How many serums should you use at once?

How should you fit a serum into your routine?

1. 1In the morning, cleanse, then apply one serum.
2. 2Apply moisturizer after the serum.
3. 3Finish with sunscreen.

At night, a routine that uses retinol or a retinoid uses it instead of a serum. This gives the serum a clear place in the morning routine and keeps the evening routine from becoming a second round of layering.1

If you use a skin medication or other treatment, apply it right after cleansing, before moisturizer or sunscreen. Treat prescribed care as treatment, not as another cosmetic serum to stack on top.2

Can you use two serums together?

Use one at a time as your default, especially if both serums are anti aging products. Using more than one anti aging product can irritate skin, so combining them is not the sensible starting point.2

How many skincare products are too many?

Do not build a routine toward a bottle count. An antioxidant serum is an optional morning step, and too many products can irritate skin. An antioxidant serum is optional, which is a modest answer for an aisle with ambitions.23

Should you use one serum or several?

Start with one serum, then decide whether another would serve a separate goal. Introduce one new product at a time so you can notice whether your skin reacts before adding another. Introducing one new product at a time is not glamorous, but the bathroom counter does not need a focus group.34

If your skin is sensitive, test a pea sized dot behind your ear or along your jawline and wait a day or two before applying the product across your face.3

How long should you give a serum?

For a serum used to address signs of aging, give it at least six weeks to work; some products take up to three months. That is a results timeline, not a reason to add another serum sooner.4

Stop using a serum that stings, burns or tingles. If it was prescribed, ask the prescriber whether the reaction is expected before stopping, because some prescription strength products can burn or sting. If a reaction concerns you, talk with a dermatologist.4