Layering Skincare

How to Build a Custom Skincare Routine

Medik8 has over 70 different products: including cleansers, direct acids, toners, serums, creams and sunscreens. We give you the choice to tailor your skincare specifically to your needs. But with so many products, and only one face, where do you even start?

THE PERFECT ROUTINE

Understanding your skin is the first step to a fully developed skincare routine. Consider the skin concern you want to address – is it fine lines and wrinkles you want to target, or a set of blemishes which need to be calmed? We have specifically designed Medik8 Layering Guides to cater to any skincare concern - you can find these ​​​here.

However if you want to build your own skincare routine unique to you and your skin’s needs, keep reading or take our personalized ​​​Skincare Quiz.

At Medik8 we keep it simple. We believe every skincare regime should be based on CSA; vitamin C and SPF by day, vitamin A by night. Start with CSA, and you can build from there. Here’s how to build a typical morning and evening routine:

AM

1. Cleanser

In the morning, a light cleanser will gently wash away oils produced overnight, leaving your skin prepared for morning skincare. We recommend a foam, mousse or gel cleanser for the most refreshing morning cleanse. See our range of Cleansers ​​​ ​here.

2. Direct Acid/ Toner

A light sweep of a direct acid or hydrating toner can help other active ingredients in your regime to penetrate better into the skin. See our range of Toners here.

3. Target Serum

This could be a peptide or a booster serum to target a specific skincare concern. Depending on whether your target serum is oil, water or emulsion based, it may layer before or after your vitamin C (check the table below for layering guidance!). See our range of Peptides here.

4. Vitamin C

Vitamin C, an exceptionally powerful antioxidant, is vital to apply in the morning to protect your delicate skin from environmental damage throughout the day. See our range of Vitamin C serums here.

5. Moisturizer and Sunscreen

Keep your skin protected from damaging UV rays and sun damage, which can cause premature aging. Advanced Day Ultimate Protect™ combines your moisturizer and sunscreen into just one easy step. Learn more here here.

PM

1. Cleanser

Start with a gentle eye make-up remover such as Eyes & Lips Micellar Cleanse™. You may want to Double Cleanse your face, particularly if you wear heavier make up, to ensure your skin is thoroughly cleansed. You can do this by using a heavier, oil or cream cleanser, before using a lighter foam, mousse or gel cleanser. See our range of Cleansers here here.

2. Direct Acid/Toner

A light sweep of a direct acid can gently exfoliate the complexion, while helping other active ingredients in your regime to penetrate better into the skin. See our range of Toners here.

3. Target Serum

This could be a peptide or a booster serum to target a specific skincare concern. Depending on the base of your target serum, it may layer before or after your vitamin A (check the table below for layering guidance!). See our range of Peptides here.

4. Vitamin A

The skin is most active at night, when skin cell regeneration becomes supercharged. This makes it the ideal time to use vitamin A serums which also speed up skin cell renewal. Certain vitamin As can be deactivated by sunlight, so always incorporate your retinol or retinal serum into your nighttime routine. (r-Retinoate® Day & Night is the only form of vitamin A which can be used in the morning!) See our range of Vitamin A serums here.

5. Moisturizer

Overnight is also the ideal time to rehydrate, as richer moisturizers have time to sink deep into your skin. Opt for a heavier moisturiser than you would use in the daytime to truly nourish and rejuvenate delicate skin as you sleep. See our range of Moisturizers here.

6. Bi-Weekly At Home Treatment

Applied up to twice a week to give your skin a boost, we have a range of masks and treatments which are perfect for some skin indulgence. Sleep Glycolic™ is a perfect at-home peel for a mid-week treat, or see our range of Masks here.

So you’ve chosen the products you want in your bespoke skincare regime, now it's time to understand how to layer them onto the face, in the morning or evening.

When layering skincare, these are our general recommendations:

1) Apply in the order; Cleanse, Toner/Direct Acid, Eye Serum, Face Serum, Eye Cream, Face Moisturiser, Sunscreen

2) When layering multiple serums apply in the order; Water-based serums then oil-based serums then emulsion-based serums (see the table below for which base your serum is)

3) Apply any serums of the same base in order lightest to heaviest in texture

Below we have put together an exhaustive table which includes every product in the Medik8 range, listed in order of application in a regime. Alongside the products are helpful notes to help tailor your regime further and get the very best out of each product.

