Are you doing it wrong? All your beauty and skincare FAQs answered

You love looking fabulous every day and we are sure you make great efforts to keep your skin healthy and beautiful always. But there might be a small chance that you are using a product incorrectly, causing more harm than help. You might even have ask yourself things like, do I need to moisturize before I apply makeup? And how about sunscreen, when do I apply that? How much hair product is too much and is there even such a thing? This week we answer all these questions and more, so you can look your best everyday.

If you have always wondered that following a pattern or order y for your facial skincare would help, then the answer to it will always be YES! Using the right products in the right amount, in the right order every day helps the products do their job efficiently. Given below is the format in which you must apply/use your products for facial cleansing.

The first thing to use would be the cleanser. Choose a good cleanser/facewash that is appropriate for the type of your skin. Our suggestion would be the Clarins One Step Facial Cleanser With Orange Extract, as it is suitable for all types of skin. Next, you must use the exfoliator, one that cleanses the pores inside out, like the Clinique Exfoliate Scrub. It is advised that you use a hydrating serum afterwards to replenish your skin of the moisture it has lost. Our choice? The Bioderma Hydrabio Serum Moisturising Concentrate. Or you can simply finish off with a good moisturiser like Dermalogica Active Moist.

• Clarins One Step Facial Cleanser
• Clinique Exfoliat Scrub
• Bioderma Hydrabio Serum
• Dermalogica Active Moist

Exfoliation is a process where the treatment helps remove the build-up of dirt, product residue, sebum and dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. While it is an important part of the skincare routine that helps you maintain the health of your skin, the question is how often is too often? We suggest those with normal skin must exfoliate at least thrice a week, while those whose skin has acne, must do it daily. The problem with excess exfoliation is that it drains your skin of its natural oils and makes it prone to dryness. Hence we’ve earlier advised to avoid exfoliation during the winters.

NO. At best, always try avoiding soap to cleanse and wash your facial skin. The skin on your face is the most sensitive and hence it is prone to dryness and acne. Washing your face with soap dries up the water and essential oils from your skin while cleansing and leaving it prone to cracks and wrinkle formation. It also affects the pH levels of your skin.

We suggest always carrying a mild cleansing lotion or facewash with you wherever you go to avoid facing this dilemma. Our best option to keep in handy is the Avene Cleanance Cleansing Gel.

• Avene Cleanance Cleansing Gel

YES! You must put on a good sunscreen every day, come rain or shine, whether inside or outside. Summer or winter, the rays of the sun are harmful to your skin. The ultraviolet rays (UV Rays) cause sun damage and make your skin prone to skin cancer. Another reason why we always rally behind a good sunscreen is because it is the one product which not only protects your skin from sun, but also prevents wrinkle formation, reduces signs of ageing and make your skin look healthy. We suggest you use an SPF 15 to 30 sunscreen for everyday use.

Uneven skin tone is a common issue one faces all year long. There could be multiple reasons why you have an uneven skin tone. It could be frequent exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun, dehydration and even hormonal imbalances due to poor lifestyle choices and weak skincare rituals. Our suggestion would be to use mild exfoliation for your skin regularly (mostly on a weekly basis), followed up by a good hydrating toner. Make it a part of your skincare ritual and ensure that you drink enough water every day. Wear sunscreen when you step out to protect your skin. We would also suggest you use the Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions as it gives your skin a flawless finish instantly and corrects blemishes and uneven complexion.

• Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions

Using a foundation, good eyeliner and mascara on a daily basis are okay, but applying fancy makeup primers, bronzers and whitening creams daily could do more harm than good to you. One of the major issues that your skin could face are clogged pores, dry and dehydrated skin, cracks and wrinkles with signs of premature ageing and even flakiness. The best solution to this is: - Apply only light make up, the kind that can be cleansed off easily with just plain water and a little bit of oil. - Avoiding sleeping wearing your makeup. Do not put it off till the next morning. Because leaving makeup on overnight cause great damage to the skin. Use a good foundation which not just provides a good base for your makeup, but cleanses off easily too.

While most eyeliner and mascara brands claim to last up to 6 months. The ideal time duration to change your eye makeup essentials would be three months. The reason is that the chemicals in the bottle start to fester and make the bottle walls prone to the growth of bacteria and harmful microorganisms, which would cause damage to your sensitive skin around the eyes.