How much skin care should I be applying? And how often?

August 02, 2021By Katie Eales

How Much Skincare Should I Be Applying? And How Often?

A pea-sized amount? A coin-sized amount? Let’s break it down.

A lot of us are exposed to media influence; it’s an incredible way to discover new products, ingredients and trends. But do we really know what to do with our skincare when it arrives? How much are we meant to use? How often should we be using products? And most importantly should we be mixing skincare ingredients?

Skincare is an incredible way to flex our self love muscle, but without the correct information we can actually damage our skin barrier and cause longterm issues. Understanding ingredients, skin types and skin conditions will take your skincare routine to the next level - not to mention your glow as well.

So let’s start with the season; The colder winter air can make our skin feel more dry and flaky than usual, so using skincare with ingredients like Vitamin C, Green Tea and Hyaluronic Acid will help to illuminate and moisturise your skin which will help it to appear smooth and plump.

As we all become more familiar with ingredients like Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid, it can be tempting to pile it all on at once. While skincare layering is encouraged, and the right mix of products can see your glow goals achieved, but… like most things in life there can be too much of a good thing.

So just how much of each skin care product should we actually be applying? And in what order? Check out our skin layering blog to learn more here

Cleanser

For a squeaky clean cleanse, "approximately a 10 cent coin[-sized]" amount is enough to massage and effectively clean the whole face, make sure to take this cleanse down the neck and décolletage area. If needed, use an additional '10 cent coin’ amount.

If you’re looking for a product that will deeply cleanse your face without drying it, 2-3 spritzes of our Botanical Glow Cleanser will do the trick. This cleanser uses Australian, raw and vegan ingredients and is ideal for nourishing, balancing and assisting in reducing breakout and inflammation, resulting in a luminous glow. Ideal for combination to oily skin types. ** We recommend spraying our Botanical Glow Cleanser onto a konjac sponge (see our Cleanse Kit range) for a salon worthy cleanse.

And how often?
Every night, do a double cleanse. If you sweat in the morning, cleanse in the morning as well. Make sure you remove makeup with reusable cloth and water as your first cleanse. 2nd cleanse can be done with your cleanser.

Exfoliant

When it comes to exfoliants, "a blueberry" amount of exfoliant is ideal for removing built-up layers of pollutants and dead skin cells. If you prefer to use a chemical exfoliant, a damp cotton pad's worth is all you need.

At Sabbia Co, we prefer to use our Konjac sponges (available in Green Tea, Turmeric and Charcoal) for gentle daily exfoliation. Konjac sponges need to be disinfected once a week in hot water. These sponges are eco-friendly, biodegradable and proven to reduce blemishes, breakouts, acne and oily skin, and remove makeup with just water. We recommend using the Green Tea or Turmeric Konjac Sponge in the morning to wake and refresh your face and the Charcoal Konjac Sponge in the evening to remove impurities

Face Mask

Whether you’re using the Charcoal Adaptogen Mask or the Matcha Clay Mask or both (see more about multi-masking here, use ratio of 1 tablespoon powder to 1 teaspoon water. For deeper nourishment and extra luxurious feel, add your favourite facial oil. The #sabbiasquad are loving our Antioxidant Repair Oil.

* Apply your face masks 2 times a week, you can also use them as a spot treatment for pimples when needed.

Toner / Face Mist

Your toner isn’t meant to feel like it's burning or stripping the skin. If it does, you're either using the wrong formula or too much of it. Please be careful with chemical toners.

Our Revive Face Mist is a great nourishing toner - it can be used morning and night after cleansing. Apply this to damp skin to hold optimal hydration. You can also use it throughout the day for a spritz of hydration. The Sabbia Co team have a bottle on daily rotation in our warehouse.

Serum

A "pea-sized" amount is all you need when using an effective serum formula.

Our Collagen C Serum can be used am and pm. To use this product, slightly moisten face, neck and décolletage to help hold optimal hydration. Apply 1-2 droppers of Collagen C Serum to clean fingertips (please don’t let the dropper touch your face or fingers) and gently massage over the entire face, neck and décolletage area.

Moisturiser

For moisturiser, generally the “size of a pearl” is enough.

Using our Multi-Vitamin Moisturiser, apply 1-2 pumps to clean fingertips and gently massage over the entire face, neck and décolletage. This moisturiser can be used am and pm.

* Our Multi-Vitamin Moisturiser also doubles as an over night / sleep mask. Apply a thicker layer than usual (about 3-4 pumps) and try this 2-3 times a week.

Sunscreen

When it comes to SPF, approximately a 20 cent-sized dollop is a good amount. Or length of your pointer and index finger (yes both).

Even if you’re not in direct sunlight, SPF should still be applied every morning. If you are swimming or excising please reapply, I cannot stress to importance of protecting yourself from UV rays. SPF is also your number one product for anti-aging people, please invest in a great brand and wear it!

Eye Cream

The skin around the eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of the face, therefore a "small pea-sized amount dabbed lightly across the eye area" is all that’s needed.

Our Collagen C Serum can be used as an eye serum am and pm (depending on what you like) to brighten the under-eye area.

Oil

When applying face oil, five drops is a good rule of thumb. In theory, a drop can be pressed into the forehead, each cheek, chin and neck/décolletage.

Sabbia Co’s Antioxidant Repair Oil can be used am and pm. Depending on what you like, and sometimes depending on weather, I personally don’t use facial oils in the middle of summer.

Facial Cupping / Gua Sha

As an extra step, Gua Sha or Facial Cupping (see here) can be done 3 or more times a week to stimulate collagen, encourage lymphatic drainage, decrease puffiness and enhance skin cell renewal.

Both of these ancient rituals also help with the the penetration and effectiveness of your skincare.