Teamwork makes the dream work, and we’re not just talking about your after-work kickball team. When used one after the other, certain products can work together to help provide noticeable skincare benefits. Are you scratching your head? Don’t fret. It’s not as complicated as it may sound. Read on to discover how you can (and in some cases, should!) team-up products in your arsenal throughout your daily routine. ANTIOXIDANTS + BROAD SPECTRUM SUNSCREENWe all want to do what’s best for the environment— whether that be recycling, gardening, or reusing our plastic grocery bags— but no matter how much we love and care for Mother Earth, there are certain environmental pollutants we can’t escape. Our skin can be subjected to external aggressors—think: UV radiation, smog, smoke, and air pollution—which can trigger the formation of free radicals—unstable molecules that can cause your skin to show visible signs of skin aging. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) states that one of the best ways to help protect the skin from UVA radiation (one of the contributors to the development of free radicals) is by using a Broad Spectrum SPF every day. That’s right—every single day. Reach for a water-resistant formulation that boasts an SPF of 15 or higher.Sunscreen: check. But believe it or not, there are additional products to help protect the surface skin from free radicals, as well. That’s where antioxidants like Vitamin C come in. According to board-certified dermatologist, and Skincare.com consultant, Dr. Michael Kaminer, Vitamin C can help neutralize free radicals on skin’s surface and help to reduce environmentally-induced damage to surface cells, providing an extra line of defense for the surface of your skin. “Using a sunscreen to help reduce the damaging effects of the sun’s UV rays, and then having an insurance plan behind that with the use of products formulated with antioxidants to help address any remaining free radicals is ideal,” Kaminer says.To learn more about how antioxidants and Broad Spectrum SPF work together, read this! CLEANSER + TONERThe first step of any well-rounded skin care routine is cleansing. Doing so helps remove makeup, dirt, oil, and impurities that your skin’s surface may have come across throughout the day. Cleanser comes in all shapes and sizes—whether it be foam, gel, cream, or micellar water—and can be an effective way to help clean your canvas in the AM and PM. To take your cleansing routine a step further, however, we recommend following up with toner. Many people aren’t aware of the benefits of toner, so here’s a quick recap. Most toners can help remove any lingering residue on your skin post-cleansing. Some formulas can also help balance the skin’s pH levels, as well as soothe, hydrate, and nourish the surface skin. Why not use it?P.S.—Did you know that toners can be used in more ways than one? If you’re looking to get more use out of your toner, read about the six unexpected ways you can use your toner, here!ESSENCE + SERUMThink of an essence as the primer for your skin care routine; it helps prep the skin for hydrators like serums and moisturizers all while providing a few additional benefits of its own. After cleansing and toning, follow up with an essence—available in a wide variety of formulas including oil, gel, and water—also formulated with unique ingredients like hyaluronic acid or LHA. We like to describe essences as a crossover between a toner and serum, though they are typically less concentrated than the latter. Use one in your routine to help prep your skin for the skin-benefiting serums you may reach for on a daily basis.EXFOLIANT + MOISTURIZERExfoliating is a key step to achieving the appearance of a bright and healthy-looking complexion. There are two methods for at-home exfoliation—mechanical (using a brush or sponge to help physically remove dead skin cells) and chemical (using products formulated with alpha and beta hydroxy acids to gently slough away dead skin cells from skin’s surface). When deciding which method to use, consider your skin type to help reduce the risk of damaging your skin. The AAD suggests that those with dry, sensitive, or acne-prone skin use a washcloth or a product formulated with a mild chemical exfoliant, since regular mechanical exfoliating may be too irritating. Those with oily skin may benefit from using a mechanical exfoliant or a product with a stronger chemical exfoliating formula. Regardless of which exfoliating method you choose, it’s important to follow up with moisturizer afterwards since the process can sometimes be drying.Editor’s Note: Not only is it important to hydrate your skin after exfoliating, it’s crucial to apply a Broad Spectrum SPF as well if you’re heading outdoors, as your newly-exposed skin may be more susceptible to sun damage.MULTI-MASKINGWe love a good charcoal mask, but we don’t necessarily need a deep-clean on all areas of our face. With this idea in mind came the birth of one of our favorite skin care techniques: multi-masking. Multi-masking, or using more than one type of mask in subsequent steps of your routine, can help you target specific skin concerns that occur in different areas of the face. The technique allows you to customize the type of face mask that you use to the specific part of your face where you notice a skin concern.  This can be particularly effective for combination skin types who may experience both visible excess oil in one area and dryness in another at the same time.FOUNDATION + SETTING POWDERFoundation and setting powder are a match made in makeup heaven. Once you’ve completed your skin care routine and perfected your makeup look, take the step to ensure it stays put! There’s no easier way to help seal on your foundation makeup than with a setting powder. Some setting powders can even prolong the wear of your foundation. Case in point? Dermablend Setting Powder. When worn with the brand’s Cover Crème foundation—which can help cover up imperfections such as dark spots to blemishes—the powder formula can help give you up to 16 hours of wear!
