Do you have a guide for how much product I should use? Sometimes, I do not know how much is too much.
We have serving sizes for what we eat, so why not with beauty products? This is especially important with professional, concentrated products. Overuse may cause products to lose performance, provide undesired results, and put an unnecessary dent in your finances. Here is a basic portion guide and other suggestions to help you get the most benefits (and uses) from your professional beauty care products.
Skincare
Cleanser
Many of our Dermalogica cleansers only require a pea to a dime size for the face, neck, and décolleté. Work in small circular motions to help gently lift off dirt, oils, and debris. For a deeper double cleanse, start with dry hands and face. Massage in Micellar Prebiotic PreCleanse, then wet hands and emulsify.
Toner
A single spritz or two should cover your face and neck. Dermalogica’s Age Smart Antioxidant Hydramist can be applied before treatments and moisturizers for added benefits and better results.
Moisturizer
Do not dispense more than a quarter size of moisturizer in a tube for your face, décolleté, and neck. A single pump of dermalogica Age Smart Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50 can cover your whole face and neck easily, plus it has the added benefits of a broad spectrum 50SPF. Did we mention it’s also firming and foundation seats over it beautifully?
Eye Cream
A pea-sized amount for each eye is more than enough. Pat gently with your fingertips; never drag and pull on this delicate area. We love the dermalogica Awaken Peptide Eye Gel. It makes a great perk up and visibly firms, smoothes, and reduces puffiness.
Serums
About a pea will do nicely for your entire face. Remember, these can get greasy really fast, so a little bit goes a long way. Looking to add a serum to your routine? Try dermalogica Pro Collagen Banking Serum. It’s great for dryness and helps plump the skin with hydration to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Exfoliants
A nickel size or less is perfect for your face. If it’s for the body, this amount works fine for arms, too. Go for about a dollar's worth of coins to treat your legs and back. Smooth and brighten head to toe with dermalogica Thermafoliant Body Scrub. This self-warming, dual-action body scrub gently and effectively sloughs off dull skin and debris.
Face Masks
Again, about a quarter-sized amount should cover your entire face. A nickel should suffice if it’s targeted for certain areas like the nose. Single-use facial masks can make great gifts; you don’t have to worry about measuring!
Haircare
Shampoo
A raspberry-sized amount for shorter hair, two for longer. Always concentrate on the scalp area. You do not need to shampoo your ends directly. It will only cause dryness. If your hair is really dirty, try a deep cleansing clarifying shampoo like Detox From Color Proof. It is color-safe and gets the buildup out without over-stripping. If your hair is really thick and hard to get through, try sticking your shampoo in a tint bottle with an applicator tip.
Conditioner
About the same portion goes for shampoo, but instead of the root, apply it from the midshaft to your ends. You can also use a comb or a wet brush to distribute it evenly. Conditioning directly on your root area is unnecessary. Your natural oils will suffice.
Mousses & Foams
A dollop about the size of a golf ball will do. Use your fingertips or a comb to distribute it close to the root and away from the ends for volume and control. We love the Volume Foam Styling Mousse from ABBA. It’s flexible and lightweight for maximum bounce and shine.
Pomades and Creams
A nickel is used for shorter styles or to define medium/long styles. Warm thick formulas like Grip Grease from Fiber Tech with a blow drier or in your hands with friction to aid in distribution with your fingertips.
Hair Masks
Again, about a raspberry for short hair, two for long hair. Focus the product from the mid-shaft to the ends. This is where you have the most damage from age, environment, chemicals, and heat. We love the Enjoy Holistic Hair Mask’s lightweight, silicone-free formula. It provides incredible strength and softness and is a must-have for those who regularly color their hair.
Haircolor
Pay attention to key points in the directions, like mixing ratios, processing times, and if applied to dry or wet hair. Glosses tend to be applied to towel-dried (wet) hair, so you don’t have to use them as much. Cream colors are thicker and don’t spread as easily, especially on dry hair. Try mixing only what you need. The best part about not mixing enough is that you can always mix more. If you mix too much, it’s like washing money down the drain.
Stay fabulous!
Have a beauty-related question? We'd love to hear it, and so would our readers. Email your questions to Westside Beauty Supply.
We’d love to help.
If you don't have a stylist or esthetician you work with, give us a call and we'll set up an appointment to help you with your skin-care or hair-care products. We have several make-up artists that are happy to help you find new colors and techniques that make you feel beautiful. Letting us know when you are coming in will ensure we can give you all our attention. This is a free service, and there is no obligation to buy our products.
