Many moons ago I apply my skin care just like normal; dab and spread in circular motion. That is what everyone is doing back then. When I really get into the whole skin care craze back in March 2011 with Clarins, that was a whole turning point for me. Clarins have their own signature application method for certain product and recommended application method for the rest. In all the range and products available from Clarins, not once I was told to “apply like normal”.
At first it was troublesome for me. I mean all the warm product on both palm, pat all over face and then only press from inner face to outer is too time consuming! I was so sure I’d get lazy in the end and stop applying skin care. As time goes by, as more and more Clarins product I bought to use I finally get hold of all the application routine. I guess I had gotten used to it. According to Clarins it is not recommended to rub in / spread skin care onto face as we apply. This could loosen the skin texture which will resulted in sagging skin at older age. Honestly I’ve never heard it before. I’ve watched “Nu Ren Wo Zui Da” for so many years and I never heard that being recommended nor have I saw that before too. Well anyway I carried on the tradition for almost 2 years.
Recently I ventured all out to other skin care brands. Those that doesn’t state a specific application method I will just apply as normal on my face. My routine changed 100% when I needed to lighten my acne marks in a faster speed. Ok lah, almost everything recently is related to those damn acne marks! Anyway back to the story. I redeemed the new Clarins White Plus Intensive Brightening Serum just before Chinese New Year. This is to replace the current Intensive Whitening Smoothing Serum. If you remember from the review I mentioned that I love the trial size result on lightening my acne marks but not when I bought a full size bottle. I took a step back when I saw the word “brightening” and not whitening. But according to KLCC BA it’s the same and even better. I took the sample kit home and used it on the night itself. This time I only apply on my jaw line where the marks is at with rub-in circular motion. I notice that after a week or so of doing that the marks are less red and the size of the marks shrunk day by day which means the lightening works. And of course I don’t think it’s the serum that is doing all the work. It has to be the combination of Gamila Secret Original soap and Gentle Renewing Brightening Peel which act as a dead skin exfoliator. But overall I’m pretty happy that rubbing in skin care is not that bad. By doing so I’m actually pushing the product into the skin thus the effectiveness of it.
On other skin care i.e. serums, creams etc I prefer to warm the product on both of my palm and start applying in a single direction swipe from the inner to outer face. As I don’t rub in like a mad woman I repeat the process as needed. That way product are absorbed in faster and my face is less oilier during the day compare with previous when I just press on the face. It seems like the product is still “floating” on the surface because it wasn’t absorb in completely and I ended with oily face one hour later after makeup. I don’t think so we have the time to wait for it to absorb in especially for people who like to layer skin care like I do.
So, does it matter how you apply your skin care? I would say it’s up to each individual’s preference. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to skin care. If you are happy with how you are doing it by all mean just go ahead. The most important is that you are comfortable with what you use and how you use it. The only person can tell you off is yourself.
What about you? Do you stick to the method as told by BA when you bought a product or you go with your own way? It would be interesting to know how everyone apply their skin care!
Comments (27)
At first, i will follow instruction but then i like to try different ways of applying to see which way is more effective and the laziest way. >< For examples like applying toner. some pat, some use cotton pad and some dab.
Me too. Now I’ll just listen to what the BA say. If there is a particular way of applying I’ll follow and if it doesn’t show much effect then I’ll do it my way 😀
hehehe. after all, who doesn’t want to achieve results faster right?hahhaha xD
Hehehehe exactly. Honestly I never think much about the application. My mind set is only the product. I blame everything on the product haha
At first i blame on the product too but then i will check the application later and notice that maybe i need to follow the instruction. however, if my skin is still the same, means i will really blame the product not doing justice to me or my skin just doesn’t like the products. my concern is also acne scars and also my droppy eye bags that is incurable at the moment.
Yea some product will only work with specific application method like the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. Most people said the product is not good because they apply it the wrong way. Acne scars is as headache as pigmentation 🙁
Hi, Fiona. For Hadalabo SHA lotion, I will rub it in my palms first, and then pressed on my face. Almost the same goes to serum, eye cream and moisturizer in which i will warm it on my finger tips and apply on face by gentlle patting or pressing. Patting or pulling to hard will damage the skin. I think this is important to help the product to be absorbed well into skin, so not to waste the product and avoid residual on skin surface that will cause milia formation. Although more troublesome with the steps, which means I have to wake up earlier than other people, but I enjoyed the process of applying skin care. 🙂
*face palm* my reply went missing 🙁
You are right that patting too hard will damage the skin. No doubt patting in will help the absorption but to me it doesn’t accelerate the effectiveness of the product. Nowadays I’m into facial massaging that I find works better for me :). I have old and stubborn skin you know LOL.
LOL! Oh, maybe I can try massage method next time, haiz, but have to wait my acne to clear off first. 🙁
Just do it with medium pressure. Oh you have breakout? But you have the nicest skin I’ve seen! hehe
Haiz *sigh. Exam coming soon, new acne is popping out. Oh, stress. @@
Totally understand. I get that all the time.
i am lazy, i just spread things on my fingers (not palm,somehow i never do that! lol) and transfer everything on face with minimal strokes.. i am lazy that way haha..but i do notice a HUGE difference in terms of warming up when it comes to makeup.
Ahahahaha. Aiyoh gin! If you do it with minimal strokes the product is still not properly absorbed in! Same with makeup…warming up skin care does makes a different too.
I shall try putting on my palms and warm up and see!!
Good luck 😀
I will just swipe it lolxx
seem to be the easiest/fastest way for me >_<
Lolz. I know you’re using Clarins now. Didn’t follow their application method?
ermmmm, only d shaping facial lift , press it into the skin, hahahah, kinda lazy -.-
i haven open some of their products yet, too many -.-
cleanser, toner, moisturizer, some other serum, i am using other brands :SS
No wonder :). Now besides SFL I just apply with both palm in 1 direction swipe.
but I did warm them up then only swipe lol 😛
Every brand has their own steps. Imagine when you use few different brands at one go. Haha. Usually, I would ask about their steps. I try my best to follow the steps. There are some brands that don’t have specific steps. So I just apply as usual. Not in circular motion though. I don’t want my skin to be like “ham choi” in long run. I only rub in the product in circular motion when it’s for those dreaded acne marks.
Which is why I’m only maintaining at one stroke for everything. Like you except for acne marks area.
Spread, dab dab and apply. Else pat till dry. I’m not into the warming products, take a sniff and then spread left or right, upwards or downwards. Too complicated for a beauty noob like me. So far the products worked well for me. Could be better perhaps if I follow their steps. Lol.
It doesn’t matter. Just do whichever way that works for you :). Your method is interesting…spread, dab, apply 🙂
The spread, dab dab and apply method, is it something like spreading the icing on a cake? You spread the icing on the cake, dab dab and apply..
Don’t think there’s dabbing on icing the cake lol