Even the tiniest changes to your beauty routine can make your skincare products work better! Experts recommend when and how to apply your lotions, essences and creams to maximize their benefits to your skin.

Cleanse for 60 seconds

Cleansing your face (with your fingers) for 60 seconds allows the ingredients in the cleanser to actually work.  Most ppl wash their face for like 15 seconds max,” skin specialist Nayamka Roberts-Smith said in a viral tweet that led to the hashtag #60SecondRule.

Women started trying it, and then posted the amazing difference to their skin. A Reddit user even said, “I’ve been doing this for about a month now and I have noticed the following: no more forehead bumps, softer skin texture, significant decrease in pimples, and a definite glow!”

But this isn’t just another Twitter beauty trend. Olay Principal Scientist Dr. Frauke Neuser said that cleansing can be a game-changer. Any residue on your face prevents serums and creams from properly penetrating your skin. “We’ve run studies to show cleanser actually increase absorption of skincare ingredients into your skin, compared to if you just rinsed with water or you didn’t use a cleanser at all,” says Dr. Neuser.

Dr. Neuser says that you should also wash your face when you first wake up in the morning, because of leftover residue from last night’s skincare. (Plus: your pillows aren’t as clean as you think they are.)

Always apply skincare products to damp skin

“Your skin is 10 times more permeable when it’s damp,” says celebrity aesthetician Renée Rouleau. After cleansing, pat your face dry with a towel then immediately apply a toner or facial mist. Pat in the excess and then apply your essence or day cream.

Exfoliate twice a week

Regular exfoliation removes dead skin cells – which not only gives you a glow, but creates a clean canvas for the rest of your skincare. Choose the right exfoliator for your skin type, and don’t over do it! If you already use a facial cleansing brush like a Clarisonic, or an everyday facial wash that has microbeads, then you probably don’t need heavy exfoliating. We recommend: Alba Botanica Natural Acne Dote.

Body Care Product

Apply eye cream with your ring finger

Since this is the most delicate part of your face, it also needs the gentlest pressure. Using your ring finger guarantees that you don’t push or pull the skin too much.

The best way to apply eye cream: dab several dots in a complete circle that spans both your eyelids and under your eyes. Lightly pat it in with your ring finger until it’s completely disappeared into your skin.  

 Some skincare experts also recommend putting eye cream before any other of your face care products. This gives your skin a chance to absorb it. “Eye creams have a thinner formula than moisturizers,” explains Dr. Neuser. “If you accidentally get your day cream into the orbital or under eye area, your eye cream will sit on top of it and slide down the rest of your face.”

Shopping for eye cream? Check out our articles on the best eye creams for each undereye problems and the 5 best eye creams.

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Know your ingredients – and match your products

It pays to do research on what the ingredients in your skincare really does. That can help you layer products to achieve better results.

For example, hyaluronic acid and glycerin give you really soft, smooth skin because they draw in moisture. Peptides strengthen your skin. “Layering a humectant under your peptide-based cream will improve the results overall—one plumps while the other strengthens skin,”  says Dr. Neuser.

If your biggest skin problem is discoloration, combine something that evens out skin tone (like niacinamide) and mix it with something that improves collagen production (like peptides). (Look at some of the winners of Beauty Insider’s awards for brightening skin products.)