How do you apply your moisturizer?
I used to do the 5 dot method – 1 dot each on my forehead, cheeks, nose and chin and then massage into the skin. I may stick my head out to say that almost everyone does it this way right?
Well, I’ve just learnt that this might just be too much! And if your skin cannot absorb that much, the balance sits on the surface making it feel oily and masky and ick. Not only that, too much might mean its too sticky and rich so it clogs your pores and makes you break out.
I’ve been taught recently by an SA at Clinique that the proper way or perhaps the more advisable way to apply moisturizer is as follows:-
- Scoop or pump a dollop of moisturizer into the palm of your hand. It should be only a small dollop, about the size of a pea. See picture of pea size above :)
- Rub your palms together, warming up the moisturizer and spreading it between your palms.
- Start with your cheeks and then spread the moisturizer gently to your forehead and nose and lastly the chin.
If you have gone for facials, you may notice that your beautician will usually apply your moisturizer this way (at least the ones I go to). They never dot the moisturizer on your skin but spread it between their hands first. There are some benefits to that technique.
Spread moisturizer on palms to warm it up
Spreading moisturizer between your palms warms it up a little so it spreads and absorbs more easily and spreads it out so you don’t end up putting too much on one spot of skin. You will realize that when you use moisturizer that is slightly heavier in texture, rubbing it between your palms will make it more liquid and your skin can usually tolerate it better too.
You may also find that when you spread it between your palms, it feels like there isn’t enough for your face. Not to worry, there is. You aren’t rubbing it into your palms, just spreading it, so rub your palms together 2 or 3 times only.
Start with your cheeks as they are drier
Usually, the drier areas of your face will be your cheeks so that’s where you start. The forehead and nose or T-zone and chin will usually be a little oilier so you don’t need as thick moisturizer as your cheeks so any remnant moisturizer on your hands is sufficient for these areas.
Ever since I learnt this technique from observing my beauticians at facial salons, and from speaking to the Clinique sales person, I’ve found the benefits two-fold:-
- My face does not feel as oily or masky as the 5 Dot technique and all moisturizer absorbs more quickly into my skin leaving it just as plump and moisturized but not oily;
- Best of all, I save on moisturizer! :D
I do the same with serums and thus far, everything seems fine. With this method, a lotion that comes in a pump bottle like the Biotherm Aquasource Oil Free or Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion usually works better for me than something that comes in a tub. For moisturizers that come in a tub, I use either my finger to scoop out a dollop (when I’m lazy) or a spatula if I have one on hand. But either way the technique works great.
However, gel moisturizers like H20+ Face Oasis or Garnier Aqua Defense Essence or the Clinique Moisture Surge gel don’t work as well using this method so I go back to the 5 dot method.
So, how do you apply your moisturizer? Have you tried this method and does it work for you?
Stay beautiful,
Paris B
this is very helpful. thanks for sharing :)
thanks for the tip! i think creamier ones benefit better for the spreading it on palms technique, while the gel-like or runnier ones work better with the 5 dots :)
gonna go home n try my hands on the palms technique n see if i can make creams that i hate work better for me!
thank you for the great tip~
i usually just dot on my face, no wonder i always end up like an oil slick :( i must have used toooooooooooo much
/nia/
I use gel moisturiser so its the 5 dots method for me. But in the case where I use a cream one, I just kind of spread it all over my face to how thick a layer I want it to be. Would definitely try this method though. Quick question: Do you apply your Suncreen with this same method too?
Hi Sarah
No I do not use this method with sunscreen because for sunscreen you need way more on your skin than just a pea size. Properly, you need a teaspoon of sunscreen to cover your face. So, for sunscreen, I squeeze a pea size for each portion of my face i.e. 5 squeezes = 5 peas. This is the reason I’m particular about how sticky or oily my sunscreen feels :)
I am currently using a cream so I am doing this method! :D
I’ve heard of the palm method, but sceptical to use this method thus far. I reasoned that my palm will absorb much of the moisturizer and not much to be left on my face. I still stick to the 5-dots method as more moisturizer will be absorb by my face since only my fingers will come into contact with the moisturizer.
