Morning skincare routine order

What goes on first, and what goes on last?

1. 1Cleanse. Wet your face with warm water, then gently work a mild cleanser over your skin with your fingertips in circular motions. Rinse completely and pat dry with a clean towel. Do not scrub.
2. 2Apply any morning medication or treatment. The general order puts skin medicine immediately after cleansing. For a prescription, check its directions rather than treating a general routine as instructions for that medicine.
3. 3Apply a serum, if you use one. Put it on before moisturizer, and use one serum rather than layering several. Vitamin C is a morning option that helps reduce dark spots and supports sun protection, but it does not replace sunscreen.
4. 4Apply moisturizer. Choose one suited to your skin type, including a more hydrating formula if your skin needs it. Moisturizer helps hold water in your skin and reduce water loss.
5. 5Apply sunscreen. Make this the final skincare step before going outdoors. Choose broad spectrum protection, SPF 30 or higher, and water resistance.
6. 6Apply makeup, if desired. Makeup belongs after moisturizer and sunscreen, not between your treatment steps.

Start with the three basic steps if you do not have a specific reason to add a treatment.3

Where do toner, eye cream and face oil go?

When applying a cream around your eyes, use your ring finger. It applies less force and helps avoid pulling on the delicate skin.2

How should you adjust the routine for your skin?

Choose a moisturizer for your skin type, not for how convincingly the jar looks expensive. Dry skin can need more hydration, while oily, combination and sensitive skin need products formulated for their own needs. If you have a skin condition, include that in your product choices rather than choosing solely by texture or packaging.45

Choose a gentle cleanser without microbeads, which can cause irritation and inflammation. Scrubbing is not a better version of cleansing: it irritates skin and can worsen acne and other skin conditions. Use your fingertips rather than trying to scrub your face clean.45

Does SPF in makeup count as the sunscreen step?

Do not rely on SPF in makeup or moisturizer alone; it often is not enough protection. Use sunscreen daily throughout the year, including winter. SPF 30 or higher is the everyday starting point; choose SPF 50 or higher for planned time in the sun, such as a beach day or outdoor sport. Makeup goes on after skincare, so the foundation does not get promoted to moisturizer.25

What should you expect from the routine?

Morning cleansing removes dirt and bacteria that settle on your face during sleep. Sunscreen helps slow skin aging and prevent skin cancer. These steps serve different purposes: cleansing prepares your face, while sunscreen protects it before outdoor exposure. Wash again before bed to remove makeup and accumulated grime, and after sweating.4

What should you leave out or stop using?

Avoid heavily fragranced products and introduce fewer new products at once. Test new products first. If a product causes irritation or contact dermatitis, an inflammatory skin reaction, stop using it and make an appointment with a dermatologist. More products increase the chance of side effects. Keep retinol and retinoids for the evening because sunlight can deactivate them and cause irritation.3