Why The Order Matters

Whether you have a simple skincare routine or take a significant amount of time each day to care for your skin, the order in which you apply your products matters. When it comes to more extensive routines, it can be confusing trying to figure out when to apply serums, spot treatments, and other skincare products.

There’s a method to layering skincare products. Doing it incorrectly could prevent one product from absorbing properly or even contribute to a negative skin reaction. The skin’s primary job is to keep potentially harmful things out of the body. When it comes to skincare, however, there are ingredients we want to penetrate the skin’s surface. Even perfectly formulated products will only penetrate the skin to a limited degree and applying products in the wrong order may prevent them from being absorbed at all. 

The Proper Way to Layer Skincare Products

1. Cleanser

Every good skincare routine starts with a thorough cleanse. Removing makeup, surface oil, and impurities from the skin prepares it to absorb the rest of your skincare products. Even if you don’t have the energy for a full cleanse in the morning, simply splashing your face with warm water or using fast and effective micellar water is a good way to start the day.

Is your facial skin oily or dry? Gel cleansers work well for oily and acne-prone skin while cream cleansers are geared toward dry and sensitive skin types. For combination skin, something in-between like a foam cleanser may be appropriate.

2. Toner

For many years, toners were alcohol-based, which dry and irritate your skin in order to provide a “toned” appearance. Modern toners, however, deliver a healthy dose of hydration and often contain ingredients tailored to specific skin concerns. It’s best to apply a spritz of toner right after cleansing when the skin is still damp.

Again, different toners work best for different skin types. Hydrating toners are ideal for individuals with dry or sensitive skin and can be applied both in the morning and at night. For your oily or acne-prone skin, a toner with ingredients to help energize and unclog the pores and prevent breakouts is best.

3. Serum

To skincare novices, the word serum might be confusing. A serum is simply a concentration of hydration, antioxidants, or other nutrients that give the skin a boost. Vitamin C serums are perfect if you’re concerned about hyperpigmentation or uneven skin tone – it also helps protect the skin against inflammation and environmental damage. If you have sensitive skin, however, some vitamin C serums can be a little strong, so you may want to recommend every other-day usage until the skin can adapt. Keep in mind that oil-based vitamin C serums are better tolerated by sensitive skin.

Any skin type can benefit from a hyaluronic acid serum for a boost of hydration to deeply hydrate dry, dehydrated skin.

4. Eye Cream

After the cleansers, toners, and serums it’s time for moisturization. Make sure to continue to work from lightest to heaviest.

Eye creams tend to be much thinner and lighter than facial moisturizers, so they should be applied first. These products are ideal for mature skin as they provide a little extra care to the delicate eye contours. For many of you, however, an eye cream is a beneficial add-on but not completely necessary.

5. Spot Treatment

Like eye creams, spot treatments are designed to be applied in limited amounts to specific parts of the face. Spot treatments should be applied gently before the moisturizer, so it can penetrate the skin to the fullest extent possible.

Those with acne-prone skin can benefit from a calming spot treatment that allows blemishes to heal quickly without irritation.  If you’re concerned about dark spots on the face or the hands or facial acne scars, a spot treatment that contains natural forms of hydroquinone contained in red and brown algae,  or niacinamide (a form of Vitamin B3) may be more beneficial.

6. Moisturizer

One of the most important elements in any skincare routine is the moisturizer. Hydrated skin is healthy skin, pure and simple. Moisturizer will generally be the last step in any skincare routine (aside from sun protection, of course). Not only does a good moisturizer impart hydration, but it also helps lock the products underneath in place, so you receive the maximum benefit.

Dry skin can benefit from cream-based formulas, especially those that contain hyaluronic acid, lipids, and proteins. A lightweight moisturizer is recommended for oily skin – a gel-based formula may make the skin feel less greasy than a cream moisturizer. 

If you have dehydrated skin, you find a facial oil or serum booster beneficial when added to your moisturizer.