Hi Sylvia
I find any absorption by the palms quite minimal. The skin on our palms are quite thick anyway and thus far, the amount I apply on my skin feels just right as opposed to having too much. But its always a case of personal preference :)
I tried the palm method after all and I must say it’s a great method to use when I’m rushing for time. No hassle just spread on the palm then the face and off I go. The residue of the mosturizer are there but I reckon if it’s good for my face, then it’s good for my palm too :)
I only use the palm method if the moisturizer is difficult to spread. Because I don’t want to be rubbing my face. With the palm method, I can half glide over my face, half pat it. I still prefer the 5 dots methods, some times even 11 smaller dots (2 more dots for forehead, besides nose and lower part of cheek). I feel that this covers all the areas better. With the palms, I am always afraid of missing some parts. haha.
Hi Jyoan
Interestingly I find I cover more ground using the flats of my hands as opposed to my fingertips :)
HI PB! I’ve been doing the rubbing the product between the palm method for the longest time and I find it works for me :)
You actually got a PEA! Genius! =D
Hm! I have to try this. I just recently switched to a heavy cream based moisturiser which works wonders on my skin but has also been giving me little bumps near the forehead where I assume I’m not blending in as well.
Thank you!
i remember this on the Tyra Banks Show and tried it with my moisturizer. however, i agree with you that this doesn’t work with gel-type moisturizer. I have a gel-type moisturizer and every time i do this my hands are sticky! (boo!) so i just do the 5-dots method and just making sure to put less moisturizer on each dot ;)
Ever since I’ve been “schooled” by La Mer, I’ve been using the pea size + warm up + pat/sweep method. A little goes a long way! I find the moisturizer absorbs better when I apply it this way too.
I actually don’t use the 5 dot method and have always squirt or apply the cream on my palm. However, I don’t rub with my palms. Instead I pat or dab with the fingertips to fully unleash the goodness from the cream – something I picked up when I used Creme de la Mer some years ago. I think the concept is about the same…
With oil though, I rub with both palms cos that’s the only way I know.
HI Sesame
With oil I must agree, there’s no other way!
I found that I would break out using the 5 dot method especially around the places I dotted. So earlier this year, another Clinique SA taught me the palm method and I’ve been using it ever since. Spot outbreaks are remarkably reduced for me!
p.s. I’m using this method with my Moisture Surge and so far, so good. Not even a single spot! I’m so loving it. :D
i agree!! i often feel like an oil slick when i used a creamy moisturizer cos of the 5 dots application… been using palms method for q a few yrs after being introduced to it by clarins (not clinique though!). as for gel moisturizers, i dont use the 5 dots application cos i end up using too much moisturizer and getting bumps sometimes. what i do is put a small amount of moisturizer over small areas of my face and slowly smooth them out till they get semi-absorbed, before applying more moisturizer to other areas or the same area if they are not ‘bouncy’ or dont feel hydrated enough to me. dont know if that is orthodox but it works for me though! ;)
what about liquid moisturizers like ipsa metabolizer? thanks.
Hi Linda
I’m not sure what texture ipsa metabolizer is but if its very liquid like an oil or lotion, I find that using this method works well too. Its too runny to stay on the face long enough for the 5 dot method anyway.
I do the way the beautician does.
Not because I have more knowledge, just because I LIKE it that way, and I thought I applied it wrong :)
I use the 5-dot method as my moisturisers are gel-based. Per dot’s pretty measly so I’m not worried about wasted moisturiser :P
wonderful!
i used the 5 dots method all this while too :P
with smaller dot on the forehead cause it gets oily faster and bigger dots on the cheeks because its drier.
yup combination skin :P
i usually just take slightly less than a dollop of moisturizer then apply directly to my cheek. i do one portion of my face at a time, rather than 5 dots on my face. so far, no problems, but that’s probably due to using the right moisturizer that isn’t too oily. i reckon if i use a slightly oilier one, i might have breakouts on where most part of the moisturizer goes to!