The Right Skincare in the Right Order
I’ve never had easy skin. It was eczema and dryness as a baby to toddler to little kid. Then early and persistent breakouts defining my teen and young adult years. I was lucky to have a mom and dad who prioritized regular dermatologist visits for me which meant years of all the prescriptions and those extraction appointments that left me red and swollen. As an adult, pregnancies each took their toll with more severe acne, melasma and scarring.
So, skincare has always been a struggle for me. I was taught all the good habits and had all the best resources, but finding the right products that worked with the prescriptions I was taking was always so difficult. Whatever flare ups I was experiencing I learned to hide behind layers of makeup.
When I hit age 37 I’d had it. Threw my arms up in the air, threw in the towel, I was calling it. I was convinced there wasn’t any skincare that actually did anything, and I was so tired of all the money spent on treatments and products and prescriptions and appointments. I had one more brand to try that kept getting recommended to me, Rodan + Fields, and I was only willing to try it because of their 60-day money-back return policy.
Within a week my whole perspective on skincare changed. Not kidding! Not only did their products that fundamentally change my skin, but I now know and fully embrace the philosophy that the right ingredients, in the right formulations and applied in the right order actually do make all the difference.
Yep, things have changed for both my bathroom cabinet, my wallet, and especially for my skin itself. Hello, beautiful science-backed products, goodbye trends, fads and things that just look/feel/sound nice (but don’t actually do anything). If you want to see my personal skin transformation for yourself, just click here.
If you want to know the truth, using the dermatologists’ Dr. Katie Rodan’s and Dr. Kathy Field’s #1 skincare products has worked miracles for my skin in a way that other products just couldn’t. In fact, their products have completely transformed my skin. And knowing the right products for my skin type and the right order to apply my skincare has made all the difference in its texture, coloring, and overall appearance and health.
I want to share the exact method and correct order to apply your skincare routine that’s worked for me to clear and prevent my acne and clear up my melasma. My skin looks better now at 42 (almost 43!) than it has ever before and I am so happy about that!
Quick note: These are the products that work for MY particular skin needs. Yours could be slightly different. I encourage you to receive a personalized product recommendation from the doctors for yourself. If you want to see what is right for your skin, take this facial analysis quiz and get the right recommendations! The order you use your skincare will be the same as what I share below, but you may have a different results-focus than my specific regimen. Plus, you can save 10% and get free shipping for life if you choose to order any of your recommended products by adding Preferred Customer perks to your order at checkout.
MY EVENING SKINCARE ROUTINE:
This is quick and super effective. Even though my nighttime skincare routine takes just a few minutes, it has totally transformed the look and feel of my skin and continues to give me amazing results. (Skip to the bottom of this post for links to every product mentioned!)
Step 1: Deep Exfoliating Cleanser
Exfoliating is such an important skincare process that, when done correctly with the right concentrations and formulations, gives you the most radiant, healthy skin. Instead of harsh textures or stripping ingredients, this daily cleanser utilizes the perfect amount of glycolic and lactic acids to slough away the build up of dead skin cells, refine skin texture and lift discoloration. COOL, right?! There’s also a soothing blend of Jojoba and Polylactic acids to physically lift impurities and even skin tone with out irritation or messing with your skin’s protective lipid barrier.
Step 2: Intensive Brightening Toner
I soak a gauze pad with this after cleansing, and smooth it all over my face and neck (avoiding the eye area). This toner improves the look of dark spots, discoloration + uneven tone for a younger-looking complexion with Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Sodium Hyaluronate, and Licorice extract. These skin loving ingredients feel calming on my skin and prep it for the next steps.
Step 3: The One Skin Tool I Swear By
I’ve tried and had companies send to me SO MANY skin tools over the last 5 years and can confidently say that the AMP MD with it’s accompanying Vitamin A + Peptide Complex serum is worth every penny. This micro exfoliating roller has the precise specifications designed by the dermatologists to stimulate collagen and enable your skincare to reach active skin cells where it does the most good. The best part? Okay, okay —the results are the best, but I am hooked on this tool because it only requires 1 minute of use each night to see visible results for your face AND neck. Other skin tools require a commitment of 5-20 minutes to see results and honestly, I just can’t and don’t want to spend that much time each night. Pro tip: the AMP MD tool pairs perfectly with any anti-aging or hyperpigmentation routine and was clinically tested for this. If you have active breakouts or skin redness, its best to skip this one.
