pat or rub…what do you do?

patting vs. rubbing — how do you apply your skincare? one method is definitely better but you will be surprised as why! everywhere you go, you're told you need to pat your skin care products in because it helps the product to absorb better, that somehow this patting motion helps the ingredients penetrate our skin more effectively. however, this isn’t exactly correct. patting your skin care products in doesn't actually make it penetrate your skin better - and neither does rubbing! our skin's outermost protective layer is called the stratum corneum— it serves a very important function as protection for our body from the outside world and in fact, it isn't easily penetrable! at the end of the day, whether you pat or rub your skin care products in, the stratum corneum only allows products to penetrate at a certain rate. BUT this doesn't mean that one method isn't still preferred over the other... patting your skin care products in is better for your skin - but not because it penetrates better. when we rub our skin care products in, even gently, we are inadvertently tugging and pulling, which could cause the breakdown of elastin and collagen and lead to sagging, aging skin. patting is more gentle on the dermis and is also better for skin conditions like acne, rosacea, and eczema, as it does not agitate already-inflamed skin like rubbing does