In the world of skincare, building the perfect routine can be a process. When you’re battling breakouts or targeting concerns such as fine lines or hyperpigmentation, it can be tempting to pile on the products. With so many products available – each promising its own magical benefits – navigating them all can be somewhat overwhelming and whilst layering is essential how do you know if your products are complementing each other?
What does it mean for skincare products to compliment each other?
To put it simply, skincare products that compliment one another increase their efficacy and build upon one another to deliver better results. This could be achieved through balancing the right textures, formulas and active ingredients that support your skin’s heath and needs and maximise its natural potential.
Layering in the correct order
The order in which you layer your skincare products is important. Once armed with the products that make up your routine you should work from the lightest, fastest-absorbing product then to the heaviest last.
Step-by-step guide
Step 1: Cleanser
Good cleansing is the foundation of any skincare routine and always comes first. In the morning it will rinse off bacteria, sweat and residual skincare and at night time it washes away make-up, SPF, dirt, and pollutants.
Step 2: Toner
A liquid toner can help soak up excess oil, rebalance your skin’s barrier, hydrate the skin and bring energy back to a dull complexion.
Step 3: Essence
An essence is a typically lightweight water-thin treatment and an absolute game changer no matter what your skin type. They add an extra layer of hydration and prep the skin to maximise the benefits of your skincare routine. Well moisturised skin more easily absorbs any products that follows such as serums and moisturisers and boost their efficacy.
Step 4: Serum
Serums are very sophisticated and are highly concentrated formulas usually crafted to target specific concerns with a high percentage of active ingredients. Texture-wise serums are lighter than moisturisers and their benefits will depend entirely on the ingredients within the formula, but they will play a starring role to help you reach your skin goals.
Step 5: Eyes and neck
Eye creams are specifically formulated to treat the more delicate skin around the eyes – they’re generally lighter, gentler, and designed to help reduce puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines. Notoriously delicate, the skin south of the chin is prone to crepiness and skin slackening and needs a dedicated neck treatment to care for this fragile and often neglected area.
Step 6: Moisturiser
The role of a moisturiser is to seal in all those hardworking ingredients in your serum, add water to your skin, reduce transepidermal water loss and restore skin’s protective barrier which is why it comes at the end of your routine.
Gatineau’s winning skincare combinations
Gentle Silk Cleanser and Gentle Silk Toner
Two Our 2-step cleanse and tone skincare routine lies at the heart of the range – forming the foundation of beautiful skin. Two high-performance traditional formulas that expertly prep the skin to maximise the effectiveness of your other products without compromise. Formulated for all skin types experience deep cleansing and instant hydration and comfort as these beautifully scented nurturing formulas infused with Silk and Cottonseed Extract melt away impurities, make-up and pollution whilst restoring a balanced and healthy complexion.
Collagene Expert Hydra Essence and Collagene Expert Smoothing Serum
A winning combination for those concerned with fine lines and deep wrinkles these power players offers you a solid collagen-rich skincare routine from the get-go and will help delay collagen degradation and keep your skin strong, supple, and luminous at every life stage. The lightweight Essence not only delivers a serious hit of hydration to parched skin, but it's created to ramp up collagen levels whilst helping the youth-prolonging serum absorb better. A ‘firm’ favourite in skin care arsenals everywhere, Collagen Smoothing Serum powered by the brands triple collagen complex is here to plump your complexion and deliver unrivalled radiance.
Defi Lift Firming Contour Eye Serum and Defi Lift Neck and Decollete Gel
A match made in heaven for those delicate zones of the face. The 'cashmere of your complexion', the delicate eye and neck area needs specialist treatment. These areas are the most active and mobile areas, and the skin is generally quite fragile and the constant movement - coupled with a lack of oil production - can cause wrinkles and creases and early signs of sagging to develop much more quickly than they do elsewhere. But all of this can be minimised with Defi Lift targeted skincare which uses pioneering Filmexel technology to ‘turn back the hands of time’ and restore youthful-looking skin with immediate and long-term results.
Radiance Enhancing Gommage and Hydra Aura Moisturising Cream Mask
This power duo works to brighten and smooth your complexion for luminous results. What’s the secret? The Gommage is a grain-free formula with just the right concentration of three naturally derived exfoliating acids that compliment each other to gently remove dead cells. Its non-abrasive formula is perfect affinity with all skin types even the most sensitive and when you follow the ritual with a hefty helping of creamy Hydra Aura Mask its blend of marine actives and antioxidants are propelled into the skin with immediate results of hydrating and revitalising a dull, lack lustre complexion.
Age Benefit Hyperpigmentation Repair and Age Benefit Cream
An unbeatable pair of cutting-edge formulas for mature skin eager to address hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. This dew-drenching clinically proven serum infused with Vitamin C boasts a lightweight fast-absorbing texture and delivers instant hydration whilst working to correct dark spots and refine skin texture. A swipe of rich and creamy Age Benefit Cream over the top reinforces those results as it seals in the serum and both formulas contain the ranges signature complex of ‘Hibiscus and Artichoke Extract’ which help tackle collagen loss, dryness, lack of radiance and uneven skin tone.
Lucy x