For countless years we have been sticking to the same basic skincare routine: cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize. Now it seems we have been doing it wrong all this time. According to celebrity dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer who has treated the likes of Kim Kardashian, Ellen Degeneres, Beyonce, and Margot Robbie, exfoliation of the skin should take place PRIOR to cleansing it. The creator of the Skin Revival system, who has also claimed that he is the only remaining true dermatologist left on earth, is of the belief that exfoliating at the start of your skincare routine may give you better results.




Get rid of the dead skin first

Dr. Lancer draws a very simple comparison between human skin and a tile floor.“Say you want to replace a tile floor,” he stated. “If your epidermis is the floor, the exfoliation is the gentle lifting process that breaks up the old worn tiles. Next, you have to scoop up and sweep away the debris. The cleanse step washes away the exfoliant, excess oil and dirt.” When explained like that, the step swap actually makes a lot of sense but does it really make a difference to your overall skin care routine? The answer, apparently, is a resounding yes. Exfoliating your skin will increase the effectiveness of both your cleanser and moisturizer tenfold.




What exactly is the Lancer Method?

What Lancer says certainly has some merit, especially considering that he boasts a decent understanding of cell biology. His views on the order of the steps in a typical skin care routine also form the basis of a 3-step regimen many of his clients swear by known as the Lancer Method. Although it may sound very complicated, the method is very straight forward and merely involves exfoliation, cleansing, and nourishing with a moisturizer or serum. The method is known to do a stellar job at reversing the natural deceleration of cellular function. In short, the Lancer Method effectually stimulates your skin to the extent that it is able to repair itself.

Don’t forget to remove your makeup before exfoliating

As simple as the change to your beauty routine may seem, it is important to remember one simple thing: remove your makeup prior to exfoliating your skin. While the crew over at Lancer Skincare swear by olive or grapeseed oil to remove makeup, you are welcome to use the product of your choice. You can even make use of your regular cleanser as long as you do the steps in the right order afterward: exfoliate, clean, moisturize. Depending on your skin type you can exfoliate anywhere between twice a day twice a week to keep your skin blemish free, although Dr. Lancer himself encourages that his clients to do it once a day.

Women Applying Cream in Mirror

Why is exfoliating even a thing?

When you exfoliate you slough away a heap of dead skin cells that can not only ruin your makeup but trap oil and dirt on your skin as well. Exfoliation uncovers a set of fresh skin cells which will make it a lot easier for your skin to absorb serums, creams, and treatments. It will also allow these products to penetrate your skin more deeply, leaving your skin looking and feeling more radiant looking than ever before.

Making a simple change such as exfoliating before cleansing can boost the effectiveness of your skin care routine drastically. If it is radiant, healthy skin you are after you have nothing to lose by giving the Lancer Method a try.