You’ve invested in good skincare products, but are you applying them in the right order? The sequence matters — apply products wrong, and they won’t absorb properly or work as well as they should.
Here’s exactly how to layer your skincare, and why the order matters.
The Golden Rule: Thin to Thick
The general principle is simple: apply products from thinnest to thickest consistency. Lightweight, watery products go first. Heavier creams and oils go last.
Why? Thin products can’t penetrate through thick creams. If you apply your serum over a heavy moisturizer, it’ll just sit on top and never reach your skin.
Morning Routine Order
Step 1: Cleanser
Start with a clean canvas. Use a gentle cleanser to remove overnight oil and any residue from your evening products. If your skin is dry, a simple water rinse works too.
Step 2: Toner (optional)
If you use a toner, apply it right after cleansing while skin is still slightly damp. Modern toners add hydration or prep skin for the next steps — they’re not the harsh, stripping formulas of the past.
Step 3: Serum
This is where your active ingredients go. Vitamin C is ideal for mornings — it’s an antioxidant that protects against environmental damage. Apply a few drops to face and neck, let it absorb for a minute.
Step 4: Eye Cream (optional)
If you use an eye cream, apply it before moisturizer. The eye area is delicate, and you want your targeted treatment to absorb without interference. Pat gently with your ring finger.
Step 5: Moisturizer
Lock in hydration with a lightweight daytime moisturizer. Look for one that layers well under sunscreen and makeup. Give it a minute to absorb.
Step 6: Sunscreen
Always the last step in your skincare routine (before makeup). Use a generous amount — about two finger-lengths for your face. This protects everything underneath and shields your skin from UV damage.
Night Routine Order
Step 1: Oil Cleanser or Makeup Remover
If you wore sunscreen or makeup, start with an oil-based cleanser or micellar water. This dissolves oil-based products that regular cleansers miss.
Step 2: Water-Based Cleanser
Follow with your regular cleanser to wash away everything the oil cleanser lifted. This double-cleanse method ensures truly clean skin.
Step 3: Exfoliant (2-3x per week)
If you’re using a chemical exfoliant (AHA or BHA), apply it to clean, dry skin. Let it absorb before moving on. Don’t use on the same nights as retinol.
Step 4: Toner or Essence (optional)
A hydrating toner or essence adds a layer of moisture and helps the following products absorb better. Pat into damp skin.
Step 5: Serum or Treatment
Nighttime is for your active treatments:
- Retinol — Apply to dry skin, start with 2-3 nights per week
- Niacinamide — Can be used nightly, layers well with most ingredients
- Hyaluronic acid — Apply to damp skin for best results
- Peptides — Good for anti-aging support
If using multiple serums, go thinnest to thickest, and wait 30-60 seconds between each.
Step 6: Eye Cream (optional)
Apply your eye treatment before heavy moisturizers so it can actually penetrate.
Step 7: Moisturizer or Night Cream
Your evening moisturizer can be richer than your daytime one. Look for ceramides, peptides, or squalane to support overnight repair.
Step 8: Face Oil (optional)
If you use a face oil, it goes last. Oils are occlusive — they seal everything in but don’t let anything through. Applying oil before your serum would block absorption.
Quick Reference Chart
Morning:
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Serum (Vitamin C)
- Eye cream
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen
Night:
- Oil cleanser
- Water cleanser
- Exfoliant (2-3x/week)
- Toner/essence
- Serum/treatment
- Eye cream
- Moisturizer
- Face oil
What About Prescription Products?
If you use prescription treatments like tretinoin or azelaic acid, apply them after cleansing and toning, before moisturizer. Some dermatologists recommend “buffering” by applying moisturizer first to reduce irritation — ask your provider what’s best for your prescription.
Common Mistakes
Applying sunscreen before moisturizer — Sunscreen is always last. It needs to form an even film on top of your skin to protect properly.
Using oil before serum — Oil blocks absorption. Save it for the very end.
Not waiting between layers — Give each product 30-60 seconds to absorb, especially actives like vitamin C or retinol.
Mixing AHA/BHA with retinol — Using both the same night can irritate skin. Alternate nights, or use exfoliants in the morning and retinol at night.
Applying products to bone-dry skin — Hydrating products (like hyaluronic acid) work better on damp skin. Don’t wait too long after cleansing.
The Bottom Line
The order you apply skincare products affects how well they work. Follow the thin-to-thick rule, give products time to absorb, and always end with sunscreen in the morning.
Don’t stress about perfection — getting the basics right (cleanse, treat, moisturize, protect) is what matters most. The exact sequence becomes more important as you add more products to your routine.