how to use cocokind - a beginner's deep dive

There are so many skincare products out there that building a skincare routine can end up feeling complicated and overwhelming. However, we want to break things down and make skincare more digestible for you! We will go through our products and the basic steps of a skincare routine, giving you the flexibility to build a routine that addresses your skin's needs.

Speaking of your skin's needs, they may not always be the same, and that's okay. Changes in your diet, sleep, and even the seasons are just a few factors that can affect your skin's needs. That's why understanding products and the basic steps of skincare are crucial in personalizing your routine to best fit your needs. So, let's get into it!

There are 5 basic skincare steps we believe in (in order of application!):

1. Cleansing
2. Toning
3. Treating (essence, serum)
4. Moisturizing
5. Sunscreen

Step 1: Cleansing

We have two great cleansing options that work for different skin types. Both can be used daily both in the morning and evening, depending on your skin's needs. 

If you're looking for an easy-to-wash-off oil cleanser look no further than our Oil to Milk Cleanser. This is a micro-biome nourishing cleanser aka a cleanser that won’t strip your skin of moisture and supports a healthy skin barrier while also gently removing dirt and makeup. Massage a dime-sized amount of cleanser onto dry skin and add water to transform it into a milky cleanser. You can also choose to add water to the cleanser before you apply it to your face. Either way, the milky texture will be easy to wash off!

Our AHA Jelly Cleanser is another cleansing option that’s more geared toward clarifying the skin. It’s a gentle cleanser with a gentle blend of 4% AHAs to help unclog and minimize the appearance of pores for soft, smooth skin. To apply, just take a dime-sized amount and massage it onto damp skin. If you’re new to actives or acids it may be a good idea to start out using this one 3x a week and work up to daily from there! 

A few other things to keep in mind when it comes to cleansing: If you have very dry skin, you can choose to skip the morning cleanse and focus on using the cleanser during your nighttime routine. You can also combine our cleansers if you're a fan of double cleansing! Double cleansing is best for those who wear heavy makeup or have acne-prone skin.

Step 2: Toning

Toners serve multiple purposes! They can help remove residual dirt and makeup while preparing your skin for the next steps in your routine. Toning also helps balance the pH levels of the skin, which means they normalize dry skin, oily skin, and anything in between.

Our Rosewater Facial Toner is a gentle toner that soothes, hydrates, and balances your skin. We love multipurpose products and that’s exactly what this toner is! On top of being a traditional toner, it also acts as a setting spray for your makeup, a scalp refresh in-between hair wash days, or as an instant refresh throughout the day when your face is feeling dull or dry. To use, spray Rosewater Toner directly onto your face or body. If applying to the scalp, massage into dry roots before rinsing. 

If you’re looking for a toner designed for oily or acne-prone skin we have exactly what you’re looking for. Our Raspberry Micellar Toner is an alcohol-free, sensitive skin-friendly toner formulated with micellar cleansers and rice ferment to remove excess oil and soften the skin. Like Rosewater Toner, Raspberry Micellar Toner is meant to be used not just on your face but also on your scalp and body. To use as a traditional toner, apply Raspberry Toner onto a cotton round before gently sweeping over the face. For the body, spray directly onto the desired area. For the scalp, simply spray onto dry roots and massage in - rinsing is optional!

Next up is our Turmeric Illuminating Solution! This exfoliating toner provides overall brightening and is formulated with a gentle blend of acids which make it safe for sensitive skin. Apply 4-5 drops of this toner to your hands and pat into the skin. You can use anywhere that needs softening - like the legs or feet! Use up to 3-5x a week in the morning or night.

Step 3: Treating

This is the step in your routine where you can target any skin concerns you may have. Products can range from serums to spot treatments and depending on the product they can be used AM/PM or both.

Let’s start with serums. 

Our best-selling product, the Ceramide Barrier Serum, is a great way to target a damaged skin barrier and dehydrated skin. It contains 5 types of ceramides and an ingredient called beta-glucan which studies have shown is 20% more hydrating than hyaluronic acid. It’s beneficial for all skin types but particularly for those with dry and irritated skin.

If you want to address acne-prone skin, our Postbiotic Acne Serum gently treats acne, blackheads, and clogged pores with 1.5% salicylic acid. Unlike many acne treatments on the market, this serum is formulated to keep the skin hydrated while reducing the appearance of inflammation. 

Looking for a serum to help even skin tone and provide antioxidant benefits? Well, we have that too! Our Vitamin C Glow Serum helps brighten, firm, and defend skin against environmental stressors. Formulated with hyaluronic acid and sea grape caviar, this vitamin C serum will also boost skin’s hydration.

If you choose to include a serum in your skincare routine, it should be applied after toner and before moisturizer. Although not necessary, our serums can all be combined and if you choose to do this, we’d suggest the following order:

1. Postbiotic Acne Serum
2. Vitamin C Glow Serum 
3. Ceramide Barrier Serum

Next up is spot treatments!

