Facial skincare: cleansers, serums and moisturizers

The families of facial skin care products and what each one does

Commercial names blur the lines: face serums, face creams and face masks do not do the same job. Here is the real role of each family, and how often to use it.

What order to apply your facial skin care products in

The rule is simple: thinnest to richest. Cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, then sunscreen in the morning. A mask or an exfoliant slots in after cleansing, never after the cream.

This order is not decorative: a serum applied over a cream cannot cross the film the cream leaves on the surface, and its actives are wasted. The serum concentrates, the cream seals.

Choosing facial skin care products for your skin type

The same serum does not suit oily skin and dry skin. So our 716 face care products are also sorted by skin concern, not only by format.

Dry skin lacks lipids: it calls for nourishing textures, rich in ceramides and oils. Dehydrated skin lacks water — a temporary state that affects oily skin too, and one treated with hydrating hyaluronic acid serums. Combination skin asks for two answers on one face: mattify the T-zone, nourish the cheeks. Oily skin needs its excess oil regulated with a mattifying treatment and the look of visible pores tightened, without stripping.

Sensitive skin reacts to fragrance and to actives that are too strong, with redness and irritation: the priority there is a soothing treatment and rebuilding the skin barrier. Acne-prone skin is treated with salicylic acid and targeted purifying care. Pigmented skin targets dark spots and uneven skin tone. Men will find their skincare and shaving products in the men's skin collection, and normal skin does well with simple upkeep.

Mature skin and first wrinkles: the anti-aging side of the collection

Anti-aging happens in two stages. At the first signs of aging, the first wrinkles collection offers lightweight formulas centred on anti-aging prevention and hydration. When loss of firmness joins fine lines and wrinkles, the mature skin collection takes over with 296 anti-aging products: wrinkle creams, collagen serums and textures built to firm.

The actives to look for: hyaluronic acid, retinol, vitamin C

A facial skin care product is worth exactly what its active ingredients are worth. Five families dominate our professional ranges.

Hyaluronic acid holds water in the surface layers and gives a plumping effect you can see within days. Retinol smooths the look of fine lines and refines uneven skin texture; introduce it gradually, two evenings a week to start. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that revives radiance and softens the appearance of dark spots. Exfoliating acids — glycolic acid for texture, salicylic acid for blemishes — renew the skin's surface. Finally, peptides, collagen, ceramides, squalane and plant extracts work on comfort, firmness and the strength of the skin barrier.

Our article on how to add vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to your routine covers which pairings work, and which ones to avoid.

The facial skin care brands we use in the treatment room at Spa Infinima

Our selection criterion is unusual: we only sell the professional skincare we actually use in the institute. That is why certain brands you see everywhere else are missing here.

Swiss high-end cosmetics — Valmont and Swiss Line — work with cellular extracts and firming complexes. Institute anti-aging rests on Babor, Payot, Yon-Ka and its Alpha-Peel, along with Quebec manufacturer G.M. Collin. Marine skincare comes from Phytomer, and the biomimetic approach from Esthederm. For skin already used to strong actives, iS Clinical, Jan Marini, Vivier and Image Skincare belong to medical-grade skincare: higher concentrations, backed by clinical studies.

Building your facial skin care routine, morning and evening

A face care routine does not need ten steps. It needs the right ones, kept up over time.

The morning routine

Gentle cleanser, toner, antioxidant serum, eye cream, moisturizer, sun protection. That last step is not negotiable: without daily SPF, the rest of the routine is working against the current.

The evening routine

Makeup removal, cleansing, then the active treatment: a retinol serum or cream, depending on your tolerance. And finally the richer night care, extended down to the neck. A weekly exfoliant and a mask matched to your concern round out the ritual without weighing it down. For everything else, the body collection takes over.

Frequently asked questions about facial skin care

What is the difference between a serum and a moisturizer?

A serum is a concentrate of active ingredients in a fluid texture, built to penetrate and treat one specific concern: wrinkles, dark spots, dehydration, blemishes. A moisturizer works closer to the surface: it seals in hydration and protects the skin barrier. The two complement each other. If your budget allows only one purchase, the serum is what makes the visible difference.

How many products does a complete facial skin care routine need?

Four are enough: a cleanser, a serum, a moisturizer and sun protection. That is the base our estheticians recommend, whatever the skin type. Eye cream, masks and exfoliants come next, according to your priorities. A routine of four products you actually keep up always beats a ten-product routine abandoned after three weeks.

How often should you get a professional facial?

Your esthetician will generally recommend a professional facial every four to six weeks, which matches the skin's cell renewal cycle. Between appointments, it is your daily skin care at home that does the underlying work — which is exactly why using the same professional skincare you get in the treatment room matters.

How do I know which facial skin care products suit my skin type?

Look at your skin at the end of the day, without makeup: it feels tight (dry skin), it shines on the T-zone only (combination skin), it shines everywhere (oily skin), it flushes easily (sensitive skin). That reading is enough to steer your skin care and choose the right collection by skin type. When in doubt, a skin analysis at Spa Infinima settles it in a few minutes.