The question of quantity is important when it comes to the application of cosmetic products. It can be either a treatment or a cleansing product. Moreover, using the wrong amount of product can be the cause of the ineffectiveness of certain treatments. So, to avoid using the wrong amount of product, it is a good idea to know the exact dosage of product to apply each day. This will help to ensure maximum efficiency and avoid wasting your favorite product. Here's a quick recap of the correct amounts to apply.
Cosmetics: How Much To Apply?
- The Right Amount of Hair Care
- Required Amount of Facial Care
- Body Care: What Dosage Should You Apply?
- Sources
The Right Amount of Hair Care.
Shampoo:
Using a lot of shampoo won't make your hair cleaner. On the other hand, if you don't use enough, you risk losing its action. To determine the ideal amount of product to use, there are two parameters to consider: the amount and the type of hair. Generally speaking, the equivalent of one teaspoon of shampoo is sufficient if you have fine hair. The product should be applied to the scalp only and not to the entire length of the hair. However, for thick, curly or wavy hair, increase the dose by using up to twice that amount.
A little tip: Before you start cleansing, wet your hair thoroughly so that your shampoo foams. If your hair is not very wet, it will be difficult for the shampoo to become diluted. On the other hand, if the foam is not enough to cover everything, do not add more product. Use water instead.
Conditioner and hair mask:
Conditioner is known as a surface treatment that detangles, softens and protects the hair. It should be applied in small quantities and only to the ends and length of the hair. Make sure you avoid the roots by at least 4 cm. Indeed, the roots of the hair do not need it, since they are already protected by the sebum secreted by the scalp. The amount of product you need depends on the length and thickness of your hair. So, if you have fine or short to medium-length hair, use the equivalent of a hazelnut-sized amount of conditioner and double that amount for long, thick hair.
Unlike conditioner, a hair mask is a rich, deep treatment: some repair the hair fiber, others strengthen it in depth, revive its shine, purify or exfoliate the scalp. As part of your hair care routine, on towel-dried hair, take the equivalent of a small walnut of product and spread it over your lengths. Work from ear height to the tips, avoiding the roots to prevent them from becoming greasy. Only exfoliating and purifying masks should be applied to the roots. This is for long, thick hair. Do not hesitate to adapt the amount of mask according to the length and texture of your hair.
Hair oil and hair serum:
Hair oil helps lubricate, protect and treat the hair fiber. All hair types can use it, even combination or oily hair. For example, hazelnut oil has sebum-regulating properties, while argan oil is known for its softening and repairing properties, ideal for dry hair. It can be used in two ways, either on dry or wet hair: either as an oil bath, or as a daily hair care. The amount of oil is specific to your hair, depending on its length, texture, thickness and condition. On average, 3 to 4 drops are enough to apply on the lengths, while focusing on the ends, before styling. For an oil bath, 2 to 3 tablespoons are needed to cover the whole hair.
Just like for the face, the hair serum is a liquid product, sometimes a little gelatinous, enriched with active care ingredients and does not need to be rinsed. This treatment has many purposes: to soothe an irritated scalp, to boost growth, to fight against an oily scalp, to treat dandruff, to smooth the hair, to restore shine and suppleness, to protect the hair fiber, etc... Depending on the formula, it can be used on the scalp, such as the Purifying Scalp Serum for oily scalp and people prone to oily dandruff. It does not contain any fatty substances. It can also be used on the lengths and ends of the hair, such as the Nourishing Hair Oil for dry and brittle hair. In both situations, take the equivalent of a pipette of product and spread it on your lengths and ends (short hair will be satisfied with half) or on your scalp.
Required Amount of Facial Care.
Whether it's in the form of oil, milk, balm or micellar water, makeup remover is a must-have product for any beauty routine and can be used by all skin types. It allows to remove all the make-up residues as well as dust, dirt, pollution particles, sun creams, etc... To do this, rub a drop of makeup remover oil or makeup remover balm into the palms of your hands and then apply it in circular motions all over your face (including eyes and lips), without forgetting your neck, to dissolve the makeup. If you are using micellar water, soak a cotton ball with a small amount of product the size of a hazelnut and gently wipe it over your eyes, lips, face and neck until the makeup is completely gone.
Cleanser:
The cleanser is one of the care products used daily (morning and evening). It gently cleanses the face, purifies the skin and eliminates all kinds of impurities (excess sebum, sweat, dust, etc.) that have accumulated on the skin's surface. To avoid excesses, be sure to apply a hazelnut-sized amount to your face. This applies whether you are using a gel, mousse, cream or cleansing milk. In fact, too much product can dry out your skin because of the tensioactifes present in the product.
Tonic lotion and hydrosol:
Formulated from several active ingredients (vitamin C, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, etc...), the tonic lotion aims to enhance makeup removal/cleaning. Indeed, it makes it possible to eliminate what the make-up remover did not manage to remove, as well as the residues of limestone present in the water used to rinse the face. It balances the cutaneous pH, hydrates the skin, tightens the pores and thus prepares the skin to receive the care which follows. This multiplies their effectiveness. Pour a small amount of lotion on a cotton pad and spread it gently on your face and neck, avoiding the eye contour and the lips.
Obtained by steam distillation of plants, hydrosols have many beneficial properties for skin care: decongestants, astringents, purifying, healing, soothing, regenerating, etc... They can be used as a daily lotion, to be adapted according to one's skin type, or also to correct imperfections or skin problems. For example, cornflower hydrosol soothes redness. To use it properly, soak a cotton pad with a quantity of product equivalent to a hazelnut and apply it to the entire face and neck, morning and evening.
