Cleanser, lotion, serum, eye contour, cream… The benefit of a face routine does not depend solely on the products you choose, but also on the order in which you apply them.
Each skincare product is formulated to act at a specific moment in the routine.
Following this order promotes the assimilation of active ingredients, allows them to complement each other's action, and offers the skin the best conditions to reveal its full potential.
At Sothys, the application technique is an integral part of the skincare experience.
In a salon, the aesthetician never chooses her products by chance. She builds each protocol according to the skin's needs and the complementarity of the formulas. This professional logic can easily be replicated at home to optimize the results of your routine.
The importance of following the order of facial skincare.
The lightest skincare products are designed to act quickly on the skin to meet a specific need. Richer textures then come to complement this action.
Applying a cream before a serum, for example, can alter the properties of the products applied. Conversely, following the correct order allows each product to fully fulfill its role. A few simple gestures are enough to make your routine more effective, without adding a single extra product.
The ideal order for a face routine.
1. Cleanse the skin.
Cleansing is the first essential step in any routine.
Throughout the day, the skin accumulates makeup, sebum, pollution particles, and impurities. Even when it appears clean, these residues can limit the results of the skincare products applied afterwards. Careful cleansing also prepares the skin to receive active ingredients in the best conditions.
The aesthetician's technique.
Apply your makeup remover if you are wearing makeup, then use your cleanser on dry or slightly dampened skin depending on its texture. Gently massage the entire face using circular motions, not forgetting the neck. Rinse thoroughly and then dry the skin by patting it with a clean towel, without rubbing.
2. Perfect the cleansing with a lotion.
Often considered optional, lotion is actually an important step in the routine. It eliminates the last traces of impurities, provides an initial sensation of comfort, and prepares the skin to receive the following skincare products.
Result: the skin appears immediately fresher and more receptive.
3. Apply a serum adapted to the skin's needs.
The serum is the targeted treatment of your routine. Its light texture facilitates the application of the product and allows for a targeted response to a specific skin need:
- Lack of hydration
- Loss of radiance
- Established wrinkles
- Pigmentation spots
- Blemishes
- Lack of firmness.
The serum does not replace the cream. These two products act in a complementary way.
The aesthetician's technique.
Dispense a few drops into the palm of your hand. Slightly warm the texture, then apply it using gentle pressing motions from the center of the face outwards. No need to massage for a long time: let the formula fuse naturally with the skin.
Good to know: some Sothys serums have been developed to be combined according to the skin's needs, using layering or zoning (targeted application on different areas of the face). Your aesthetician will be able to advise you on the most suitable combination.
4. Take care of the eye contour.
The eye contour is the thinnest and one of the most fragile areas of the face. Eyelids, the eye contour area, and the outer corner are solicited daily by facial expressions.
A specific product helps address the needs of this delicate area.
The eye contour is ideally applied before the face cream to act directly on this part of the face.
The right technique.
Take a very small amount of product. Apply it with light tapping motions under the eye, from the inner corner towards the temples, then continue gently under the brow bone. Avoid the mobile eyelid and the lash line to respect the natural sensitivity of the eye contour.
5. Apply the face cream.
The cream completes the action of the serum.
Depending on your skin's needs, it provides hydration, nourishment, or comfort, while delivering complementary active ingredients. It also helps to preserve the benefits of the products applied previously.
Morning and evening, it constitutes the final essential step of your skincare routine.
The aesthetician's technique.
Warm the cream between your hands before applying it. Then, perform smoothing movements from the center of the face towards the temples, and continue the motion down the neck and décolleté.
6. In the morning: finish with sun protection.
UV radiation is one of the main factors of premature skin aging.
Even when your routine is perfectly adapted, sun protection remains essential to preserve the results obtained and protect the skin long-term.
It is always applied as the final step of the routine, just before makeup.
Mistakes to avoid in a face routine.
Even with quality skincare, some habits can limit their benefits:
- Applying cream before serum;
- Using an excessive amount of product;
- Forgetting the neck and décolleté;
- Rubbing the skin during application;
- Neglecting evening makeup removal and cleansing;
- Changing routines too frequently without giving the skin time to adapt.
Sothys expertise: the formula and the gesture.
At Sothys, skincare is never based solely on a formula.
Performance has always been born from the encounter between scientific research, the quality of active ingredients, and the precision of the professional technique. In a salon, each protocol is built to accompany the skin step by step, taking into account its needs at the time.
This expertise also guides at-home routines so that each product naturally finds its place and reveals its full potential.
In summary: the ideal order for a face routine.
Every skin is unique. While this routine serves as a reference base, needs may vary depending on your age, lifestyle, seasons, or current concerns.
During a salon treatment, your Sothys aesthetician performs a personalized beauty diagnosis to precisely analyze your skin's needs.
Thanks to her expertise, she will recommend the most suitable skincare program to preserve your skin's balance, protect it long-term, and visibly reveal its beauty over time.
Make an appointment with a Sothys aesthetician for a tailor-made beauty diagnosis.
In the morning:
- Cleanser
- Lotion
- Serum
- Eye contour
- Face cream
- Sun protection
In the evening:
- Makeup remover
- Cleanser
- Lotion
- Serum
- Eye contour
- Night cream
FAQ – Order of application for facial products.
Why is it necessary to follow an order when applying facial skincare?
Each skincare product has a specific texture and function. By applying products from the lightest to the richest, active ingredients are better available on the surface of the skin and each formula can act under the best conditions.
In what order should facial skincare be applied in the morning?
The ideal routine is as follows: Cleanser, lotion, serum, eye contour, face cream, then sun protection before makeup.
Should I wait between each skincare product?
A few seconds is enough. It is not necessary to let the products dry completely. Simply wait until each texture begins to penetrate before applying the next one.
Can you apply multiple serums in the same routine?
Yes, it is ideal if you can. Some Sothys serums can be combined using layering or zoning* techniques. Your Sothys aesthetician will be able to recommend the most suitable combination for your cosmetic diagnosis.
*layering or area-specific application.
Is the evening face routine different?
The logic remains identical: makeup remover, cleanser, lotion, serum, eye contour, then night cream.
One to two times a week, morning or evening, it is recommended to incorporate an exfoliant or a mask after cleansing and before the serum.
What are the most frequent mistakes in a face routine?
The most common mistakes are applying cream before serum, using too much product, forgetting the neck and décolleté, rubbing the skin during application, neglecting cleansing, or changing routines too often without giving the skin time to adapt.
