How and When to Add Face Oil to your Skincare Routine

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How and When to Add Face Oil to your Skincare
Routine
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• I get asked this question quite often! Following
  a skincare 'regime' is quite overwhelming when
  you see the number of products/ steps involved.
  Working women, housewives and mothers don't
  really have that much time to spare and follow a
  religious 'regime'. However, every woman must
  take out 5 minutes to do a quick skincare
  routine. Get into the habit of following a
  routine every morning and evening, no matter how
  busy you happen to be.
• In the morning
• Cleanser
• Toner
• Essence
• Serums / Active Ingredients
• Eye Cream
• Moisturizer
• Face Oil
• Sunscreen

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• In the evening
• Double cleansing- Oil Cleanser (to remove makeup)
• Cleanser (cream/ foam)
• Exfoliator
• Face Pack
• Toner
• Essence
• Serums/ Active Ingredients
• Eye Cream
• Moisturizer
• Face Oil
• Sleeping Mask/ Sheet Mask

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• Too many products? I know many of you might find
  this overwhelming. And that is why its imperative
  to know which product is important and
  sufficient. Cosmetic/skincare industry is flooded
  with multiple products that confuse us and make
  it look complicated. We don't need to perform all
  these steps to get a flawless skin while I'm at
  it, no one should aim at getting a flawless skin.
  Let's not try to look like pixel perfect
  goddesses and stress ourselves out. One just
  needs to aim to be a better version of oneself
  instead of trying to look like a movie star. That
  being said, let's simplify your 'routine' and
  look at the steps which are imperative to keep
  your skin clean and healthy
• Cleansing - you can't do away with this. Even in
  the morning, we need to cleanse our face with a
  gentle cleanser. Sometimes even dandruff stuck on
  the pillow can cause havoc to the skin. Oil
  cleansers are great for removing tough waterproof
  makeup. Unlike cleansing water/ wipes which have
  chemicals, cleansing oils are all-natural and do
  a great job at getting rid of waterproof mascara
  too! Look for a cleansing oil or balm to be used
  at night.

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• Exfoliators- are a must but should not be used
  everyday. When we are young, our skin sheds off
  dead skin faster and as we grow old, this process
  becomes slower. This is why we need manual or
  chemical exfoliants to do the job. If you want
  your skin to look and feel smooth, this is a
  must. Manual exfoliators are good for people who
  do not have sensitive skin as they can be
  abrasive. A chemical peel (can be fruit derived
  too) is gentler and does not require an abrasive
  massage, much like a leave-on peel. You can
  follow it up with a Face Pack to close all the
  open pores. Some 'Sleeping Masks' also fit the
  bill and can be used at night after face oil.
  Again this is to be done once a week!
• Toners- You can get rid of this step, unless you
  have a very oily skin. Dry skin folks can do away
  with this. Toners are usually helpful to remove
  excess oil and balance your skin's PH levels. But
  if your cleanser itself has a 5.5 PH, you don't
  need a toner!

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• Essence- is just a glorified version of a toner.
  They are mostly slightly thicker than a toner and
  is used to add hydration to your skin. Have you
  seen a Korean skincare, where they slap on
  essence 7 times? humpf! who has the time for
  that?!, and trust me its just a marketing
  gimmick. Use it only if you have open pores as
  some essences are great at shrinking pores.
• Serums- These are often called the 'treatment
  step'. This is where the actual active ingredient
  is infused in higher concentrations to give you
  the effective results. Look for Vit C,
  Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol, AHA/ BHA
  infused serums. Now you don't need a serum for
  each of these actives. Any one is sufficient. You
  may also use 2 serums on alternate days, but not
  together. See the picture below to know why.
• Eye Creams- This is the most neglected step, yet
  THE most important. Even, I have neglected this
  for a long time, only because I haven't been able
  to get a product that actually works. Dark
  circles are usually a genetic problem. So not
  many products give results. Under eye bags can be
  treated by incorporating caffeine. Wrinkles can
  be significantly reduced by getting gentle
  retinol products or Vit K. But the key is to
  start early and prevent it as much as possible
  cause aging is inevitable! )

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• Moisturizer- This step is important to pack
  moisture into your skin. These could have fruit
  extracts and also some of the actives mentioned
  above but in lower concentrations.
• Face Oil- This is what seals every single product
  that you have just applied. Heating and
  air-conditioned environment suck the moisture out
  of your skin. So you need a sealant that prevents
  moisture loss and face oils are occlusive agents
  which form a cling wrap that also helps in
  maintaining the skin's moisture barrier. Some
  oils have wonderful actives and antioxidants
  which make them multipurpose. During summers, I
  don't need a moisturizer an oil is sufficient or
  vice versa. Since its a sealant it works best
  when applied under makeup to get a dewy look. We
  all know that most makeup products have harmful
  ingredients. Since the oils forms a film, it
  doesnt let the other topical products enter the
  deep layers of the skin.
• Sunscreen- I need not emphasize on the importance
  of this step. The internet is flooded with why
  you should apply it every single day!

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• Sheet Mask- This is an optional step only if you
  have extra time, lazing around and when you
  really want to pamper yourself or slap on one,
  before an important event. These masks also have
  some actives and lots of hydration. They are
  great to give an instant boost, like you've had a
  good night sleep and lots of water.
• So all this was only to sensitize you about what
  each step really entails. Now make your own
  'routine' and not a 'regime', because a regime
  sounds more stricter, right? ) Let's be kind to
  our skin and let it feel nourished and looked
  after, rather than suffocating it with too many
  products. So here's what I follow on regular
  days

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• Cleanser
• Exfoliator (once a week- AHA/BHA peel)
• Toner AHA (glycolic acid) every alternate day
• Serum ( hyaluronic acid) or Moisturizer (which
  has good actives like hyaluronic acid or lactic
  acid in lower concentration) I look for clean
  ingredients which are plant derived. Also I use
  them on alternate days.
• Face oil (also use it on my eyes to combat dark
  circles and fine lines) I use Laguna on my face
  and cacay nut oil for eyes and lips.
• Sunscreen (in the day)
• Sleeping Mask (twice a week at night)
• If this still looks like too much, its ok. Just
  start with cleanser, exfoliator,
  moisturizer/face oil to begin with. You will see
  a huge difference. And once you are regular, you
  can add more actives or substitute with other
  steps. Please look after yourself, eat well,
  drink lots of water and sleep well.Source
  https//www.herbisbotanicals.com/post/how-and-when
  -to-add-face-oil-to-your-skincare-routine