How to apply face cream properly: amount, order, technique
Applying face cream properly sounds like something nobody needs to learn. A dab on your fingers, a quick rub, done. Yet a few small details decide whether your skincare feels pleasant or whether your skin shines, your make-up slides and the cream runs out after a few weeks: the right amount, the order within your routine and a gentle technique. Here is the step-by-step guide.
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Preparation: clean hands, cleansed skin
Before you apply the cream, two things come first. First: wash your hands. Anyone who dips their fingers into a jar otherwise brings in everything the hands have touched before. A small spatula or the clean handle of a spoon is even more hygienic.
Second: your skin should be cleansed. According to the directions, our VEGAN FOX face cream is applied to the cleansed skin of the face and neck. For cleansing you can use, for example, the cleansing foam for normal skin or, if your skin quickly feels tight, the cleansing foam for dry skin. Both are applied to damp skin, massaged in gently and rinsed off thoroughly.
Afterwards, do not rub your face dry but pat it with a soft towel. A Diamant mini hammam towel (approx. 90 × 45 cm) works well for this – according to the product description it is also meant as a face towel, and it dries quickly.
The right amount
The most common mistake when applying cream is using too much. Whatever the skin cannot absorb stays on top as a film. As a rough guide:
| Area | Amount (guide) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Face | about the size of a pea | A little more for dry skin |
| Neck | What is left on your fingers, otherwise a small dab | Included according to the directions |
| Décolleté | as you like | Optional, many people simply use their body care here |
Better to start with a little and apply a second time if needed. If your skin still feels dry after a few minutes, add a second small portion to the areas that feel tight. If it is still very shiny after ten minutes, it was too much – use a little less next time.
How to apply face cream properly: step by step
- Warm it up: Put the cream on your fingertips and rub it briefly between two fingers. This makes it a little softer and easier to spread.
- Place dots: Dab small dots on your forehead, both cheeks, nose and chin. This way the amount is spread evenly instead of everything landing on one cheek.
- From the inside out: Spread the cream with your fingertips from the centre of the face outwards – on the forehead towards the temples, on the cheeks towards the ears, on the chin along the jawline.
- Nose and nostrils: Gently from top to bottom with your middle finger, the sides of the nose with small circles.
- Neck: Stroke upwards with flat hands without pulling.
- Leave out the eye area: The directions mention face and neck. Keep a distance from the eyes and avoid contact with them.
- Let it absorb: Give the cream a few minutes before you apply sunscreen or make-up.
Stroking, tapping or pressing?
There are several common techniques, and all of them have their place:
- Stroking: The classic. Gentle and even, with little pressure.
- Tapping: Tap lightly on the skin with your fingertips. Pleasant in the morning when your face still looks a bit sleepy.
- Pressing: Place your flat palms on your cheeks and forehead for a few seconds. The warmth of your hands helps spread the cream, and it feels calming.
What you should avoid: rubbing hard and pulling. The skin on your face is thinner than on your body and likes to be treated gently.
The order in your routine
The common rule of thumb is: from thin to thick. So you should apply the cream after cleansing and before sunscreen.
| Step | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleanse | Cleanse |
| 2 | Pat dry | 1–2 times a week: face peel, then rinse off |
| 3 | Face cream | Face cream |
| 4 | Sunscreen, then make-up | – |
The VEGAN FOX face peel with 2.5 % lactic acid is a gel that, according to the directions, is applied thinly to cleansed skin 1–2 times a week, left on for 2–3 minutes depending on sensitivity and then rinsed off thoroughly. Only then does the cream follow. Important: it is not suitable for very sensitive skin and should not be used directly before or during the sauna.
The VEGAN FOX face cream does not contain a UV filter. If you spend time in the sun, add a sunscreen in the morning. Whether you also need a separate evening product is discussed in the article Day cream or night cream.
Typical mistakes when applying cream
- Too much at once: The skin shines, make-up holds less well, the cream runs out faster.
- Rubbing hard: Gentle movements are completely sufficient.
- Clogging the hairline and eyebrows: Cream tends to collect there. Leave a small margin.
- Forgetting the neck: It is part of facial care.
- Make-up straight away: A few minutes of waiting make sure nothing slides.
- Applying cream right after heat: After a hot shower or the sauna, let your skin cool down first and then apply the cream.
With a beard, glasses or blemishes
Not every face is a smooth surface. A few tips for typical special cases:
- Beard: If you wear a beard, you usually want to apply the cream to the skin underneath and not just into the hair. Work it in with your fingertips in small circles against the direction of growth. Treat the free areas – forehead, cheekbones, nose – as usual.
- Glasses: Apply only a thin layer where the glasses rest on the nose and cheekbones, otherwise they slip. Put your glasses back on once everything has absorbed.
- Blemishes: Do not squeeze spots, and cream these areas only gently. For persistent skin problems, seeing a doctor makes more sense than any technique.
- Dry patches: If only individual areas feel tight, such as the cheeks, apply a little more there and keep the forehead and nose at the basic amount.
After the sauna
For sauna-goers there is a small routine of its own, which is also given in the sauna tip for our face cream: after the last round, cleanse your face gently, pat it dry and wait briefly until the skin has cooled down. Then spread a small amount over your face and neck. If you apply the cream while your face is still glowing, you spread it on heated, often still damp skin – which tends to feel unpleasant. When which care step fits around the sauna is explained in detail in the article Facial care and the sauna.
Related reading: Facial cleansing: foam, gel or milk? · Facial care in winter: cleansing and caring in the cold · Hand massage with hand cream: a five-minute guide
Conclusion
Applying face cream properly does not require a complicated technique: clean hands, cleansed and patted-dry skin, a pea-sized amount, spread from the inside out, include the neck and leave out the eye area. Then let it absorb briefly and add sunscreen in the morning if needed. After the sauna, one more rule applies: cool down first, then apply cream.
Frequently asked questions
How much cream do I need for my face?
As a guide, a pea-sized amount is enough for the face, plus a little extra for the neck. Dry skin can take a little more, oily skin often needs less.
Should I apply cream while my skin is still damp?
Cream is often a little easier to spread on slightly damp skin. What matters most is that the skin is cleansed – pat it dry after washing instead of rubbing it.
How long should I wait before applying make-up?
A few minutes are usually enough. Once your skin no longer feels damp or sticky, sunscreen or make-up can follow.
Can the face cream be used around the eyes?
The directions for the VEGAN FOX face cream mention face and neck. Leave out the area directly around the eyes and avoid contact with them.
Should I apply cream before the sauna?
It is customary to go into the sauna with cleansed skin and to use rich care only afterwards. According to its sauna tip, our face cream is meant for the time after the last round, once the skin has cooled down.
How long does 50 ml last?
That depends on how much you use. With a small amount morning and evening, the VEGAN FOX face cream lasts several weeks.
To the VEGAN FOX care products
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.