What to do after waking, in the morning, during the day, in the evening, after a bath, at night and before bed.
First rinse your face with lukewarm water, then apply moisturiser while the skin is still slightly damp. For dry skin a pea-sized amount of CeraVe Moisturizing Cream For Normal To Dry Skin is enough. Put a little balm on your lips. If you are going out, finish with sunscreen. Avoid hot water and rubbing hard with the towel.
For dry or normal skin, lukewarm water alone is enough on winter mornings, because you cleansed before bed. If your face feels oily in the morning or you used a heavy cream overnight, use a drop of a gentle low-foam cleanser such as CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser Normal to Dry. Moisturise straight after washing.
No. Very hot water strips the skin's natural oils, so your face feels tighter and rougher afterwards. Use lukewarm water that feels comfortable on your hand, not hot. Keep the wash under 30 seconds, pat dry with the towel, then apply a cream such as Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream Dry to Very Dry, Sensitive Skin within a minute.
Yes, washing once in the morning with a gentle face wash is fine for oily skin, but harsh foaming washes leave skin tight in winter. Use one pump of a balanced cleanser such as CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, massage for 20 to 30 seconds and rinse. Then apply an oil-free gel moisturiser and sunscreen.
Apply moisturiser within one to three minutes of washing, while the skin is still slightly damp. The cream then locks that water in, so you feel less tight. Leave the face bare for long and the water evaporates, drying it further. A fingertip of Simple Kind To Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser covers the whole face.
A simple morning order: 1. lukewarm water or a gentle cleanser, 2. an optional hydrating serum, 3. moisturiser, 4. sunscreen last. Go from thinnest to thickest. For the hydrating step, put two or three drops of The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 on damp skin, then seal it in with cream.
Before going out, apply moisturiser, then sunscreen on top, and an SPF lip balm. On dry skin a creamy sunscreen such as Cerave Hydrating Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF50 sits well. Apply it at least 15 minutes before you leave. If it is dusty or windy, cover your face with a mask or scarf.
Apply sunscreen 15 to 20 minutes before going out so it settles properly on the skin. Wait a minute or two after moisturiser before applying it, and give it a few more minutes if you are putting makeup on top. Skin Aqua Super Moisture UV Gel is light and sets quickly, which helps on rushed mornings.
Your face and neck need two finger-lengths of sunscreen, roughly half a teaspoon. Use less and you will not get the SPF on the label. It is easier in two layers: apply half, let it settle, then the rest. Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Niacinamide is light, so a full dose does not feel heavy.
Yes. UVA rays pass through fog and cloud and reach your skin, and they are a major cause of dark spots and skin ageing. If you go out in the day or sit near a window, apply SPF 30 or higher every morning. On dry skin one layer of Cerave Hydrating Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF50 over moisturiser is enough.
Moisturiser first, then sunscreen. Sunscreen is always the last step of the day routine, before makeup. Let the moisturiser settle for a minute or two, then spread sunscreen evenly without rubbing hard. If you are short of time, a two-in-one such as CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM with Sunscreen SPF 30 does both in one step.
Before a dawn walk, apply a slightly richer moisturiser and lip balm so the cold wind does not crack your skin. If you will still be out after sunrise, add sunscreen. A thin layer of Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume on the cheeks, sides of the nose and lip corners shields well against wind. Wipe off sweat when you get back.
After wudu, pat your face dry and apply a little moisturiser while it is still slightly damp. Cold water plus the dawn air pulls moisture out of the skin. If you sleep again after prayer, a pea-sized amount of Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream Dry to Very Dry, Sensitive Skin is enough. You do not need a full routine after every wudu, just cream.
Put on an SPF lip balm before going out in the day, because both wind and sun crack lips. Apply The Derma Co 1% Ceramide Complex Lip Balm SPF30 PA++ thinly over the whole lip and reapply after eating or drinking. Do not lick your lips; it dries them more. Use a thick lip mask at night.
If you feel tight at midday, warm a little cream between your palms and press it onto the dry areas, without removing makeup or sunscreen. Keep a small tube at your desk, such as CeraVe Moisturizing Cream For Normal To Dry Skin. This happens more when you skimp in the morning, so use a bit more then and drink water through the day.
