What order should you apply skincare in?

What order should you use in the morning?

1. 1Cleanse. Wash with a gentle cleanser, using your hands rather than scrubbing with a washcloth. Rinse and gently pat dry.
2. 2Apply treatment, if you use one. Skin medication goes directly after cleansing. A morning serum or an acne spot treatment also belongs before moisturizer; neither is a required step.
3. 3Apply moisturizer. When you are not using a treatment between cleansing and moisturizing, apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp to help trap water.
4. 4Apply sunscreen. Use broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher as your final skincare step. Cover your face, neck, ears and other exposed skin.
5. 5Apply makeup, if desired. Keep makeup after your skincare rather than placing treatment or moisturizer over it.

What changes at night?

1. 1Cleanse before bed. If your skin tends to be dry, washing once daily in the evening can be enough, rather than using cleanser morning and night.
2. 2Apply your nighttime treatment. Retinol belongs in the evening treatment step, before moisturizer. Start with a pea sized amount over your face every three days, then increase toward nightly use as your skin tolerates it.
3. 3Finish with moisturizer. Moisturizer helps prevent water escaping from your skin. Sunscreen is not needed at night.

Does thinnest to thickest always apply?

Thinnest to thickest is a general layering rule: a light serum goes before a heavier moisturizing cream because the cream can reduce how well the serum penetrates. Use that rule within the routine, not instead of it. Medication still belongs after cleansing, and morning sunscreen stays last before makeup.12

Where do toner, eye cream and face oil go?

• A toner is optional, despite having a name that sounds like a job requirement. If you use one, place it after cleansing in the morning. Toners can dry or irritate sensitive skin.
• Eye cream goes after serum and before moisturizer. Apply cream around the eyes gently with your ring finger, which puts less force on the delicate skin.
• Face oil goes before moisturizer in this general sequence. Oils are not necessary and can contribute to acne; they are better reserved for dry skin.
• A moisturizer with sunscreen can combine two steps. Choose broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher, and reapply it as sunscreen rather than treating the morning application as permanent.

When should you apply and reapply sunscreen?

If you will be outside long enough to risk burning, apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out and again just before leaving. Reapply every two hours outdoors, and after swimming, sweating or towel drying. Applying sunscreen too thinly reduces its protection. Use shade and clothing as well as sunscreen.5

What if layering makes your skin irritated?

Stop using a product that causes irritation and make an appointment with a dermatologist. With retinol, watch for redness, significant peeling or irritation rather than increasing applications automatically. Adding several products, especially multiple products for signs of aging, can irritate skin instead of improving its appearance.124

An effective routine can be quick and inexpensive, which is awkward for a collection of bottles auditioning as a lifestyle. Cleansing, moisturizing and sun protection cover the basics. Add treatment for a specific need, not simply to fill every available slot in the sequence. Moisturize even if your skin is oily, and choose products suited to your skin type.36