Step 4: The Best Complete Serum On The Planet
This serum is liquid gold. It gives you the best non-greasy glow and addresses ALL key signs of aging from lifting, smoothing, evening and clarifying by energizing millions of surface skin cells by 200%. It also smells HEAVENLY, so there’s that, too. I loved hearing from the researchers and skin scientists on how this serum was developed and studied over 5 years before being released. You can watch that here. The results it gives are honestly jaw dropping. I’ll never be without it.
Step 5: Tone Correcting Treatment
Everyone has been raving about Vitamin C serums for years now, but finding one that is actually effective and doesn’t smell like hot dog water (if you know you know), is near impossible. Vitamin C is a highly unstable ingredient so the right formulation really does matter, and I didn’t want to just be throwing my money down the drain, literally, with one that wouldn’t work. This proprietary one comes in a protected and stabilized formulation which allows it to deliver 10%! Vitamin C, paired with two forms of retinoids + Kojic Acid for powerful results that visibly evens skin tone + fades away dark spots. I love that it warms up on the skin as I put it on.
Step 6: The #1 Lash Serum + Eye Cream
This is the cherry on top! Make sure you’ve used an oil-free eye make up remover for best results before applying your lash serum. I apply a thin swipe across my upper lash line each night and that’s it! I let it do its work. Lash Boost is the one I swear by for markedly different results from other last serums. It really does give you longer, fuller, darker looking lashes that are all yours. I end my routine with Multi-Function Eye Cream all around my orbital bone to firm, smooth and brighten my whole eye area while I sleep. I was recommended this eye cream 5 years ago and was so impressed with the results, I’ve never stopped using it.
MY MORNING SKINCARE ROUTINE:
My A.M. routine is quicker and easier than my evening one but equally important for keeping my skin healthy and seeing the results I want to see. This is super great for getting out the door and starting your day on the right foot, feeling the very best in your skin.
Step 1: Deep Exfoliating Cleanser Again
I use half the nighttime amount as a quick refresh in the morning and start with a clean slate.
Step 2: Intensive Brightening Toner
Same as the night time, I apply this toner with these gauze pads so that I am getting the right amount into my skin with a gentle amount of exfoliation.
Step 3: My Favorite Serum
The same energizing serum I use at night is perfect for using in the morning as well. It will boost your skin resilience to handle all the day’s stressors.
Step 4: Eye Cream
I use Multi-Function Eye Cream in the morning as well because the benefits are so good. It brightens up my eye area and helps my tired eyes to look awake and vibrant. Did you know the skin around your eyes is the first to show the signs of aging, poor sleep or a rough day? This eye cream really makes a difference in supporting the health of the skin around your eyes.
Step 5: SUNSCREEN w/ Antioxidants
I love this liquid sunscreen that not only protects my skin from sun damage and skin cancer, but also delivers powerful antioxidants to boost my skin’s ability to recover from the day and prevent new sun damage from ever coming to the surface. It feels like a smooth lotion, not a heavy sun cream so it’s perfect to be able to wear the right amount with excellent protection. Oh, and it’s SPF 50+.
ALL OF THE SKINCARE PRODUCTS I USE IN ORDER:
TLDR: Here are all of the skincare products I use, in the order that I use them! All of these are from my all-time favorite non-toxic skincare line, Rodan + Fields. It is the skincare I recommend to all my skin clients and is the #1 skincare brand. You can save 10% on your order + get free shipping by adding a Preferred Customer membership at checkout! There’s no commitments to order. Just order when you want, what you want and enjoy the best skin of your life.
Evening products:
Morning products:
*You need to know that these products can be purchased individually, or as a complete set. You save an extra 20% off when you buy a regimen as a set, and trust me, you want the whole set for the results you will see. The set has the right ingredients, right formulations and the right order to include all the right actives you need for the results you want.
I hope this helps you figure out your own results-driven skincare routine! You may need a different core regimen based on your skin needs, but the routine order will remain the same. You can find your personal recommended routine from the dermatologists here. Bonus: I am here to help! I’ve found that it doesn’t need to take a ton of time or crazy-expensive products, just ones that work for you and make you feel your best!
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DON’T FORGET, YOU CAN SAVE $$$ ON YOUR SKINCARE.
For 10% off + free shipping on the #1 skincare brand, get recommendations for your skin here, and be sure to add the Preferred Customer membership to you cart when you check out!
