Water Lock

Yes! To maximize the efficacy of the active ingredients in your serums, apply serum first, ideally to damp or saturated skin. Let your serum sink in completely before following with Water Lock.

If your skin is dehydrated, take a break from serums for as long as necessary. To help your skin recover, apply Water Lock immediately after showering or cleansing. This will lock in a maximum amount of moisture and allow your skin to return to normal.

Sunscreen should always be your final skincare step. If using Water Lock in the daytime, apply a small amount and let it sink in completely before applying your sunscreen.

Water Lock is the fastest and most effective way of completely rehydrating your skin and keeping it that way even in the harshest of conditions or even with working with a damaged skin barrier. It creates the instant water-plumping effect caused when your skin is saturated with water and a strong protective barrier for up to 72 hours.

The Niacinamide & Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Cream however, is for DEEP, active cellular renewal and to amplify the effects of retinol. It also works as the ultimate eye cream, providing an instant revival of dull skin into a smooth healthy glow upon application.

To learn more, check out our blog where we compare Water Lock and the Hydration Cream in more detail.

For most clients, we recommend using the Hydration Cream in the daytime for balanced hydration and antioxidant protection, and Water Lock at night to seal in your evening serums or to reverse dehydration.

If you’d like to layer both at the same time, apply the Hydration Cream first (after applying serums or directly to damp skin), followed by Water Lock. This will provide your skin with a lot of renewal, moisture, and protection at night, although it might be too heavy for daytime.

Yes, Water Lock can be used with topical treatments like tretinoin (commonly sold as Retin-A). There are a few ways to use both in one routine, depending on skin goals and skin sensitivity:

• Per traditional guidance: Apply Water Lock to the lips, around the eyes, and nasal creases to act as a buffer. Apply a thin layer of tretinoin to your skin, avoiding those sensitive areas. Finally, apply a generous layer of Water Lock as your moisturizer.
• Buffering tretinoin: Apply a thin layer of Water Lock to damp or saturated skin, followed by tretinoin. This method may minimize irritation for those with sensitive skin, but note that it likely slows tretinoin’s effects.
• The “sandwich” method: To damp skin, apply a thin layer of a minimally occlusive hydrating formula such as the Hydration Cream. This will “buffer” the tretinoin, but not as extensively as fully-occlusive Water Lock. Next, apply your tretinoin, and finally, apply a generous amount of Water Lock to seal everything in.

This is not medical advice. Tretinoin is a prescription medication and should always be used under the guidance of your medical provider. Speak to your doctor about the best way to incorporate tretinoin into your skincare routine.