Have you ever wondered just how much shampoo, conditioner, and moisturizer you should be using – and whether you’re wasting your pricey products?
Perhaps you’re over-conditioning, or using far too much serum, resulting in oily, irritated skin.
Or maybe you’re loading up on leave-in conditioner, which could be causing scalp problems.
To find out the exact amount of beauty products you need, FEMAIL consulted experts in the field.
Cut back on the amount, and you could save thousands of dollars a year by no longer needing to constantly replenish your expensive beauty supply.
To find out the exact amount of beauty products you need, FEMAIL consulted experts in the field, like Alex Lang, the training manager at sunscreen brand Colorescience
Alex often makes videos showing her followers the exact amount of product to use – and it might be less than you think, at least on your face
Sunscreen
Salt Lake City-based Alex Lang, the lead implementation and training manager at award-winning sunscreen brand Colorescience, often makes videos showing her followers the exact amount of product they need to use – and it might be less than you think, at least on your face.
‘A general rule of thumb for full face SPF application should be a quarter size to half teaspoon depending on face shape and size,’ Alex said.
She explained the best way to guarantee the correct amount is with the ‘two finger rule,’ by lining your index and middle finger from the base joint to the tip of the finger with liquid SPF.
Alex is a fan of lining one finger with Colorescience Face Shield Flex and the other with Face Shield Glow ‘for a perfect glowy and tinted SPF base.’
‘Sunscreen should be applied every two hours and more if you are swimming or sweating,’ the expert advised – and she tells people to re-apply at least three times a day.
And if you avoid reapplying because of the mess, Alex encourages using Colorescience Total Protection Brush On Shield SPF 50, which can go on over makeup.
As for your body, Alex said the general rule is ‘enough to fill a shot glass,’ with consistent reapplication, especially if you’re swimming.
‘Sunscreen should be applied every two hours and more if you are swimming or sweating,’ Alex advised – and she tells people to regularly re-apply at least three times a day (stock image)
Haircare
Californian Jana Blankenship, the founder of plant and mineral-based haircare brand Captain Blankenship, said when shampooing it’s best to think about cleansing your scalp more than your hair by using about three to five pumps of product.
It’s best to lather up and use less, because Jana warned too much product can cause buildup.
Jana Blankenship said when shampooing it’s best to use about three to five pumps
When it comes to conditioner, three pumps should do the trick, depending on hair type.
If you need a deeper treatment, leave the conditioner on for three to five minutes before rinsing.
And if you’re between hair washes and need a bit of dry shampoo, apply a small amount directly to the hair at the roots and then massage and blend it in.
New York-based Alexa Adler, co-founder of elevated dandruff haircare brand Jupiter said people with longer locks should use a quarter-sized amount and shampoo three or four times a week with balancing shampoo if dealing with scalp issues.
‘We know pushing off a wash day off can be tempting, but the less often you wash, the more build-up your scalp could be facing, which leads to scalp issues like flaking and itching,’ Alexa warned.
She also supports a cool scalp rinse after conditioning, as ‘cool water makes your hair cuticles contract and seals their barriers, locking in the moisture from the conditioner.’
Alexa advises not layering on leave-in conditioner because it won’t provide extra hydration and could cause issues, instead.
‘Be careful not to overdo it, too much of a leave-in product could lead to build up which weighs down your hair strands and can cause itch and irritation on your scalp.’
It’s best to lather up with three or five pumps of shampoo, because too much product can cause buildup (stock image)
Dustin Cash and Charlene Valledor founded the LA-based incubator SOS Beauty
Skincare
Are you using far too much of your pricey skincare products accidentally – or not enough?
Charlene Valledor is the co-founder and president of SOS Beauty in Los Angeles, and has a background in cosmetic chemistry, formulation, and product development.
When you’re washing your face, Charlene said a dime size is ‘more than enough to get rid of dirt, oil and makeup.’
However, the amount could change based on whether you’re using a cleansing balm or cleansing oil, which is meant to be massaged onto dry skin, or a foaming cleanser, which needs to be lathered.
Charlene said when it comes to serum, while it depends on the formulation and your skin, she recommends starting with a pea sized amount.
‘If you find that you need more, you can add a few drops, but avoid applying too much to avoid irritation, unnecessary stickiness, and waste,’ Charlene, who has worked with brands including Hourglass Cosmetics, Ouai, and Patrick Ta Beauty, advised.
And if your skin feels dry, you might want to switch formulations or try a face mist spritz, instead of applying more.
Are you using far too much of your pricey skincare products accidentally – or not enough? (stock image)
‘Using an excess amount of serum can sometimes cause irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin,’ Charlene said. ‘Try applying serum on damp skin to try and help lock in additional moisture.’
As for moisturizer, a dime-size amount is the way to go depending on skin type and formula, as Charlene said ‘applying too much can be problematic when applying makeup.’
Next time you lather up or reach for your moisturizer, remember that less just might be more.