Congratulations. You’ve made the leap to high performance skincare, which means you take looking good seriously. But if you over-scrub your face or apply serums after your moisturizer, you’re not getting the best possible results from your grooming products. The way you apply them is just as important as what’s inside. It’s like refinishing your floors: you wouldn’t put the sealant on before the stain, right? Here’s your grooming primer, step by step.

CLEANSER

Think of this step as waking up your skin. Rather than just slapping on a cleanser and rinsing it off, massage it in making large circles with your fingertips. This stimulates blood flow and ensures you’re getting your mug squeaky clean.

PRO TIP: if you’re stopped up, spend more time massaging around your nose. TRY: Ritual Face Cleanser

FACE SCRUB

The tendency is to put some muscle behind your scrub, but a lighter touch will yield better results. Use the same method as the cleanser with smaller, tighter circles. Focus on areas like your nose and forehead, which are more prone to clogged pores.

PRO TIP: Exfoliate before shaving. It raises the whiskers and preps your face for a closer shave. TRY: Facial Scrub

SERUM

The secret to applying multiple grooming products is to start with the one that’s most liquid and work your way to the thickest. Serums are packed with vitamins and active ingredients. They’re like a wheat grass shot in your smoothie. Put them on first.

PRO TIP: Pat it , don’t rub. TRY: High Performance Vitamin C Facial Serum

EYE CREAM

Dab a small dollop of cream around the sides and under each eye.

PRO TIP: Let your weaker fourth finger do the job. It will prevent you from pushing too hard. TRY: High Performance Continuous Moisture Eye Cream

MOISTURIZER

Using your fingers – massage the product into your face from the nose, outwards.

PRO TIP: Don’t forget about your neck – front and back, and make sure to hit the ears, too. TRY: Gameface Moisturizer