How Much Product Should You Be Using?

 

Too much is a waste. Not enough could mean less than optimum results. So how much product should you be using? Here, Vivant insiders reveal their usage habits and tips for getting it right.  

 

 

Cleanser

Your cleanser will last a long time if used correctly. A dollop about the size of a quater is all you need to clear away dirt, makeup, and excess oil and leave your skin refreshed and renewed.

 

Toner

This one is easy. Just enough to moisten a cotton pad, typically three to four pumps from the bottle.

 

“I use the flat cotton pads, not the puffy round balls,” says Vivant Esthetician and Account Specialist Maryanne Goodman-Millensted. “The round balls are too absorbent and you’ll end up wasting a lot of product.”

Serum

The optimum amount will differ depending on whether or not your include your neck and décolleté and the eyedrop dispenser can make it a little difficult to know exactly how much you’re using, but four to five drops is good guideline.

 

Vivant Account Specialist Anita Shrove describes her winning technique. “When I use any of my serums I put four drops on the TOP on my left hand (not inside my palm), then dab my right finger tips in the serum, apply to both cheeks, chin, and forehead, then rub gently.”

 

Why the top of the hands? Because the serum consistency is thin. “If you put the serum it in the palm of your hand you will lose serum in the creases of your palm,” Anita notes. “Finally, rub the right and left tops of hands together to put the entire serum to use.”

 

Eye Cream

A little goes a long way here. If you’re using Wink Eye Rejuvenation Cream, one pump will suffice for both eyes. The ingredients in Wink — vitamin A, kojic acid, caffeine, grape seed oil — are very concentrated and the skin around the eye is thin and thirsty. A small amount of the cream will be absorbed quickly and effectively.

 

“Two pumps of Wink morning and night covers the area around my eyes, including the upper lids. I use it on my brows too because caffeine stimulates hair growth and I was an over-plucker in my youth,” says Vivant resident blogger Julianne Hall.

 

Sunscreen

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, “most people only apply 25-50 percent of the recommended amount of sunscreen.” Use enough to generously cover all parts of your body that will be exposed. Don’t forget the backs of hands, tops of feet, and ears. The average person needs about one ounce, the equivalent of a shot glass, of sunscreen. Adjust for your body size and err on the side of too much rather than not enough. Take care cover uniformly without missing any areas and reapply every two hours and immediately after swimming or sweating.  

 

For your daily SPF on your face, a quarter-sized amount will cover your face, neck and ears.