentioned). Same as above: If you are using multiple serums, apply them from lightest consistency to heaviest.
- Moisturizer.
- Eye cream.
- Facial oils. The general rule of thumb is that facial oils can penetrate moisturizers and eye creams, but not the other way around.
One caveat is to be sure you don’t mix the following:
- Retinoids and AHAs. They inactivate one another.
- Retinoids and vitamin C as L-ascorbic acid, or retinoids and acids. The optimal pH of each is different (retinol is activated around 5.5; L-ascorbic acid works best at a pH under 4.5).
- Vitamin C as L-ascorbic acid and niacinamide. This combination can actually form formaldehyde.
To avoid this, I use vitamin C and AHAs and any other interesting acids that come my way under sunscreen during the day, and then use retinoids and niacinamide at night.
Hope this helps!
All the best,
Nicki