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! 😀
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
thanks so much! i’m pretty much a n00b to all this moisturizer deal, and this helped a lot 🙂
I’ve been thinking…I actually squeeze a pea size of my gel moisturiser and split it into 5 dots on my face. Then spread all over.
In fact, I do this so frequently now, I can estimate the 1 pea size split into 5 dots on my face that when I scrap my cream with a spatula, I can approximate the amount of a pea size with 5 small scraps of the spatula. Hahaha…so I skip the warming up between my palms part. But I use a very very light cream thats almost serum like. So, I guess thats ok.
I was taught this by my beautician. She told me that there is no use putting too much product. Its gonna waste the product as the skin cannot absorb all the goodness. In the worst case, it not only will cause acne but also milia seeds. So, I practice this all the time and I ended up going through 50ml of moisturiser in 9 to 12 months.
I saw my friend slowwwwlyyy, pain-stakinglyyyy dab a bit of cream moisturiser and spread on her face, little bit by little bit. She moves on with a new dab and a new spot on her face I think to cover her face, she must have gone thru more than 20 dabs and takes more than 5 mins.
And I always thought that I’m the weird one. Whole face done in 5 secs using so little product!
Oh, the 50ml moisturiser is the day type used once a day. The night cream is also 50ml and used once a day over more than 9 months now.
Thank you for sharing this tip! I’ve always read instructions on my skincare products to rub on my palm, but I thought – “what a waste!”
Never knew 🙂
I’ve read this post long time ago but never really followed it. I used to use the dot method and yeah, sometimes it does end up being too greasy. I re-read this post the other day and actually tried it out and guess wat? My face feels awesome! There’s a thin layer of moisturiser on it which is not too thick or greasy. I wake up in the morning and I no longer have oily oily face. Thanks! 🙂
It took me a while to realise that you out an actual pea there! Haha 🙂
I always use the palm method but I’m going to try the 5 dots and see if there’s any difference. I heard that the best way to apply moisturiser is to pat it into the skin as it allows it to absorb better. If you rub, it moves the skin cells around to different areas of the face. I’ve tried it but it feels no difference. Now, I sort of half pat, half rub the moisturiser into my skin.
Great tip. as a male who has only just discovered the many advantages of using Moisturiser, this method is perfect. I have often been guilty of over applying, but not with this tip.
Paris, thank you for give this link to your previous reply ^ ^
I WILL practice it soon. Just yesterday I do this to my creamy body lotion ! Oh, does it work for bbcream too ? My bbcream is like foundation so I end up spread it on the face.
Try this tip for bb cream or liquid foundation 😉
I did try out the spot and rub method but couldn’t really stick with it so generally, I apply my moisturizer by spreading it between my palms and rubbing it in but next time I will just try to press it in instead of rub!!! Yeah, scopping out a pea size is something I have yet to learn…can use the pic as an inspiration 😀
I use a gel moisturiser (Celeteque Hydration Moisturiser); quite lightweight. I put a dollop in my palm, rub my palms together and gently pat on my face. My face doesn’t feel dry. Suits the humid weather!
Do you also do this in applying a night cream?
Yes I do 🙂
how long do i have to stay after applying moisturizer
We should be doing the dot method, not quite 5 dots but just on the cheeks and forehead, by rubbing products in our hands we are activating the air sensitive ingredients on our hands rather than straight on our face, this is if we want the best results from our moisturiser, having the product warm does help with absorption but doesn’t weigh up over losing the potency of the ingredients
i take a pea size dot in to my finger tip and spread it between the fingers later i touch the forehead chin nose neck etc i mean slight touches after that i massage my face with the remaining moisturizer in hand. This method really works
source:
youtube.com/watch?v=iOpKJbttoFg
In response to the LaMer comment, rubbing it in the palm is only half the technique. The warnimg should also be followed by gently pressing the product into the skin. Clarins follows this very same technique! Warm & gently press so as not to be rubbing or tugging at the delicate skin.
Hi, i went to my friends who is a beautician, and she did me a facial. I also noticed she out moisturiser on the palms of her hands and used sweepingup movements, not circular like they suggest on other web sites. So i am doing this now as well.