Air conditioning pulls moisture from the air, so in the morning apply a water-holding layer with cream on top. Put two drops of The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 on damp skin, then seal it with moisturiser. Serum alone, left unsealed, can actually dry you more. Add a little cream again at midday if needed.
No. Plain water spray takes extra moisture with it as it evaporates, so you feel tighter afterwards. If you mist, you must press a little cream on top straight away. Simpler still: take some Simple Kind To Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser on your palms and press it onto the dry patches.
When you are outdoors, reapply every two to three hours, and straight away after wiping sweat or washing your face. If you are indoors all day, the morning layer is usually enough; reapply once if you go out at lunch. For your bag, Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick Mugwort + Camellia SPF50+ PA++++ goes on easily without touching your fingers.
You can reapply over makeup with a sunscreen mist or stick, without removing anything. Hold Dot & Key Strawberry Dew Sunscreen Mist SPF 50+ PA+++ an arm's length away, close your eyes, spray several times and let it dry. Blot oil with a tissue first. A mist gives a thin layer, so the full morning dose remains your main protection.
Yes. Eating and drinking wipe lip balm off, so dab your lips clean after lunch and apply a thin layer again. If you are outdoors in the day, choose an SPF balm such as Fix Derma Lip Shield SPF50 PA+++. If spicy or sour food makes your lips sting, rinse them gently with water first, then apply balm.
After every hand wash, rub a pea-sized amount of cream into slightly damp hands, especially knuckles and around the nails. A dedicated hand cream is not on our shelf right now, but Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for Dry Skin works very well on hands; decant some into a small pot for your bag. Use lukewarm water and a mild soap.
When you get home, first wash off dust, sunscreen and sweat with a gentle cleanser. Then apply moisturiser to damp skin. For dry or sensitive skin, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser Normal To Dry & Sensitive Skin cleans without leaving you tight. If you sleep late, you do not need to wash again before bed; just apply cream.
Double cleansing is needed only when you wear makeup or heavy waterproof sunscreen, not every day for everyone. First massage one or two pumps of Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil onto dry skin, add water until it turns milky and rinse, then use a gentle face wash. With a light sunscreen, one gentle cleanser is enough.
A normal light sunscreen comes off with one gentle face wash massaged for 40 to 60 seconds. For waterproof or tone-up sunscreens, first wipe gently with Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water Makeup Remover on a cotton pad, then use face wash. Do not scrub. Finish with moisturiser on damp skin.
The 3-minute rule means applying lotion or cream within three minutes of finishing your bath, while your body is still slightly damp. The water on the skin then gets trapped under the cream. Pat dry instead of rubbing with the towel. Spread CeraVe Moisturising Lotion for Dry to Very Dry Skin quickly over arms, legs and back, more on dry areas.
After a bath, apply moisturiser while your face is still slightly damp, and add sunscreen if you are going out in the day. Use a face cream rather than body lotion on your face. For a dry face Cerave Moisturising Cream For Dry to Very Dry Skin works well; for oily skin a light gel cream. Do not pour very hot bath water directly on your face.
Lotion is enough for ordinary dryness; a thick cream is better for very rough or cracked skin. You can combine them: lotion all over, cream on knees, elbows and feet. Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Glow Body Lotion sinks in quickly, and as a rich cream use Bioderma Atoderm Crème Ultra-Nourishing Cream on dry areas, within three minutes of bathing.
Either is fine; what matters is lukewarm water, under ten minutes, and lotion afterwards. A night bath gives the lotion all night to work, so night suits very dry skin. If you bathe in the morning, add sunscreen after the lotion on exposed areas. CeraVe Moisturising Lotion for Dry to Very Dry Skin works at any time.
Finish within 5 to 10 minutes and keep the water lukewarm, not boiling hot. Long hot baths strip skin oils and make itching worse. Use soap only on underarms, groin and feet, and a mild cleanser such as Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar elsewhere. Apply lotion within three minutes of finishing.
A simple night routine: 1. wash with a gentle cleanser, 2. an optional hydrating serum on damp skin, 3. a rich moisturiser. No sunscreen at night. For dry skin, apply a fingertip of Cerave Moisturising Cream For Dry to Very Dry Skin over face and neck. Any acne or spot serum goes before the cream, one active per night.
