Transitional Season Moisturizing Routine Tips — 3 Minutes After Washing Your Face Is the Golden Time

During the transitional seasons, the temperature difference between morning and evening is significant, so if you let your guard down even for a moment after just washing your face, your skin will quickly feel tight and flaky. That is why I stick to a moisturizing routine where I never skip the three minutes after cleansing.

1 minute: Open water channels with toner

Immediately after washing your face, pat it dry with a towel without rubbing vigorously, then pour some toner into your palm and gently press it onto your entire face to aid absorption. Apply an extra layer of toner to dry cheeks and around the mouth to create a hydrating base.

2 mins: Replenish moisture with serum

When your skin is hydrated, dispense 2 to 3 drops of a moisturizing serum containing hyaluronic acid or panthenol and spread it over your cheeks, forehead, and chin in that order. On days when your skin is very dry, applying a thin layer of serum in two separate coats will help the moisture last much longer.

3 minutes: Locking in moisture with cream

In the last minute, apply a thin layer of a light moisturizing cream or balm to cover the moisture from the previous step and prevent it from evaporating. Finish by applying an extra layer of cream to areas that dry out easily, such as the corners of the mouth, eyes, and sides of the nose.

If I just finish by applying toner, serum, and cream in that order within 3 minutes of washing my face, the tightness I feel all day long is significantly reduced, and my makeup applies much better the next day. My key tip for moisturizing during transitional seasons is that getting the timing right after cleansing is more important than applying a lot of expensive products.