8 Ways to Elevate Your Skin Care Routine

Are you a little bored with your skin care routine? We get it—you do the same steps of cleansing and moisturizing day in and day out with little variation. Well, it’s time to shake things—and we’re here to help you take your daily skin care routine to the next level! From revamping your skin care essentials to giving yourself an at-home spa experience using face scrubs, prepare to start having a little more fun when it comes to taking care of your complexion. Here’s our best skin care regimen that’s anything but basic—it features our best facial cleansers and best moisturizers for a variety of skin types and skin care concerns.

1. DOUBLE CLEANSE WITH MICELLAR WATER AND A CLAY FACIAL CLEANSER

Sometimes, cleansing your skin once isn’t enough—so go ahead and do it twice! Double cleansing, a skin care trend that originated in Korea, involves using micellar water to help remove makeup, dirt, and excess oils to start, then following up with a different type of facial cleanser to help remove any remaining impurities that were left on the surface of your skin. Here’s how to cleanse your face in an effective way.

Step 1: Remove your face makeup with micellar water, a gentle no-rinse cleansing option. Micellar water is powered by tiny micelles—oil molecules—that lift dirt, oil, and makeup up and away from the skin. The L'Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin purifies and mattifies, the L'Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin hydrates and soothes, and the L'Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser Waterproof – All Skin Types intensely purifies. Oh, and did we mention that you don’t need to be anywhere near a sink? Just saturate a cotton pad with your micellar water of choice and wipe the pad across your face. For eye makeup removal, hold the pad over closed eyes for a few seconds, then wipe.

Step 2: Purify your skin with a clay facial cleanser. As beneficial as micellar water is in a skin care routine, there’s something to be said about following up a quick cleanse with a deeper, more targeted rinse. That’s where a clay facial cleanser can come in handy. The L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Purify & Mattify Cleanser rids surface skin of built-up dirt and impurities, while reducing the look of excess shine; the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Exfoliate & Refining Cleanser rids skin of built-up dirt and impurities, while buffing away dead skin cells and creating a more even-looking complexion; and the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Detox & Brighten Cleanser rids skin of built-up dirt and impurities, while brightening the appearance of dull skin.

2. TRY A WATER-BASED MOISTURIZER 

When it comes to moisturizer, finding one that meets the needs of your specific skin type is key. If you have oily skin, you may find that a lightweight facial lotion is all you need, while if you have dry skin, you may find you need to use a heavier cream, for example. Is your regular moisturizer not cutting it anymore? Consider using a water-based moisturizer instead—pick from the three below, which are formulated with hyaluronic acid and aloe vera water to help provide long-lasting hydration.

In normal and oily skin, external factors like pollution, UV rays, and excessive cleansing can damage skin’s moisture barrier, causing a loss of moisture and an increase in oil production—which can leave your complexion looking overly shiny. The L'Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Normal/Oily Skin helps reduce the look of excess shine and has a matte finish.

Normal and dry skin faces external factors like pollution and UV rays that can damage the skin’s moisture barrier, increasing loss of moisture and causing it to become drier. This can result in your complexion looking dull. The L'Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Normal/Dry Skin envelops skin with moisture to help it look more radiant.

Extra dry skin has a very fragile moisture barrier that can be easily damaged by external factors like pollution and UV rays. Skin consequently loses its ability to retain moisture, becoming easily dehydrated and feeling tight and uncomfortable. The L'Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Extra Dry Skin envelops skin with moisture to help it feel comfortable and soothed.

Editor’s tip: As much as we love a water-based moisturizer, if you have aging skin your complexion may require a little extra TLC. So, be sure to stock up on the L’Oréal Paris Cica Cream Pro-Retinol & Centella Asiatica. This wrinkle-fighting moisturizer will deliver skin that looks and feels healthier and more hydrated.

3. USE A PEEL PAD BEFORE BED

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, your skin renews itself while you sleep, which is why nighttime is the right time to add specialty skin care products to your skin care routine. One such skin care product you should think about using? Peel pads! The L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Bright Reveal Brightening Daily Peel Pads are formulated with glycolic acid to help resurface dull, uneven skin tone. The multi-ply textured pads physically resurface dead skin cells as well. Your skin will look brighter immediately after use and more even with continued use over time. Simply smooth a pad gently over your face at night after cleansing. Just one note: Make sure you follow up with a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher in the morning, since alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid can make skin more sensitive to sunlight.