Our Turmeric Mask Stick is a clarifying spot treatment containing ginger, tea tree, and turmeric to help reduce the look of inflammation and brighten the appearance of dark spots. Apply onto clean skin for a minimum of 20 minutes and remove with a few spritzes of toner on a cotton pad. What about leaving it on overnight? It won’t stain your skin but if you choose to use sleep in the mask just make sure to protect your pillowcase to avoid staining.

If you like the sound of the Turmeric Mask Stick but want something you can wear on the go, you can opt for our Turmeric Tonic. It’s an invisible spot treatment with similar benefits but it’s more targeted towards reducing blemishes and post-acne scarring! It wears well during the day, under makeup, or overnight without fear of staining your pillowcases. Apply after toner and wait a few seconds for it to dry before proceeding with the next step of your routine.

Step 4: Moisturizing

No matter your skin type, you should always moisturize (even those with oily skin benefit from using moisturizer). It’s all about choosing the product that’s right for you.

If your skin is more dry than oily, our Resurrection Polypeptide Cream is the choice for you! It’s a rich moisturizer that instantly restores the skin's moisture levels and provides increased plumpness overtime. The polypeptide complex in RPC supports your skin’s natural collagen to help reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. 

If you’re acne-prone or tend to have oily skin, our celery-based Texture Smoothing Cream is a lightweight option that improves hydration while smoothing the appearance of skin texture. It has a blend of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and vitamins that nourish the skin leaving it with a smooth, satin finish.

You can also opt for our Texture Smoothing Cream as a lightweight daytime moisturizer and use RPC as a deeply hydrating nighttime moisturizer to get the best of both worlds. Remember, you are the person most familiar with your skin so always do what’s best for you!

Step 5: Sunscreen

This is such an essential step to having healthy, happy skin. When used as directed, sunscreen can protect against sunburn, skin damage, and even premature signs of aging. When choosing your daily sunscreen, we recommend finding one that protects against blue light, pollution, and UVA/UVB rays. You’ll likely come across mineral and chemical sunscreens but what’s most important is to make sure you’re applying every morning and reapplying every 2 hours whether you’re spending time outside or inside.

Our daily SPF is a non-irritating mineral-based sunscreen. It uses non-nano zinc oxide, blue phytoplankton, and microalgae to protect your skin against the effects of UVA/UVB rays, blue light, and pollution! This is a great option for those with sensitive skin.

If you have more oily or acne-prone skin, you may like our hybrid (chemical + mineral) sunscreen, silk SPF. Like daily SPF, it protects against the effects of UVA/UVB rays, blue light, and pollution but it’s more lightweight!

Sunscreen should be applied as the last step of your morning skincare routine, before any makeup. Not sure how much sunscreen to apply? You can follow the “two finger rule” - apply sunscreen down the length of two fingers then massage onto your face and neck. 

Other Treatments…

So we’ve covered the basics, but you can include a few other options into your skincare routine if you’re up for it!

Our Resurfacing Sleep Mask is a plant-derived retinol alternative. It helps soften the appearance of dark spots, uneven skin tone, fine lines, and premature wrinkles while locking in hydration and reducing visible signs of fatigue. It’s used as the final step of your nighttime skincare routine. Apply an even layer on your skin avoiding the eyes and lips and rinse off in the AM. We recommend using this product 2-3x per week to start and then ramping up to 3-4x as your skin adapts to it.

You already know we love a good multi-purpose product so it’s no surprise we have another! The MyMatcha All-Over Moisture Stick has so many amazing uses. Because of its nourishing properties, it can be used as a lip balm, dry spot treatment and it can even be used on your under eyes to help reduce dark circles. Another fun use for the MyMatcha Stick is as an alternative to gel. Let’s say you want a slicked-back bun or pony without the crunch of gel… you can brush your hair back and apply the product straight onto your hair, smooth with your hand or a brush and you’re done!

If you want a product to help lock in all the moisture from your skincare routine then our Ceramide Recovery Balm could be a great addition to your routine. It’s a ceramide-powered balm that creates an occlusive layer to help prevent moisture loss and reinforce healthy skin barrier function. It’s suitable for dry or sensitive skin and can be used all over - dry spots on your body, feet, cuticles, and lips and it can even be used as nighttime slugging!

We just went through some products and where in your routine to include them. It may seem like a lot but remember that skincare is completely customizable. You don’t have to start with a 10-step skincare routine, it can be as simple as using a cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF. If a simple routine works for you then stick with it but know that you now have the tools to confidently add more products into your routine in a way that’s most beneficial for you. However, if you are still feeling a bit overwhelmed, you can always use our “routine builder” quiz as a stepping stone to making your own personalized skincare routine!

We hope this helps! As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team via email or DM for more help.