How Many Products Is Too Many Products?
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? And what is the square root of infinity? Our take, as long as you know what you’re doing, there’s no such thing as too many products. We’ve all heard of the 10-step Korean skincare routine and we think the more products the merrier (as long as they’re cleared by your aesthetician, make sense for your skin, and serve a purpose – AKA they’re not “bad”). Don’t worry though, you can still achieve the skin of your dreams even if you don’t want to follow a nightly 10-step routine.
If you’re a minimalist, but want to work on your skin goals while keeping it as simple as possible, at the very least need the right cleanser for your skin, a toner that can pack a punch (hi Skin Nourishing Toner!), and a moisturizer that offers extra benefits, like hydration and ceramides (both of which you’ll find in Dr. Esthé Dual Barrier Lotion). Obvi, if you’re doing this routine morning and night, you’re going to have to add an SPF into your morning routine. It’s basically a sin here at Skin MPLS to not wear your SPF (and Unseen Sunscreen is a crowd favorite).
Or if you’re wanting to step up your skincare game and add in more products? Go for it. We are all about layering over here at Skin MPLS. A high-performing cleanser will always be the first product in your skincare routine and a toner will then follow suit. Toners are a great way to ensure your skin is completely clean and prepped so your serums can really go in and do their job. For your morning serum, first, focus on your antioxidants like vitamin C. (Our go-to vitamin C is the Pure C+E by Vivant). If you want to boost your routine even more, you can add in some peptides. Peptides are a powerhouse for anti-aging, they’re fertilizer for your skin in a jar. You can even top those two serums with a third to hydrate your skin for the day.
Ready for more? Any guesses where you lose collagen that quickest? Your eyes. [Insert sad face.] We are all about layering eye creams. Pop on Peptide Eye Serum first for a burst of peptides to your special eye area in a formula that totally depuffs and then layer Iluma Intense Brightening Eye Creme to really brighten and break up discoloration. Finally, seal all this goodness in with a moisturizer and SPF and you’re ready to slay the day.
Your nighttime routine can include just as many (or more!) products if you want it to. Think of your nightly skincare routine as your “you time,” a way to decompress from the day and really get your skin goals achieved. You’ll still want to focus on a high-performing cleanser and a thorough cleanse – if you’re a heavy makeup wearer, consider a double cleanse (either start with Bioderma Micellar Water or just use your go-to cleanser two times). Follow up with your toner, apply a peptide serum (keep those peptides in your nightly routine, they’ll add some extra firmness to your skin), and then you’ll use your vitamin A serum (highly recommend this in nearly everyone's routine), you want that constant skin cell turnover whether it’s acne or aging you’re trying to prevent. If you’re needing extra hydration, you can slide some more skin hydration in here too, either with a leave-on hydrating mask or with a serum. You can even top all of that with a facial oil before you apply your nighttime eye cream and moisturizer if you want to be extra. Eye creams are a nightly must as well, you can’t just drag your moisturizer up around your eyes and assume that counts – it doesn’t. One of our personal favorite mixes for PM is Wink Eye Rejuvenating Cream (filled with peptides, aloe, caffeine, kojic acid, and vitamin A goodness to hydrate, diminish dark circles and crow's feet, and reduce puffiness) layered under Eye & Lip Cream for a boost of more peptides as well as ceramides, extra hydration, and a glowing finish. Give this skincare routine an even bigger boost with a hydrating spray and you’ll go to bed looking like a glazed donut.
Word of caution: We always suggest checking in with your aesthetician to make sure the products you’re using are right for your skin and if acne is a concern, to be sure you’re sticking to acne-friendly products.