By now, many of you will be familiar with the patting technique advocated by Hada Labo for their Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Lotion. The lotion starts out runny and a little sticky but once you pat it on your skin, you will find it slowly start getting a bit tacky and then it disappears into your skin.
Guess what? Try doing the same thing with your normal skincare creams and lotions! 😀
I thought about this one day while I was applying my skincare and decided to try it out. You know what? I actually found that my creams and lotions were getting absorbed more easily and my skin did not feel sticky anymore. I’ve been using this technique for a couple of months now, so I thought I’d share my experience 🙂
I usually use this technique when I apply my serums and moisturizer. I start out the same way as my last tip on the proper way to apply moisturizer. I put a dollop of serum or moisturizer in the palm of my hand.
Then, I spread the serum or cream between the palms of my hands and instead of then smoothing it over my skin and massaging it in the way I usually do, I would smooth it on, then lightly press my palms on my skin instead, in a light patting/pressing motion. I do not employ the vigorous face slapping motion you might remember from the Hada Labo video. I really disliked that after a while and I don’t think its all that good for your skin in the long run.
Instead, I just lightly but firmly press my palms against my face and neck a few times, and after a while, I will notice that the lotion, serum or cream will start feeling a bit tacky, and then, nothing. It just feels like its all absorbed into my skin! My skin does not have the sticky feel associated with when you first apply moisturizer, and I seem to think that creams, serums and lotions absorb more easily and better. For the day, my skincare absorbs better, and in the process, I think it helps my makeup stay on better too.
Summary
- Scoop or pump a dollop of serum, cream or lotion into the palm of your hand.
- Smooth serum, cream or lotion between your palms.
- Smooth on face.
- Lightly but firmly press or pat your palms against your face and neck until the sticky slippery feeling disappears and the skincare is absorbed into your skin
Granted, it also takes a little more time. Maybe a minute or so more but I’ve gotten so used to it now that I don’t notice it anymore. Fans of Clarins skincare may notice also that this technique is employed and advocated by Clarins when using their skincare. Clarins skincare feels a little tacky on my skin and almost as if it does not absorb properly when I just smooth it on. But when I use this technique, it all disappears into my skin and that tacky feeling disappears! 😀
I’ve been trying it with various creams and lotions and I’ve been quite happy with the results thus far. It seems to work with most if not all skincare and I like how my skin no longer has a slightly tacky “I-just-put-on-moisturizer” feel.
Do you use this technique to apply your creams and lotions? Is this something new to you or am I late to the party? Do try it and see for yourself if it works for you 🙂
Paris B
Yes I use this method for almost a month now and I do feel the difference.
I always have combination skin type but a couple of months back, I noticed my skin has been really dry to the extend where you can feel the dry patches on your skin.
Then I saw this video on YT, on how this YT-er applied her moisturizer and since then I’ve become accustomed to just the exact same method you’ve described! I found this patting motion also keeps me calm since I slowly taking my time to pamper on my skin.
The difference I noticed is my skin now is not dry, I felt it is hydrated, my T-zone which usually gets oily fast, is not that oily anymore! I think my skin condition has change to a normal skin type?! 😀
As you mentioned, yes, come to think about it, I do notice the moisturizer seems to sink in the skin much faster than to just spreading it.
Thanks so much for sharing this tip, you know, you’ve helped a lot already 🙂
Oh wow Rahainah, I felt the same way you do! I feel the products absorb better and especially my drier cheeks aren’t as dry and even when I layer on a few products, it is perfectly fine. I didn’t even really change my skincare products either. I think we should just stick with whatever works for us 🙂
i’ve been using this technique after watch a few of beautyqq’s videos. i find that it does make some difference on how my face feels after skin care. i also find that i use less products this way.
Thanks for sharing Coco 🙂 scientifically, it might not make sense because our skins can only absorb so much, but I think it’s better in the long term because at least we aren’t pulling on our skins unnecessarily 🙂
A few weeks ago I stumbled over an article at Beauty Brains (http://thebeautybrains.com/2012/03/18/do-skin-lotions-work-better-if-you-pat-instead-of-rub/) where the same idea is discussed. It doesn’t seem like rubbing or patting have anything to do with absorption, so the way of doing it doesn’t matter.
As for me, I like to rub because I’m too lazy and impatient to pat.
Thanks for sharing! I do tend to agree that scientifically it may make no difference but perhaps psychologically, it makes a difference to me hehe… Also I’m trying to minimize the stretching of the skin and pressing/patting does do that 🙂
I have been using the patting (not slapping^^) technique for a few weeks now, and I love it! I especially used it when I apply creams. But besides using a cotton pad for applying toner, I also pour a bit of it into my hands and pat in onto my face. It is sooo refreshing!
What a great tip about the toner 🙂 its a nice wy of using it in place of a facial spray!
Oh Paris, I just read about this the other day. This is how I been applying my skin care most of the time now, ever since I started to use the SK-II Treatment Essence.. Well, if Im not in a rush in the morning.
I agreed with you that the products absorbs to your skin better this way 🙂
Hehe so glad so many of us use this method and agree that it seems to work better for our skin! When I’m in a morning rush, I still pat… And then skimp on makeup time 😉
Its nice to know it works for you too 🙂 Maybe its psychological as some people have pointed out but I feel it works better and hey, I won’t complain if my skin doesn’t 😉
My skin also has changed for the better with this technique. I saw a youtube video on how to apply bbcream and thought if skin looks great with this technique why not use this technique for tm & moisturizer. Within a few days, my skin wasn’t as dry as it use to be and had a glow ?
i do that too, after reading some Japanese magazine for Spring 2012 skincare trend. and it does absorb much better and face doesn’t feel as sticky, but do you have this problem that your palms are now stickier? 😛
Actually no. I don’t have a problem with my palms being sticky 🙂
And I thought I was weird! I was doing this patting/slapping thing (I know, I really need to tone down my slapping but it wakes me up in the morning hehe) since the start of the year ever since I started on Hada Labo SHA. I thought, why not do the same thing to my essence, serum and sunscreen too? I never went back to the usual swiping thing. And I never had a supple skin like this before. Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me but like you said, whatever works for us, right? Thanks Paris for this, now I know that I am not alone after all! 😀
It’s good to know I’m not alone either! Looks like a lot of us are in this together 🙂
I began the tapping/patting when I used Clarins years ago, and continue to this day – albeit with different brands now. I actually pat very briskly, sort of light slapping, in a rhythmic pattern. It is good for the circulation and makes my skin glow. 🙂
Dear Paris,..
I’m confused how to apply bubbly-creamy moisturizer..
Is it slightly massaging it from nose to hairline or the reverse ?
Because I heard if we did it the wrong way it’s gonna make unnecessary wrinkle ( such as the rule for applying cream to neck must in upward motion )
Thank you very much for your time 🙂 and I will try your method for simply pressing it with palm to see how it goes :)))
Tina
Hi there, to be honest, I don’t believe that the way we apply moisturiser or products on our face can cause wrinkles. Not unless you literally rub and pull at your skin harshly. I pat or lightly apply it all over, not RUB products into my skin. So, I don’t buy the whole upwards motion thing either, sorry! As long as we’re not pulling on our skin, it won’t cause more loss of elasticity than normal. After all, there’s more to causing wrinkles than just how we apply our skincare 🙂 So, to answer your question, not quite knowing what sort of product gives a bubbly-creamy moisturiser, I’d say, rub it between the palms and then pat/press or lightly apply it to the skin.