I don’t know about you, but I absolutely hate the feeling of product sitting on my face and that tacky feeling that comes with it. Liquid foundation that never settles? Urgh. Face oils that never properly sinks in? Bah. Can’t stand it. And besides, it’s not just that icky sticky feeling – it also stained bed clothes and a rising level of impatience, while I hop impatiently around and waiting for skincare to sink in so I can apply my makeup in the morning, and nobody has time for that! Enough reasons to tackle the sticky face situation once and for all.
Layer, layer, layer
That’s the number one rule in skincare, especially now that the Korean skincare routine became mainstream. It’s quite usual that your routine has between five or ten steps if you’re following such a routine, and the best advice to avoid a heavy, product-laden face is waiting for some minutes between each layer of essence, serum, moisturizer, primer, sunscreen – you name it. It’s especially important between sunscreen and your foundation – you know that when you’ve had your foundation pilling up before. But then, what to do when you’re pressed for time?
Mix it up
I’ve got three prime candidates for mixing, and I always mix them with my moisturizer (Beyer & Söhne Hautcreme+). I’m wary to mix sunscreen, because that’s the best way to dilute it (no proper protection!), and I don’t mix my AHA and BHA serums, because acids are usually quite reactive and I don’t want them to do anything that they’re not supposed to do. What I do mix: First contender is my Hyaluronic acid serum (Ren Keep Young and Beautiful Instant Firming Beauty Shot) in the morning. Works a treat and makes my moisturizer sink in more quickly. Done!
In the evening it’s either a face oil or a Retinol serum that get mixed with my usual moisturizer. I’ve to admit that the last addition is a bit of a cheat – the nifty little serum (Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Booster) is actually meant to be added to your moisturizer or another serum. The 1% Retinol in there packs a serious punch, so be sure to gently insert it into your routine only once or twice a week and go from there. I use it twice a week in the evening (and don’t forget your sunscreen when you use Retinol in your routine!) and mix it into the moisturizer mentioned above.
Also in the evening I like to use a face oil (Pai Echium & Amaranth Age Confidence Oil), especially in the colder months, when my face is especially sensitive after having used acids and retinol, or suffering from dry AC air. I always hate how slowly it sinks into the skin and how it feels like it just sits on my face. That also leads to oily pillowcases – eek! So, the best thing is to mix a few drops of oil into my moisturizer and enjoy how much more quickly it will be absorbed. Success all around!
So there you have it. Simple solution, but do try it if you hate sticky face as much as I do!