No, a separate night cream is not essential; a slightly richer moisturiser at night is enough. You can use your morning cream in a larger amount at night. If you want one for night, CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream with ceramides is an option. If a night cream contains retinol or acids, use it a few nights a week and always wear sunscreen by day.
Yes, but retinol dries more in winter, so start with a low strength two or three nights a week. Apply a pea-sized amount of The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane to dry skin, then moisturiser. Do not use AHA or BHA the same night. Daytime sunscreen is a must. Avoid retinol in pregnancy or breastfeeding; check with your doctor.
Before bed, apply a thick layer of lip sleeping mask or rich balm so moisture stays locked in all night. Cover your lips with Laneige Lip sleeping mask, and in the morning wipe gently with a damp cloth to lift dead skin. Do not peel lip skin with your teeth. You do not need an SPF balm at night.
Before bed, apply a thick layer of rich cream to your hands, especially cracks on the fingers and around the nails. A dedicated hand cream is not on our shelf right now, but Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume works well on very dry, cracked hands. You can sleep in thin cotton gloves. See a doctor if cracks bleed or ooze pus.
At night, wash and dry your feet, apply a thick layer of rich cream to the heels and sleep in cotton socks. A dedicated foot cream is not on our shelf right now; on hard, rough heels CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin softens dead skin, with a thick cream on top. Never cut skin with a blade. If you have diabetes, see a doctor about cracks.
Yes. Clean, loose cotton socks keep feet warm and stop the cream you applied from wiping off on the sheets. Apply Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for Dry Skin to your feet first, then put on socks. Avoid tight or synthetic socks and change them daily. If your feet sweat or itch, sleep without socks.
A heater dries the room air, so apply a richer cream than usual to your face and body before bed. Do not sit directly in front of it; a bowl of water in the room helps a little. Use a thin layer of Bioderma Atoderm Crème Ultra-Nourishing Cream on the face and balm on the lips. For safety, avoid sleeping with the heater running.
Oil only seals moisture in; it does not add water itself, and coconut or mustard oil gives many people breakouts on the face. A better option is a ceramide cream on damp skin, such as CeraVe Moisturizing Cream For Normal To Dry Skin. If very dry, you can press one or two drops of oil over the cream, but not on acne-prone skin.
In winter exfoliate once a week, twice at most, at night. A gentle acid is better than a gritty scrub. Sweep The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner over dry skin once with a cotton pad, do not rinse, then apply a rich cream. Skip retinol that night. Stop if it stings or reddens, and wear sunscreen the next day.
Go easy on clay or charcoal masks in winter: once a week on an oily T-zone, for no more than 10 minutes. Use Medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Mud Mask only on nose and forehead and rinse before it fully dries. On dry skin skip clay; once a week sleep with a thick layer of rich cream instead, which acts as a simple hydrating mask.
Once or twice a week in the bath, apply CeraVe SA Body Wash for Rough and Bumpy Skin to arms and legs, leave it a minute and rinse; it softens dead skin so it lifts away. Do not scrub hard with a pumice stone or harsh scrub, which worsens cracking. Apply lotion within three minutes of bathing. Use a gentle cleanser on other days.
Usually 30 seconds to a minute between layers is enough, until the previous one no longer feels wet. Give sunscreen 5 to 10 minutes before makeup. With a hydrating serum such as The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, apply it to damp skin and follow with cream right away. There is no need to wait for long periods.
Yes, one good moisturiser works morning and night; just add sunscreen on top in the morning. Use a little more at night. Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream Dry to Very Dry, Sensitive Skin is a good choice for both. The only exceptions: do not use a retinol cream in the morning, and there is no need to wear an SPF cream at night.
Use face wash at most twice a day in winter: always at night, and in the morning only if your skin is oily. For dry skin, plain water is enough in the morning. Washing more often can leave skin tight and red. If you wash twice, choose a gentle cleanser like CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser Normal to Dry and moisturise after each wash.
On a rushed morning, three things are enough: rinse with water, apply an SPF moisturiser and put on lip balm. Two finger-lengths of CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM with Sunscreen SPF 30 on damp skin covers cream and sunscreen in one go. If very dry, apply a little cream underneath first. Keep your night routine consistent.