Yup! There’s a proper order to use skincare merchandise that works universally for all pores and skin sorts, which dermatologist Dr. Adeline Kikam, FAAD, explains is “primarily based on the automobile of the product and what’s extra more likely to get absorbed sooner or higher.” As an example, making use of serum earlier than you’ve cleansed your pores and skin of the day’s filth gained’t assist your pores and skin soak up the goodness.
“Sometimes, merchandise must be utilized from thinnest to thickest by way of texture.”
In different phrases, the overall rule is to layer your skin-care merchandise primarily based on weight. “Sometimes, merchandise must be utilized from thinnest to thickest,” Dr. Farber says. Holding that in thoughts, right here, Dr. Farber, Dr. Kikam, and Joshua Zeichner, MD, an NYC dermatologist assist me to suss out the suitable order to use skincare merchandise. When you do not have a tendency to make use of a specific product, simply skip over it to the subsequent one, to construct your final, personalised routine. Hold scrolling for the order you need to layer in your merchandise.
Morning and nighttime skin-care product order
Whereas the general order to use skin-care merchandise stays the identical for each morning and nighttime routines, there are a few key variations. Your morning routine, for example, ought to embody an SPF to guard your pores and skin from the solar throughout the day, however you’ll be able to skip that step at nighttime for apparent causes.
As a substitute, in your nighttime skin-care routine, Dr. Kikam recommends specializing in remedy merchandise that may make your pores and skin extra delicate to daylight similar to topical retinoids for pimples and different prescription drugs for issues like eczema or rosacea. Mainly, she says, any product that’s used to deal with and enhance a recognized pores and skin concern is finest reserved in your nighttime routine.
So, to recap right here’s the perfect order to use skin-care merchandise for morning and evening:
Morning skin-care routine
- Cleanser
- Exfoliation
- Toner
- Eye cream
- Serum
- Moisturizer
- SPF
Nighttime skin-care routine
- Cleanser
- Exfoliation
- Toner
- Eye cream
- Serum
- Remedies
- Moisturizer
That is the suitable order to use your skin-care routine
1. Cleanser
Actually none of your skin-care remedies would work if you did not have a clear canvas to start out with, which is why cleaning within the morning and at evening is crucial. The primary rule: Select a face cleanser that advantages your pores and skin kind, says Dr. Farber. “Those that have dry pores and skin ought to search for a face wash with elements like ceramides and glycerin to spice up the barrier, and in case your pores and skin is further dry, go for an oil-based cleanser,” she says.
“Girls with oilier pores and skin ought to search for a gel-based formulation, whereas delicate sorts may even get away with simply utilizing micellar water,” says Dr. Zeichner. And though washing twice a day is right, an important time to cleanse is at evening. “You might want to take away filth, oil, make-up, and air pollution from the pores and skin that accumulate throughout the day,” he provides.
2. Exfoliation
Exfoliation is one other key step in each skin-care routine. Right here’s why: “Exfoliation removes useless pores and skin for a brighter pores and skin tone,” Dr. Kikam says. “As we grow old, pores and skin renewal slows down, so it is a nice step to incorporate a pair occasions every week into your skin-care routine to assist pores and skin flip over.”
When you’re a skin-care minimalist who loves to make use of merchandise that do double responsibility, Dr. Kikam suggests utilizing an exfoliating cleanser or sticking together with your tried and true mild cleanser and utilizing an exfoliating toner. Both method, she says, it’s finest to make exfoliation your first or second step in your skin-care routine to make sure it preps your face for all the opposite ingredient goodness you’re about to use.
3. Toner
After you’ve got cleansed, it is time to tone—however not with these harsh formulation you grabbed from the pharmacy aisle as a teen. (Simply me?) “Excluding probably the most oily sufferers, I like to recommend that everybody use alcohol-free toners,” says Dr. Zeichner. “Astringent toners, together with witch hazel, for instance, successfully take away oil from the pores and skin however can probably trigger irritation, which is why I reserve them just for sufferers with extraordinarily oily pores and skin.”
The important thing to discovering success with a face toner is to be conscious about how a lot you employ. Dr. Farber provides that they are nice at prepping pores and skin for a serum, however when you use an excessive amount of, you’ll be able to dry out pores and skin.

Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Facial Toner — $8.00
When you’re apprehensive about utilizing a toner since you suppose it is likely to be stripping, this alcohol-free formulation gained’t parch your complexion, due to the addition of aloe vera in its formulation. It helps to steadiness pH ranges on the pores and skin, whereas additionally eradicating extra oil that is likely to be lingering.
4. Eye cream
You need to apply your eye cream previous to any remedy merchandise, in order that potent elements like glycolic acid or retinol aren’t by chance pulled to the attention space. As a result of the pores and skin across the eye space is extra delicate than the remainder of your face, it requires its personal pint-sized bottle of gel or cream. (They’re all simply so cute, proper?)
Once more, select primarily based in your pores and skin kind: In case your lids are oilier, go for a gel-based formulation, says Dr. Farber. In any other case, search for a hydrating formulation for parched pores and skin or one laced with caffeine to reduce the looks of under-eye baggage. It actually simply comes all the way down to what your eye space wants. Apply it together with your ring finger (which places the least stress on pores and skin!) by gently tapping.
5. Serum
Consider serums as specialty remedies in your particular pores and skin wants, as they will assist goal any points you could have like dryness, darkish spots, dullness, or pimples. “Primarily, they’re supply programs for particular lively elements,” says Dr. Zeichner, and he provides you can make the most of totally different formulations and elements for various occasions of day.
For instance, within the a.m., attain for a serum that is filled with antioxidants to assist push back the results of air pollution, he says, including {that a} vitamin C-based serum is without doubt one of the most well-known and potent antioxidants.
At evening, Dr. Farber recommends utilizing a serum with retinol to assist pores and skin regenerate as you sleep. “Night serums have a tendency to offer pores and skin with reparative elements and stimulate collagen manufacturing,” she says. The outcome: a smooth, revitalized complexion come morning.

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum — $48.00
Suberb hydrators and humectants—hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, and pineapple ceramides—comprise this formulation which actually is sort of a tall drink of water in your pores and skin. When you’re experiencing dryness or your pores and skin wants some moisture, attempt it out at the moment.
6. Remedies
When you’ve acquired particular pores and skin points you need to enhance with the assistance of your skin-care routine, that’s the place skin-care remedies are available in. Points can vary from pimples to hyperpigmentation, Dr. Kikam says, whereas remedies can both be over-the-counter merchandise or prescription skin-care medicine, relying in your wants. Dr. Kikam emphasizes that this step is finest nestled proper after serums or different mild, fast-absorbing skin-care merchandise, and earlier than moisturizer.
7. Moisturizer
Maybe your most necessary step, moisturizers assist to not solely hydrate the pores and skin, however seal in all of the ingredient goodness that you’ve got utilized prior, says Dr. Farber. Throughout the day, go for a light-weight lotion, and save your heavier face oil for nighttime (keep in mind, you’ll be able to’t use your face oil below any basis). Relating to the ingredient label for your face cream—day or evening—Dr. Zeichner says its crucial to discover a complementary formulation to your serum to maximise their efficacies.
8. SPF
No, you needn’t placed on sunscreen earlier than you go to mattress, however you need to contemplate it an absolute important within the morning—and the ultimate step of your skin-care routine throughout the day to ward in opposition to UV harm, confirmed to extend the getting old course of and result in pores and skin most cancers. “Remember sunscreen,” warns Dr. Farber. “Apply it each single morning, religiously.”
The takeaway
No matter whether or not you like to go all about together with your skin-care routine and tick every step off morning and evening otherwise you’re extra of a skin-care minimalist that likes to skip a couple of steps, make sure you’re making use of the merchandise in the suitable order for max advantages. And, when you’re not sure what particular merchandise to make use of for every of the classes, seek the advice of together with your dermatologist who can provide a extra personalised skin-care routine primarily based in your particular pores and skin kind and desires.
Oh hello! You appear like somebody who loves free exercises, reductions for cutting-edge wellness manufacturers, and unique Properly+Good content material. Join Properly+, our on-line neighborhood of wellness insiders, and unlock your rewards immediately.
Our editors independently choose these merchandise. Making a purchase order via our hyperlinks might earn Properly+Good a fee.