How Long Do you Really Need to Wait Between Applying Skin-Care Products?

A question as old as time... well not really, but you know what we mean. The long-standing debate: Does each product need time to absorb? We have the answers!We all want to get the most out of our (usually expensive) skincare products. So you've probably wondered about the timing of your skincare routine, specifically how long to wait between applying each product. Why does 'getting the most of your products' and 'waiting between products' go hand and hand? Let's go over that first.

Why does waiting between products matter?

Because you can't just slap on one product after another without letting them soak in. Skincare and the ingredients in them need time to penetrate the skin. With all different molecule sizes, it's also important that you do your skincare routine from smallest to largest molecular size and wait in between each application to ensure maximum skin penetration and effectiveness.If you don't know what order you should be putting your skincare products on, click here!

So how long do you wait?

There is no one-size-fits-all, but a majority of the experts agrees that you should wait for each product to fully dry before moving onto the next step. So this means waiting seconds or minutes, depending on the product. So yay! No need to set a timer or even counting in your head. Just make sure it feels like the product has been fully absorbed into the skin (about 30-60 seconds) before applying another layer of skincare goodness.There are two products, in particular, where the waiting rule is super important. The first is sunscreen. When mixed with other products, sunscreen becomes diluted and not as effective. Because of this, sunscreen needs to be your absolute last step in your skincare routine. If you're applying makeup afterward, you'll need to wait a couple minutes to ensure full protection. The second product is acne treatment. With acne treatments, you need to let the active ingredients sit for a minute before applying creams over them.

The bottom line

So there you have it! Don't worry about setting a timer, just wait until it dries. And remember, layering your products in the right order is just (if not more) as important.

For More Information:

For more information about skincare, please contact us at ZONA Med Spa. Or book a complimentary consultation online by clicking here.