Care for the contour of the eye:
In line with the capacity of the jars/tubes, eye contour care is a highly concentrated product and overdosing on this area can make your eyes look even puffier. The goal is not to nourish but simply to decongest and moisturize. Indeed, the eye contour is a very sensitive and fine area that requires specific care for precise use. In order not to irritate this part of the face, we advise you to delicately apply an amount of product the size of a grain of rice for each eye.
Face serum:
Whether watery or oily, serum is often considered a "magic treatment" that has remarkable benefits on the skin. Thus, it is quite possible that you may be tempted to increase the dose you use. But beware, it is a product highly concentrated in active ingredients that reaches the heart of the dermis and must therefore be applied sparingly. However, applying a large quantity of serum does not increase the expected effects but can, on the other hand, cause irritation or create imperfections. So, the equivalent of a pea is enough, don't apply more!
Face oil:
Adapted to each skin type, vegetable oils are very good natural care. They allow to redensify the intercellular cement of the epidermis. Indeed, the use of an oil for the face thus helps to preserve the balance and the hydration of the skin, while protecting it from the external aggressions. In morning application, just before your day cream, 2 to 3 drops of vegetable oil are more than enough. Otherwise you will end up with a greasy film. On the other hand, in evening care, you can double this quantity to benefit the maximum of its benefits and thus to provide the skin with a deep care. The oil is sufficient on its own and does not require the application of a night cream.
Day and night creams:
Day and night creams should also be used in moderate amounts. Although the purpose of this care is to nourish, protect and moisturize the skin, coating yourself with cream does not optimize the results. Indeed, acting like a sponge, the epidermis can only absorb the dose of active ingredients it needs. If you cover your skin with a thick film of cream, the cells will not be able to absorb everything properly and the excess will remain on the top layer, which can clog the pores. So, to ensure effectiveness, only apply the equivalent of a generous dab of cream to your face and neck.
Sunscreen face cream:
Premature aging, sunburn, brown spots, etc... all these effects clearly show that it is essential to use sunscreen to protect the skin from UV rays. However, as a rule, people do not apply enough. However, the amount is an important factor for a sunscreen to be effective. In theory, an average adult should apply at least 2 mg per square centimeter, the equivalent of a teaspoon of sunscreen or two and a half finger lengths, to the entire face and neck to achieve the level of protection indicated on the label and thus ensure optimal protection against photoaging.
However, if the amount of sunscreen is insufficient, the level of protection decreases dramatically. For example, with our facial sunscreens, using the product will result in a protection factor of 15. Finally, we recommend that you repeat the operation ideally every two hours in case of prolonged exposure to the sun.
Facial scrub:
The scrub is a fundamental care ritual. It helps to get rid of "old cells" that dull the skin. A scrub is used to moisturize the skin, to boost cell renewal, to stimulate blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, to cleanse it deeply, and to prevent the appearance of wrinkles and imperfections (blackheads, pimples, etc...). Thus, to regain a smooth, healthier-looking skin and a luminous complexion, a hazelnut scrub will do for the face and neck.
Face mask:
Among the most popular cosmetics, face masks are treatments that act in depth to restore comfort and radiance to the skin. They treat all skin problems in depth thanks to formulas that are concentrated in active ingredients. However, to get the most out of their benefits, this care is applied in a semi-thick and uniform layer on the face and neck. It requires a specific application time. It is therefore essential to apply the right dosage because too little product dries too quickly and too much product is a waste. A dose of the equivalent of a teaspoon is perfectly adequate.
Body Care: What Dosage Should You Apply?
Shower care:
Omnipresent in the bathrooms, shower gel, shower cream or shower oils are used for our daily body hygiene. It cleans the body of all the impurities accumulated on the skin. As for the shampoo, we think that applying plenty of it will help to get rid of the dirt. However, this hygiene product does not need to be used in large quantities to effectively wash the body. The right amount of shower gel is a walnut in the palm of your hand, so you don't overload your skin with cleansers.
Body Serum:
Specifically designed for the body, this beauty treatment is very rich in active ingredients to effectively target specific skin problems. For example, the nourishing body serum concentrated in bisabolol and sweet almond oil fights against dry areas of the body, such as elbows, knees or heels. To do this, take 2-3 drops of body serum in the palm of your hands and apply to the affected areas.
Body cream:
Provided with fatty substances, the moisturizing body cream is a basic care used after the shower, in the morning and in the evening. After all, even the body needs to be moisturized. However, applying too much of it will leave your skin feeling heavy. A small amount of product in the palm of your hand is enough to moisturize and protect your skin.
Sunscreen for the body:
As for the face, it is recommended to apply about 2 mg of sunscreen per cm2 of skin. Thus, for the whole body, this is equivalent to applying seven tablespoons of product to effectively protect the skin from the sun's rays for a person with an average build.
Body scrub:
Just like for the face, there is no need to take a large dose of scrub. To cleanse the skin deeply and renew the layers of the epidermis, spread up to a hazelnut of product per area, or the equivalent of 2 to 3 nuts to scrub the whole body.
Sources :
WULF H. C. & al. The relation between sun protection factor and amount of sunscreen applied in vivo. British Journal of Dermatology (2007).
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