The Ultimate Water-Based Skin Care Routine

With warm weather on the horizon, now’s a great time to embrace a water-based skin care routine. Not only do water-based products often feel feather-light on the skin, they provide lightweight hydration—something your parched summer skin will definitely thank you for! Lucky for you, we’re sharing the ultimate water-based skin care routine below. Just in time for beach trips and countless hours spent outdoors, keep reading to discover how to care for your skin using water-based products by none other than L’Oréal Paris!

STEP ONE: CLEANSE WITH MICELLAR WATER

Cleansing your skin’s surface of dirt and impurities should always be the first step of any routine—water-based or otherwise. You can have the best skin care products for your skin, but if you’re layering them over makeup and other impurities on your skin’s surface, they aren’t going to do you much good, so cleansing (twice a day!) is a must.

To keep with the water-based theme, reach for a micellar water. They’re convenient, easy to use, and don’t require access to a sink, making them the ideal products to use while you’re on the go! How do they work? They’re powered by tiny micelle molecules in water that cluster together to surround and lift away impurities and makeup, no harsh rubbing or rinsing necessary! Pretty neat, no? Ahead, we share the rundown on L’Oréal Paris’ micellar water trifecta so you can choose one that best suits your skin’s type and needs!

Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser – Normal to Dry Skin: Formulated with dry skin in mind, this formula gently yet effectively removes all traces of makeup and dirt in one fell swoop, leaving skin feeling hydrated and soothed.

Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser – Normal to Oily Skin: Think the best way to address excess sebum is to cleanse and exfoliate repeatedly? Think again. Over-cleansing and exfoliating to remove excess oil on the skin’s surface can strip the skin. In turn, your sebaceous glands can get tricked into secreting additional oil to compensate for what’s perceived to be a loss of moisture. Not good. Steer clear of harsh cleansers and instead opt for this gentle alternative, which can not only remove makeup and dirt in one simple step but leave skin purified with a matte finish as well.

Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser Waterproof – All Skin Types: When it comes to removing makeup at the end of the day, stubborn waterproof mascara can cause for a lot of unnecessary rubbing and tugging, which can dry out the skin. If you struggle with removing your waterproof makeup night after night, this cleanser may be right for you. It can remove makeup—waterproof mascara included—and dirt in one step, leaving skin looking hydrated and purified.

To use any of the above micellar waters, start by saturating a cotton pad with your formula of choice. To remove eye makeup, hold the pad over closed eyes for a few seconds and then gently wipe to remove residue. Finish by gently wiping a fresh pad over the entire facial contour until it’s completely clean.

L’Oréal Paris Micellar Waters, $9.99 each MSRP

STEP TWO: HYDRATE YOUR SKIN

For the sake of analogies, think of cleansing and moisturizing as you would imagine assembling a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. We’re not sandwich-making experts here but assuming you apply the peanut butter first (your cleanser, so to speak), you’ll soon follow with the jelly of your choice (your moisturizer, in this scenario). Technically, you could assemble the sandwich without the jelly and vice versa, but it wouldn’t be the ideal scenario now would it? Similarly, you could cleanse without moisturizing immediately afterwards, but it’s ill-advised. Why? Because all skin—regardless of type—can benefit from daily hydration, especially after cleansing. 

But don’t just pick a moisturizer willy-nilly. For a truly water-based routine, reach for L’Oréal Paris’ new Hydra Genius moisturizers. There’s three in total, all of which differ slightly in order to meet the needs of three unique skin types. What they share in common, however, is they are formulated with hyaluronic acid—a potent humectant known to hold up to 1000x its weight in water—and aloe water. Ahead, we share the scoop on these lightweight moisturizers so you can choose one that best suits your skin’s type and needs!

Hydra Genius Glow Daily Liquid Care – Normal/Dry Skin: External factors—think: pollution and UV rays—can damage the skin’s moisture barrier, increasing loss of moisture, and causing the skin’s surface to lose its natural glow. Help shield your normal to dry skin with this hydrating formula. It not only quenches skin with moisture and locks it in for 72 hours, it offers a glowing action which can improve skin’s radiance and appearance. Immediately, skin feels plumped with hydration, softer, and suppler. 

Hydra Genius Comfort Daily Liquid Care – Extra Dry Skin: Moisturizers for extra dry skin can be notoriously heavy, but the same cannot be said for this lightweight formula. It glides on easily and envelops skin with moisture, leaving it feeling comfortable, soothed, and nourished.

Hydra Genius Matte Daily Liquid Care – Normal/Oily Skin: Having oily skin is no reason to skip moisturizer! This oil-free, water-light formula instantly infuses skin with moisture while removing excess sebum for a fresh feel and healthy look. Immediately, excess shine is reduced, and skin looks mattified.

To use any of the above moisturizers, gently smooth the formula over your entire face—morning and night—after cleansing. Easy, peasy.

L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care, $17.99 MSRP (each)

But wait! Before heading out the door each day, round out your morning routine with an application of broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Applying sunscreen to all exposed areas of skin is one of the most important—if not THE most important—steps of any daily skin care routine, water-based or otherwise! Neglecting to do so can cause unwanted side effects, like premature skin aging—think: wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots—and even some skin cancers. No matter what Mother Nature throws your way (rain, snow, hail), always, always, always wear broad-spectrum sunscreen and reapply throughout the day as directed!