Face care

Face care products: from cleansing to creams

Face care covers everything you use to cleanse, hydrate and look after your skin day to day. This category brings together cleansers, toners, serums, face masks, day and night creams and eye care from well-known beauty brands, so you can choose by skin type and need.

The range suits anyone who wants a simple three-step routine and anyone who prefers to build a routine step by step. Products are sorted into sub-categories, so you can find what you need even when all you know is what your skin wants today.

How to choose face care products

Start with your skin type and what you want from your routine. Oily and combination skin tend to like light gels and foaming cleansers, dry skin does well with richer creams and oils, and sensitive skin with gentle, fragrance-free formulas. A basic routine is a cleanser plus a face cream, which you can build on with a targeted face serum and a face mask once or twice a week.

• Cleansing: micellar water, cleansing milk, gel or foam remove make-up and the dirt collected during the day.
• Hydration and nourishment: a day cream hydrates and protects, a night cream supports the skin while you rest.
• Targeted care: serums, eye care and masks chosen for what your skin needs: hydration, an even tone or anti-ageing care.
• Sun protection: a day cream with SPF is a natural last step of the morning routine.

Choosing by skin type

With oily and combination skin the aim is a fresh, matte feel without tightness, so a gentle cleanser, a light moisturiser and, when needed, a pore-purifying mask work well. For dry skin, moisture and a protective layer matter most: a richer cream that stays on the skin as a soft film. Mature skin often likes a denser texture and anti-ageing lines, younger skin light gels and refreshing products. With sensitive skin, choose simple formulas with a mild scent and add new products one at a time.

Combination skin does not need one product for everything. The T-zone may want a lighter gel and the cheeks a richer cream, and that is perfectly normal. The same goes for the seasons: a light hydrating emulsion feels good in summer, while a dense, nourishing cream keeps skin soft in cold weather and dry indoor air.

Morning and evening routine

In the morning, cleanse gently, apply a serum or moisturiser and finish with sun protection. In the evening, add make-up removal and a richer cream. A foam cleanser takes off the dirt of the day gently, and an oil cleanser such as this cleansing oil handles the last traces of make-up. Once a week is a good moment for an exfoliator, which smooths the surface of the skin and helps the next products absorb better.

Serums and active ingredients

A serum is more concentrated than a cream and goes on before it. A serum with hyaluronic acid hydrates, an anti-ageing serum is made for mature skin and a brightening serum for the complexion. Pick one goal at a time and give your skin time to adjust. A good example is the Shiseido Ultimune serum, which fits under a cream for everyday use. Pair a serum with a light cream and you have a simple two-step routine that takes under a minute in the morning.

Face masks and exfoliators

A mask is the weekly highlight of a routine. A sheet mask hydrates quickly, a gel mask cools and refreshes, a clay or charcoal mask purifies pores and a nourishing mask gives dry skin an extra layer. Pick the mask for what your skin needs today and leave it on for as long as the pack directions allow. Follow with a serum and cream and you will feel the difference at once. A mask also suits the evening, when you want to end the day calmly.

Eye area and lips

The skin around the eyes is thinner, which is why there are separate eye creams and serums with lighter textures that absorb quickly. Lips need their own care, especially in cold weather. Lip balms and overnight lip masks keep them soft, and a balm with sun protection suits summer and the mountains. Keep a balm in your bag and use it whenever your lips ask for it.

Every step in one place

• Toner and mist: refresh the skin after cleansing and prepare it for a serum.
• Face oils: a face oil adds extra nourishment under or instead of the evening cream.
• Accessories: face care accessories such as massage cups turn care into a ritual.
• Korean cosmetics: Korean skin care brings sheet masks, pads and light serums.

Face care for men

Men have dedicated lines with textures that absorb quickly and leave no greasy film. Skin is more sensitive after shaving, so a hydrating cream used every morning is a good habit. A product such as the American Crew face balm for men fits daily use. For more choice, see the men’s grooming category.

Popular brands

The range includes Clinique, Shiseido, Estée Lauder, Clarins, Filorga, Vichy and Biotherm. You will find products for everyday use as well as more luxurious care sets that also make good gifts.

A gift for someone who loves to look after themselves

Face care is a gift that gets used every day. Choose a hydrating cream when you do not know the recipient’s skin type, because it suits most people. For a thoughtful present, put together a cleanser, a serum and a cream, and add a face mask for the weekend. That turns the gift into a small spa moment at home. Ready-made gift sets save you the work.

Frequently asked questions