How to Build a Bespoke Skincare Regime
Our 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 REGIME
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 Regimes Guides to cater to any skincare concern.
However if you want to build your own skincare regime bespoke to you and your skin’s needs, keep reading.
At Medik8 we keep it simple. We believe every skincare regime should be based on CSA; vitamin C and sunscreen 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!).
- 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.
- Moisturiser and Sunscreen
Keep your skin protected from damaging UV rays and sun damage, which can cause premature ageing. Advanced Day Total Protect™ combines your moisturiser and sunscreen into just one easy step.
PM
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!).
- 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.
- Moisturiser
Overnight is also the ideal time to rehydrate, as richer moisturisers 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.
- 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.
LAYERING SKINCARE
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 | Cream Cleanser | Cream Cleanse | Emulsion | 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 | Gel Cleanser | Pore Cleanse Gel Intense | Water | AM/PM | |
1 | Foam Cleanser | Clarifying Foam | Water | AM/PM | |
1 | Foam Cleanser | Gentle Cleanse | Water | AM/PM | |
1 | Foam Cleanser | Calmwise Soothing Cleanser | Water | AM/PM | |
2 | Exfoliating Scrub | Pore Refining Scrub | Emulsion | AM/PM | |
3 | Toner/Direct Acid | Blemish Control Pads | Water | AM/PM | |
3 | Toner/Direct Acid | Pore Minimising Tonic | Water | AM/PM | |
3 | Toner/Direct Acid | Glycolic Acid Activator | Water | PM | |
3 | Toner/Direct Acid | Press & Glow | Water | AM/PM | |
3 | Toner/Direct Acid | Daily Refresh Balancing Toner | Water | AM/PM | |
3 | Toner/Direct Acid | Sleep Glycolic | Emulsion | PM | |
3 | Toner/Direct Acid | Blemish SOS | Water | AM/PM | Always apply Blemish SOS over the top of toners |
4 | Mask | Ultimate Recovery Bio-Cellulose Mask | Water | AM/PM | Remove mask and massage in serum before applying the rest of your skincare. |
4 | Mask | Natural Clay Mask | Emulsion | AM/PM | Wash off 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 | 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 | Vitamin C Serum | Pure C15 | Water | AM | |
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 | |
8 | Vitamin C Serum | Super C Ferulic | Oil-like | AM | Layering our Oil-Like Serums over our Water-Based serums can cause them to roll-off slightly. For best results we’d recommend you apply your Oil-Like Serum in the morning, and Water-Based Serum in the evening. |
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 | Booster Serum | Calmwise Serum | Oil | AM/PM | |
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 | Clarity 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 | Peptide Serum | Copper PCA Peptides | 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 + Sunscreen | Advanced Day Eye Protect | Emulsion | AM | |
11 | Eye Cream | Advanced Night Eye | Emulsion | PM | |
12 | Moisturiser | Balance Moisturiser | Emulsion | AM/PM | |
12 | Moisturiser | Calmwise Colour Correct | Emulsion | AM | |
12 | Moisturiser + Vitamin C | C-Tetra Cream | Emulsion | AM | |
12 | Moisturiser + Sunscreen | Advanced Day Total Protect | Emulsion | AM | |
12 | Moisturiser + Sunscreen | Advanced Day Ultimate Protect | Emulsion | AM | |
12 | Moisturiser + Sunscreen + Vitamin C | Daily Radiance Vitamin C | Emulsion | AM | |
12 | Moisturiser | Advanced Night Restore | Emulsion | PM | |
12 | Moisturiser + Vitamin A | Night Ritual Vitamin A | Emulsion | PM | |
12 | Moisturiser + Vitamin A | r-Retinoate Intense | Emulsion | PM | |
12 | Moisturiser | Ultimate Recovery | Emulsion | AM/PM | |
13 | Sunscreen | Physical Sunscreen | Emulsion | AM | |
14 | Lips | Mutiny | Oil | AM/PM |
If you are unsure, or have any queries about building a bespoke regime, please do not hesitate to contact NEST Skin, Body & Wellbeing on 07 38710477 or through email info@nestskinbodywellbeing.com