ORDER	TYPE	PRODUCT	WATER/OIL/ EMULSION	AM/PM?	NOTES
1	Eye Make Up Remover	Eyes & Lips Micellar Cleanse	Emulsion	AM/PM	If you are double cleansing, we would recommend using an oil-or emulsion-based cleanser first to break down make-up and oils, and then use a water-based cleanser to cleanse the skin.
1	Oil Cleanser	Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil	Oil	AM/PM
1	Mousse Cleanser	Micellar Mousse	Water	AM/PM
1	Gel Cleanser	Surface Radiance Cleanse	Water	AM/PM	If you have dry or sensitive skin, we would recommend to only use Surface Radiance Cleanse up to once a day.
1	Foam Cleanser	Clarifying Foam	Water	AM/PM
1	Foam Cleanser	Gentle Cleanse	Water	AM/PM
2	Exfoliating Scrub	Pore Refining Scrub	Emulsion	AM/PM
3	Toner/Direct Acid	Press & Glow	Water	AM/PM
3	Toner/Direct Acid	Sleep Glycolic	Emulsion	PM
4	Mask	Ultimate Recovery Bio-Cellulose Mask	Water	AM/PM	Remove mask and massage in serum before applying the rest of your skincare.
5	Vitamin C Eye Serum	C-Tetra Eye	Oil	AM
5	Vitamin A Eye Serum	Intelligent Retinol Eye TR	Oil	PM
6	Vitamin A Eye Serum	r-Retinoate Eye Serum	Emulsion	AM/PM
6	Peptide Eye Serum	Eyelift Peptides	Emulsion	AM/PM
7	Peptide Serum	Oxy-R Peptides	Water	AM/PM	If you are using more than one Water-Based serum, layer them lightest to heaviest in texture.
7	Booster Serum	Hydr8 B5	Water	AM/PM
7	Booster Serum	Hydr8 B5 Intense	Water	AM/PM
7	Peptide Serum	Liquid Peptides	Water	AM/PM
9	Vitamin C Serum	C-Tetra	Oil	AM	If you are using more than one Oil-Based serum, layer them lightest to heaviest in texture.
9	Vitamin C Serum	C-Tetra Luxe	Oil	AM
9	Peptide Serum	Bakuchiol Peptides	Oil	AM/PM
9	Vitamin A Serum	Retinol 3TR	Oil	PM
9	Vitamin A Serum	Intelligent Retinol 3/6/10TR	Oil	PM
10	Peptide Serum	Niacinamide Peptides	Emulsion	AM/PM	If you are using more than one Emulsion-Based serum, layer them lightest to heaviest in texture. Do not layer copper PCA Peptides with any vitamin C serums.
10	Peptides Serum	C-Tetra Advanced Gel-Serum	Emulsion	AM
10	Peptide Serum	Liquid Peptides Advanced Face Serum	Emulsion	AM/PM
10	Vitamin A Serum	r-Retinoate Day & Night Serum	Emulsion	AM/PM
10	Vitamin A Serum	Crystal Retinal 1/3/6/10/20	Emulsion	PM
11	Eye Cream	Illuminating Eye Balm	Emulsion	AM
11	Eye Cream	Advanced Night Eye	Emulsion	PM
12	Moisturizer	Balance Moisturizer	Emulsion	AM/PM
12	Moisturizer	Calmwise Colour Correct	Emulsion	AM
12	Moisturizer + Vitamin C	C-Tetra Cream	Emulsion	AM
12	Moisturizer + SPF	Advanced Day Ultimate Protect SPF 50+ PA++++	Emulsion	AM
12	Moisturizer	Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream	Emulsion	AM/PM
12	Moisturizer	Advanced Night Ceramide	Emulsion	PM
12	Moisturizer	Advanced Pro-Collagen+ Peptide Cream	Emulsion	AM/PM
12	Moisturizer + Vitamin A	Intelligent Retinol Smoothing Night Cream	Emulsion	PM
12	Moisturizer + Vitamin A	r-Retinoate Intense	Emulsion	PM

If you are unsure, or have any questions about building a custom skincare routine, please do not hesitate to contact us on our social channels or through email at [email protected].