4. HELP CORRECT THE APPEARANCE DARK SPOTS 

Daily UV exposure and age can result in dull, uneven skin tone and the appearance of discolorations like dark spots. Womp, womp. That’s where a dark spot corrector comes in! The L'Oréal Paris Youth Code™ Dark Spot Correcting & Illuminating Serum Corrector helps illuminate skin immediately and reduce the look of dark spots with continued use over time. Morning and night, apply it over your face after cleansing but before moisturizing. You can also cover up dark spots with a yellow color correcting concealer, which you can find in the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Color Correcting Kit. Use the yellow shade sparingly to disguise dark spots and follow up with a flesh-toned concealer and foundation.

5. DAB ON AN EYE CREAM

How much time do you really dedicate to your eyes in your skin care routine? Now’s as good a time as any to take a few seconds to apply an eye cream, since the skin around your eyes deserves some extra attention. The L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Eye Cream can help reduce the appearance of dark circles and crow’s feet with continued use over time when used morning and night.

6. MULTI-MASK WITH A VARIETY OF FACE MASKS

Another skin care trend worth taking for a test drive? Multi-masking, which involves using different face masks on different areas of your face at the same time. (Trust us, it’s as fun as it sounds!) Clay masks are a great option for multi-masking. Find out which one (or ones!) from are right for you—and use your face mask(s) of choice 2-3 times a week for best results.

Over time, harsh environmental factors like pollution and debris can damage skin, leaving your complexion looking dull and tired. The L'Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Mask Detox & Brighten Face Mask helps draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and pollution and reduce the look of dullness.

Day after day, impurities, dirt, makeup, and excess oils can build up on your skin, leaving your complexion looking overly oily. The L'Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Mask Purify & Mattify Face Mask helps draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and oils, and reduce the look of excess shine.

Dead skin cells can accumulate on the surface of your skin day after day, leaving your skin feeling rough. The L'Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Mask Exfoliate & Refining Face Mask helps draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and oils and exfoliate dead skin cells on skin’s surface.

Over time harsh cleansing can be drying and sensitizing, leaving skin feeling uncomfortable. As a result, skin needs cleansing that is gentle yet effective. The L'Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Clear & Comfort Face Mask helps draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and oils, visibly reduces the look of imperfections, and gently cleanses stressed areas.

Daily wear and tear—makeup and improper care—can leave skin uneven with roughness and imperfections. The L'Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Clarify & Smooth Face Mask is formulated to help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and pollution, shed rough, dead skin cells, and clarify tone.

To use any of the above face masks, apply an even layer to clean skin, leave them on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse off thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.

7. ADD A FACE SCRUB TO YOUR SKIN CARE REGIMEN

You know how relaxing it feels to get an allover scrub at the spa, so why not bring that luxuriously good ritual home to your skin care routine with a face scrub? Take your pick from the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Nourish & Soften Face Scrub, L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Purify & Unclog Face Scrub, and L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Smooth & Glow Face Scrub. All three face scrubs are formulated with three types of sugar for gentle yet effective exfoliation. Not sure how to exfoliate? Use your chosen face scrub three times a week. Apply a small amount to dry skin, then massage it into your face with wet fingers before rinsing off thoroughly with lukewarm water and patting dry.   

8. PROTECT YOUR COMPLEXION BY USING MOISTURIZER WITH SPF

Real talk: One of the biggest skin care no-nos you can commit is spending time in the sun without wearing sunscreen! When you do that, this can lead to damage, which can show up down the road as visible signs of aging like dark spots and wrinkles. So, think about how you’d like your complexion to look as you get older. Reach for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and apply it 15-30 minutes before going outside and reapply it every two hours. Sunscreen should be the last step in your skin care routine, but you can also combine two steps by using a moisturizer formulated with broad-spectrum sunscreen if you want to shorten your skin care routine. The L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Bright Reveal Brightening Day Moisturizer SPF 30, which is formulated with glycolic acid, vitamin C, Pro-Retinol, and broad-spectrum sunscreen. Make sure to take additional sun protection measures as well. Limit your amount of time in the sun, seek shade, and cover up exposed areas by throwing on a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

Now that you’re skin care routine is elevated, let’s take a look at your hair care routine, shall we? Read our article, 10 Beauty Editor-Approved Hair Care Tips, to step up your game.